Eating Disorders as Manifestations of Deeper Mental Imbalance

Eating Disorders Chapter Summary
Few people realize that anorexia nervosa, bulimia and binge eating are not simple problems of self-control. In reality, these are manifestations of deeper mental imbalance which could be traced to "early separation conflicts, a sense of helplessness, difficulty interpreting feelings, intolerance of high emotion, and fear of maturity" (Author, date, p. 283). A study of various cases show that eating can become a coping mechanism for a young individual who is experiencing stress in their lives and who feel helpless about their situation. Most clients who suffer from eating disorders are in a state of denial as they tend to undermine the possible effects of their disorder. This is the reason why eating disorders are very difficult to address and would require a number of strategies to treat.
Research shows that only 10% of those with eatin...