What's Eating You? Lessons in Eating Disorder Treatment

 
I've only been bingeing and purging for three years, regardless of my exact wish to stop, I can't. I don't know, you can find parts of it that don't look like true. They want to show big transformations, but the fact is that seven weeks just isn't going to do that, most of the time, anyhow. And there are also a few parts which are overly dramatic.



The topic is a different documentary on eating problems on E. The third episode aired on Tuesday night.  We are continuing to explore the problem are TV shows on psychological problems like Interference, What’s Eating You, and so on. Educational or do they run the danger of giving a partial image of the problem and cure?



The two individuals in this show, Kristy and Marc, had a long and painful history of bingeing and purging that was triggered very early in their teens by several factors trauma, genetics, emotional abuse, OCD, mentally ill parent etc.  The beginning of the show focused heavily on the actual behaviors many of them extreme close ups of cottage cheese with hot sauce and bathroom scenes.



Later in the show, there was a much deeper connection with these two individuals.  Rather than focusing on the surface behaviors, there was a shift onto the underlying mechanisms of the disorder-shame, difficult regulating emotion, feelings of worthlessness, guilt etc.



Two important issues were brought to light in this episode.  The first was choosing the most appropriate kind of treatment.  The show provided treatment for a certain number of weeks.  After it was over, Marc decided to continue and do a five month intensive outpatient program (according to the show).  Viewers may not know what that means or why it is important.



There are different levels and intensity of eating disorder treatment that depend on various factors such as how long you’ve been struggling with the disorder and how medically compromised you are.  An individual may want to change, but not be able to do so.  In this case, a more structured program is helpful.  This was likely the issue with Marc.  He had been struggling for many years, there were medical complications from bingeing/purging and laxative use and he also had Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  He would likely benefit from a very structured and intensive program. They did not mention medication on the show, which could possibly be important for someone with OCD.



Kristy invited her husband to treatment.  There was a dramatic transformation in his understanding and ability to give support.  He always stated his love for his wife and fear of her disorder.  He thought he was being supportive.  When he learned new ways of being there for her, Kristy reached out to her husband in a vulnerable moment.  Her husband talked her through it and said helpful and encouraging statements. She walked away from her binge trigger food. Kristy’s case shows how an eating disorder can drive a wedge between you and important relationships.  They became much closer as her eating disorder faded into the background.



Inviting Marc’s father to treatment helped his father gain perspective and understanding of this disease and it is a disease not a choice.  The father learned that when an eating disorder starts, emotional development stops.  So, if the ED starts at age 15, cognitive and emotional development is arrested at that age.  It’s difficult to expect Marc to respond at age appropriate levels. This understanding made a significant difference in their relationship and Marc’s movement toward recovery.  Marc is ultimately responsible for doing the hard work to recover.  However, it is wonderful to have someone with you on the journey.



Once more, thanks to them for courageously helping us find out more about eating problems and permitting us to be a part of your recuperation.  Best wishes on your lasting recovery. Be happy to share your ideas.  But are these shows useful or not?



As I think, they had to cut a lot out of the entire thing to suit it into a 21 minute time framework. But except for that, and the most important thing of all is that I was really ready to give myself over to recuperation and treatment. I want to give all the credit to God, who orchestrated I think this whole thing and put me with such an amazing psychoanalyst who knew how to get inside me and together pull out and deal with that hurting kid inside of me. That was what led to real healing. When the kid is healed, the behavior will stop. I never thought that but it is real.