The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) list different types of eating disorders that are respectively categorized under the Disorder Class: Feeding and Eating Disorders. Eating disorders are defined as “serious medical illnesses marked by severe disturbances to a person’s eating behavior,” and are characterized by abnormal, irregular eating habits, and an extreme concern with one’s body weight or shape. The pervasive symptoms associated with any type of eating disorder can cause adverse physiological consequences, interfere with one’s ability to adequately function in daily life, and if left untreated can become life-threatening. According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), an estimated 30 million U.S. adults will have an eating disorder at some point in their lives.
Self-Compassion
Self-compassion is defined as “compassion directed inward, relating to oneself as the object of care and concern when faced with the experience of suffering.” Kristin Neff, Ph.D., one of the leading researchers in this field, explains that self-compassion is comprised of the following three central components:
- Self-kindness versus self-judgment: Being kind and understanding toward oneself rather than being self-critical.
- Common humanity versus isolation: Seeing one’s fallibility as part of the larger human condition and experience rather than as isolating.
- Mindfulness versus overidentification: Holding one’s painful thoughts and feelings in mindful awareness rather than avoiding them or overidentifying with them.
When these interrelated elements combine and mutually interact, we can cultivate a self-compassionate frame of mind when encountering personal mistakes, failure, perceived inadequacies, and/ or various experiences of life difficulty. Self-compassion plays a crucial role in the recovery process for individuals overcoming an eating disorder.
Self-Compassion in Eating Disorder Recovery
In addition to increasing treatment outcome, there are a variety of benefits to practicing self-compassion for those recovering from an eating disorder:
- Reduction in self-criticism: A 2021 paper in the Journal of Positive Psychology, asserts that self-compassion induces a feeling of security and calmness as it produces a chemical response by activating the parasympathetic system, which triggers the release of oxytocin (commonly known as the “love hormone”). This creates a sense of emotional safety that can help reduce the harsh self-judgment that perpetuates disordered eating behaviors.
- Enhanced motivation for recovery: According to Michigan State University, “practicing self-compassion helps us to accept our own humanness and imperfections with kindness and increases people’s motivation to learn, to change for the better and to avoid repeating past mistakes.”
- Reduced shame and guilt: Shame and guilt are common emotions in eating disorders. Self-compassion fosters a sense of worthiness and acceptance, reducing the shame associated with food, body image, and past behaviors.
Self-compassion plays a vital role in eating disorder recovery by promoting emotional healing, reducing self-criticism, and fostering a healthier relationship with oneself. Eating disorders often involve intense self-criticism, body dissatisfaction, and perfectionism. Cultivating self-compassion can counteract these harmful patterns and support individuals on their journey to recovery.
Treatment In Calabasas
Calabasas is a city in California. It is a well-known suburb of Los Angeles, located west of the San Fernando Valley and north of the Santa Monica Mountains. Over the past decade, the city of Calabasas has grown in its reputation for luxury as well as for privacy which makes it a hidden gem for residential living for society’s elite, and one of the most desirable destinations in Los Angeles County. It is also home to a plethora of highly qualified mental health clinicians providing an array of therapeutic services and treatment options.
The information above is provided for the use of informational purposes only. The above content is not to be substituted for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, as in no way is it intended as an attempt to practice medicine, give specific medical advice, including, without limitation, advice concerning the topic of mental health. As such, please do not use any material provided above to disregard professional advice or delay seeking treatment.
