Treating Addictions and Eating Disorders Together

All of the disorders of eating (compulsive overeating, compulsive under eating or anorexia, binging and purging) have much in common with addiction. Brain imaging shows problems for both in the mesolimbic structures deep inside the brain, family histories of eating disordered patients frequently reveal addictions somewhere, and many of the psychological elements of denial, craving, tolerance, and relapse are the same. Experienced addiction therapists say that many, if not most, women with addictions also show disordered eating at some point. Are there differences? Of course, but it’s in the common elements that our strength can be found. Each woman, indeed, each human being on this earth, is unique, yet we all share certain challenges and issues. Unity and diversity are not mutually exclusive, and who would argue that we need all the help we can get in dealing with illnesses as troublesome as these?

Besides the issues related to diagnosis, many women with addictions and eating disorders are depressed or have other untreated medical problems, many have been psychologically, sexually, or physically abused and traumatized, and many are anxious and unempowered, with no idea how to go about changing these things. At Pine Grove Women’s Center, we know that your time here is just the beginning of a lifelong journey of recovery. However, we also know that if we don’t help you set up some signposts now, you will be at risk for losing your way in the future.

Visit http://www.pinegrovetreatment.com/ or call 1-888-574-HOPE (4673) for more information.