The progression of an eating disorder doesn’t happen overnight. Eating disorders originate in each individual in various ways. For some it stems from a trauma such as sexual, verbal, physical abuse, or from abandonment, perhaps a family member died, parents were divorced so many ways yet the result is an eating disorder.
When eating disorders began the false sense of control the individual has is short lived and the illusion becomes shattered. Reality sets in and the addiction has found a home.

Eating disorders happen and affect every area of his or her life and become run by something else food seems harmless enough. How it manifests itself isn’t as important as getting a handle on it and taking back his or her power. The disease feeds itself on negative self talk so he or she who wants to get better has to train themselves to get better by stopping the thought process that allows this to grow. Eating disorders are learned behaviors and they must be unlearned. Awareness is one step in the process also continual change is a vital part of recovery.

In order to get better he or she will have to change the behavior and relationship they have with food. The form of punishment that caused this addiction has to be turned around and he or she needs to love and accept themselves as they are. Self love involves being gentle with yourself. Taking walks, exercising in moderation, slowing down learning how to breathe, relax, learn to meditate and for many; relief comes in developing a relationship with god in prayer.

Often he or she will look into an inpatient treatment program for eating disorders. It benefits the individual to take time out of the life they have been living that isn’t working. To allow him or her to step back and re-evaluate what works and what doesn’t work. Learning what affects him or her to rely on the eating disorder as a coping mechanism. To change the associations they have placed on food. To evaluate where they want to be and make the steps to move in that direction. Inpatient treatment programs do just that in a loving protective safe environment.