Addictive and Obsessive Behaviours
Dr. Dawn Heather Discusses Eating Disorders

What disturbs me is the propensity we have for self-injurious conditions like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and over-eating.

The Mental Health Foundation estimates that up to 1 per cent of women in the UK aged 15 - 30 suffer from anorexia nervosa, and 1 - 2 per cent suffer from bulimia nervosa. As many cases go undiagnosed, , the actual figures could be much higher. Eating disorders occur more among women than men, however for anorexia, there is evidence that 7–14 year old boys account for 25 per cent of known cases.

The problem of obesity is also affecting more of us including children.

The World Health Organisation says that the number of obese people is rising. About 1.2 billion people are overweight with some 300 million of them obese, even though obesity is one of the 10 most preventable health risks. In the USA, 97 million adults are overweight and almost one in five adults is obese. Among teenagers and kids 6 years and older, more than 15 per cent are overweight – that’s more than three times the number counted as overweight in the 1970’s. There are also at least 300,000 deaths every year in the USA linked to obesity.’

Why is this? Is morbid obesity the result of the bountiful postwar period, or a shift towards sedentary life-styles? Is it the symptom of addiction to highly flavoured, brightly coloured fast foods? Is Anorexia or Bulimia the result of becoming excessively image-conscious or controlling? Or is there something else?

It is probably fair to say that all of these factors play a part, but there are subtle differences. For instance, over-eating has an
underlying association with comfort, warmth, love and rewards. As newly born infants, we are completely dependent - we have a built in mechanism to alert those around us to our needs – we cry – to be cleaned, to be fed, and to have other basic needs attended to. We are at our most comfortable when we are being fed. We are held close, cuddled, the pain of hunger is assuaged, we are warm and satisfied. We are also in control of our environment and feel ‘replete’. This association with food is reinforced throughout our very early development. It is no surprise then that we seek out food later in life when we need comfort. The ‘sugar-rush’ experienced with sweet foods makes them prime candidates for ‘comfort-eating’.

Anorexia and Bulimia are associated with disempowerment, inadequacy, and feeling out of control. As vulnerable youngsters, the messages we receive from others affect self-image and self-worth. If we are constantly undermined, or feel powerless, then this will trigger a behavioural response specific to each personality that will inevitably involve some sort of controlling element. If this behavioural response continues unchecked, it becomes automatic and then difficult to stop – but not impossible.

For those who have no problem with over-eating or with maintaining a healthy body weight, the problem has a simple remedy. Just reduce the amount you eat, or, eat more. So why isn’t it that easy?

I believe that the issue is not about food, but about low self-worth and low self-esteem. If this is true, then how have we
managed to create a population of people who feel inadequate, and what can we do about it? As far as I can tell, there has
never been a period in history where life-styles have been so easy and yet morale so low. We see examples of people seeking control over their lives everywhere. The rising prevalence of life coaches, cosmetic surgery, therapies, recovery programmes, and dietary aids, indicates a society that is low in self-worth and is feeling disempowered.

There is no one ‘cure-all’. Everyone is different, although their behaviours may be similar. This is because there is a finite
number of possible behaviours that our species can execute and people change - so any regime that is rigid will, inevitably, be
time-limited.

How can we empower each person to meet challenges, to value themselves, and maintain their recovery ? It requires a high
degree of intuition; empathy; skill; flexibility; versatility; but most of all, realism. It is essential to understand that when a particular behaviour is triggered and becomes deepseated and habitual, there may be the propensity to revert to that habitual behaviour in times of crisis or boredom. Any intervention must engage the person fully, whilst being sufficiently flexible and versatile to move with her/him as he/she develops and adapts – and it must provide a strategy for life!

My own approach begins with some detective work: 1. Identify the behaviour; What its function is; What it does for the person; 2. Identify actual and potential triggers that cause the behavioural response; 3. Establish when the behaviour occurs (frequency, time) along with any patterns or cycling; 4. Locate the origins of the behaviour –the first memory of it; 5. Identify the emotional associations – before, during and after

It continues with selecting the therapeutic techniques: a) assess the person’s current emotional state through interview and observation, b) provide appropriate support to reduce anxieties – (clinical hypnosis is a wonderful drug-free method for this) c) negotiate a plan of action with the individual – identify goals and small achievable steps; d) ensure that self-worth and self-image are restored to acceptable levels; e) introduce practical strategies appropriate to the person’s life style and issues; f) re-visit the origins of the behaviour safely under hypnosis – and repeat this process, thereby reaching a resolution for each aspect

The above may need to be repeated in order to address all of the issues for someone – it is a complex process. However,
gradually the triggers for the behaviour are desensitised and we are left with the habit or addiction which must be rendered
harmless. For the anorexic this must reinforce their control, and for the comfort eater it must provide an equal level of comfort in times of stress or boredom. In both cases the strategy must be negotiated with the person so that it is achievable and acceptable in the short and long term, and it must be practised so that it becomes second nature.

The point to remember is that learned behaviours can be un-learned, with the correct facilitation.

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Camborne Complementary Healing Centre T: 01209 711504