According to David Wall, Ph.D., "The danger of not seeking help for an eating disorder can be very serious because they can cause many medical complications, even death ... eating disorders often take a turn for the worse due to increased personal and family stress. As eating disorders intensify, they become more difficult to treat."
Stress does not cause eating disorders, but it can worsen them. This is because disordered eaters engage in these behaviors as a way to cope. Additional stress can push these individuals into even more extreme behaviors. According to Dr. Wall, "An eating disorder is often a way for the individual to avoid other problems in his or her life ... The focus on their body and food becomes so intense it helps block other problems. In addition, the eating disorder is often a way of maintaining control, when things are out of control."
Increased family stress can also worsen circumstances for those dealing with eating disorders. The immediate family represents a disordered eater's primary support network. Significant financial worries can wear down the emotional resources of those who are most important to the disordered eater's recovery. In addition, the disordered eater may feel guilty for placing an additional financial and emotional burden on the family. This guilt can provoke more extreme behaviors in the disordered eater.
Experts recommend that families do everything they can to get disordered eaters into treatment. They report that families are often able to find unexpected financial and emotional assistance through friends, families, church groups, and community organizations. (Source: PRNewswire)
Posted By: jgarcia