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Recovering From Orthorexia


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Although orthorexia is not currently included in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illnesses) it is still recognized by mental health professionals and eating disorder specialists.


I am no doctor. What is in this article is based on some research and my own experiences, I encourage you to seek help, if necessary and able.


What is orthorexia?


I experienced orthorexia as being obsessed with eating foods that are considered 'good' and healthy, as well as exercising an excessive amount, not to offset the food I ate, but because I considered it a healthy behavior. At this point in my life I was also going through a deep depression. Orthorexia provided control over some parts of my situation. Though it was an adverse coping skill. It can be hard to recognize because healthy habits are so often praised, but it's when it's taken to an extreme that it becomes disordered.


General Signs and symptoms of orthorexia

  • Compulsivse checking of food/ nutrition labels

  • Increased concern of the nutrional value of foods

  • Cutting out an increasing number of foods - due to the perceived health aversion

  • Unusual interest in what others are eating

  • Spending hours thinking about the food that may be served at upcoming events

  • Obsessive following of healthy food pages on social media

  • Body image concerns may or may not be present (for me there was)

  • High levels of distress when 'good', healthy foods are not available

  • Inability to eat anything that is not deemed healthy or 'pure'


Orthorexia is commonly paired with other obsessive behaviors. For me it was working out, making sure I got so many workouts in one day done, usually it was 2 or 3.


As someone who is and has been recovering I’ve found some things that are helpful and important to remember:

  • Food does not hold a moral value

    • You are not good or bad because of the food you eat

  • Don’t let food run your life

    • If you’re constantly worried about what is going to be served at places then chances are you will not go

  • Trust yourself

    • Healthy behavior is celebrated in our society, but learn to read your body, you know what’s best

  • Be kind to yourself

    • Oftentimes the hardest thing to acknowledge is that there is an internal conflict happening

    • you do not need to earn kindness

  • It is not about food

    • It provides a sense of security and control

    • What is another way you can experience that?



Now what exactly does recovery look like?


That’s the hard part, it’s different for everyone. For me it involved some weight gain and remembering I am not my body. I started to focus much more on how my body was feeling versus how it was looking. Involved a lot of rewiring neural pathways, to body check less. Learning more about body neutrality did a lot for me.


Some things to remind yourself of:

  • Your body weight naturally fluctuates

  • Embracing and accepting your physical appearance

    • You may not be at the point of loving it just yet, that’s ok

  • Relearning how to interact with yourself

All of this is general information, I know it can help to not only have more information about yourself and your behaviors but also to know that you are not alone.









 
 
 

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