May is Mental Health Awareness Month—an appropriate time to discuss eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. (Food addiction is not the same as an eating disorder. In today’s culture, it’s easy to become biologically addicted to high-fat, low-nutrient, salty food and sweets that ruin health without ever experiencing an eating disorder.)
Did you know that there’s an association between an intimate partner’s abuse and increased mental health issues such as mood disorders, suicidal behaviors, and eating disorders? Domestic abuse could be anything from physical and emotional abuse to financial and psychological control and abuse.
If you recognize one or more of the following traits, you may be in an abusive relationship.
Does your spouse or significant other. . .
Call you names and put you down?
Hurt you or other people you care about?
Humiliate and belittle you in front of others?
Use physical force against you such as pushing, choking, punching?
Control your access to money?
Control the decision-making process?
Control your time?
Abuse your pets?
Threaten to hurt you if you leave?
Coerce you to have sex?
Or display a myriad other forms of power and control over you.
Unfortunately, many victims may be totally unaware of the abuse that’s happening to them; thus, preventing them from seeking help.
If you have been eating nutrient-rich food, yet you still stuff yourself until it hurts. . .and then fast the next meal, severely restrict calories, purge by vomiting, use laxatives, over exercise, or even quit eating altogether for long periods of time. . .you may be suffering from deep psychological and emotional wounds that no one can see—not even you.
Eating disorders can be life-threatening and a clear indication that you need help. There is no shame. It’s not your fault, and you are not a failure. Someone may be abusing you.
Seek the help of a professional counselor who specializes in domestic abuse and eating disorders. Don’t put it off—both the abuse and the illness will only get worse if left untreated.
I care for you. Many people care for you.
Here’s to your good health and well-being.
Emily Boller, artist, mother, and author of Starved to Obesity, lost 100 pounds more than twelve years ago by eating an abundance of high-nutrient, plant-rich food. Today, she’s certified in whole plant nutrition from the Nutritarian Education Institute. She’s on a mission to provide practical, no-nonsense and cost-effective tips with easy to understand science in order to help anyone escape the addictive grip of the Standard American Diet.