6 Harmful Misconceptions About Eating Disorders
By Jeanette Suros–While in recovery, a lot of people have said, “I understand what you went through. I have been on diets and have struggled with my body.” I would become frustrated as I struggled to explain how EDs and disordered eating are related, but not the same thing. People with eating disorders use their bodies as a way to gain control, mask their emotions, hide from pain, etc. Eating disorders are diagnosed by professionals and need treatment specifically for eating disorders to combat the disorder. There are many misconceptions with eating disorders, such as:
1. If you have body image issues you have an eating disorder.
Struggling with body image does not mean you have an eating disorder. Media and society affect the ways we think about our bodies. Body image is how you see yourself in the mirror and how you see yourself in your mind. With eating disorders, the media and poor body image can be triggers, but not the cause.
2. People with eating disorders did this to themselves.
Honestly, this is like telling someone with any other illness that their illness is their fault. Eating disorders are never brought about on purpose. You don’t wake up one morning with it and wake up the next morning without it. Eating disorders develop gradually over time. The earlier the diagnosis, the easier EDs are to treat. No one can make themselves have an eating disorder.
3. People struggling with eating disorders just want attention.
Most of the time, it’s just the opposite. People with eating disorders often try to hide their illness. For many, it’s their secret and they want it to stay that way. They use their eating disorders to hide; for me it was to be invisible. The disorder can often be used to mask emotions. It is their way of feeling better by not thinking about the deeper issues.
4. “Just eat.” As if it’s that simple.
Eating disorders are complex and for someone with an eating disorder it is not that easy. It is not about the food. Yes, food is what the eating disorder takes it out on but it’s more a way to gain control. It is a way to avoid thinking about the painful things; the eating disorder has you focused on the food and weight. So it is much deeper than not wanting to eat food.
5. It’s just a phase.
Eating disorders are not just a phase. They are not something that you just go through and grow out of. When people don’t take EDs seriously, it makes recovery harder. Eating disorders are serious, often deadly disorders. Sometimes medical professionals even minimize EDs. That’s also why it is so important for someone who is suffering to have healthcare professionals who specialize in eating disorders.
6. Once you leave treatment you should be “fixed.”
Once you leave treatment, your recovery truly begins. You are no longer in an environment where you are watched. Now it’s up to you to make your own choices. Recovery is not easy but it is worth it. Having an ED isn’t like having pneumonia. When you leave the hospital, it doesn’t mean you’re all better.
The more we spread the awareness, the more we can combat these misconceptions and fight EDs on a global scale.
