I utilize my own shared recovery experience to provide compassionate recovery care and empower clients to a life of health and wellness.
Looking for information on bulimia specifically?
Although orthorexia is not a formally recognized eating disorder by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) at this time, it displays many qualities of an eating disorder. Ortho-, the Greek word meaning “right” or “correct” and -orexia from the Greek word orexis, meaning “appetite” or “desire”. Orthorexia is characterized by an extreme or excessive preoccupation with “healthful eating” or “correct eating”. This presents as a preoccupation with the quality and source of one’s food, a significant fear of disease/illness, and potentially body image distress.
Having excessive preoccupation with maintaining “perfect/pure” state of physical health is not a reflection of one’s connection to body and worth. Caring for one’s own physical health can be an act of kindness and love towards oneself; however, when focus on one’s health is rooted in fear, lack of safety (a dysregulated nervous system), and distrust for one’s bodycan have negative impacts on one’s health. This preoccupation can cause chronic distress, social isolation, fear of eating altogether, and ultimately unmet nutritional needs.
Since this is not an official eating disorder diagnosis, there are not a defined set of signs and symptoms, but here are some from several reputable sources (cited below)
● Compulsive checking of ingredient lists and nutritional labels
● Elimination of certain foods/food groups entirely
● Preoccupation with where food is source, quality of the food, & how it is prepared
● Fear/anxiety around eating foods prepared by others – Bringing one’s own food to events/gatherings
● Avoidance of eating socially and/or spontaneously
● Obsession with consuming supplements and vitamins
● Insistence of eating foods that are ‘healthy’, ‘clean’, ‘natural’, ‘organic’, etc
● Increase interest in the health of what others are eating and critical of others intake if they are not in alignment with one’s own eating patterns
● Compulsively consuming products that claim to “detox,” “boost,” “purify,” or “cleanse” the system
● Spending excessive amounts of time per day meal planning or thinking about what food might be served at upcoming events
● Showing high levels of distress when ‘safe’ or ‘healthy’ foods aren’t available
● Spending extreme amounts of time and money in meal planning and food choices
Center for Discovery. (n.d.). More Orthorexia Nervosa Warning Signs. Retrieved from
https://centerfordiscovery.com/blog/more-orthorexia-nervosa-warning-signs/
Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness. (n.d.). Orthorexia Nervosa. Retrieved from
https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/orthorexia-nervosa/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA_aGuBhACEiwAly57MRbrEdanvyqdOYLOSW_npjDWPbwmCe
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Renfrew Center. (n.d.). What Is Orthorexia Nervosa? Warning Signs, Causes, Treatment. Retrieved from
https://renfrewcenter.com/what-is-orthorexia-nervosa-warning-signs-causes-treatment/
What a good question! Body image is challenging and very complex because it’s typically rooted in the belief/the sensation that one’s physical appearance is connected to innate worth and value as a human, which is definitely not a “quick fix”. Unfortunately, there is no field guide to navigating body image, especially because the experience of it is so unique to the individual and their lived experiences. However, I like to teach my clients how to become aware of, understand, and respond to their poor body image thoughts/sensations in a new way.
Specifically, learning about non-attachment, or what I call “zooming out” from thoughts can be a wonderful place to start. When an intense negative thought about our bodies arises, we are zoomed into a very small, particular aspect of our experience. This makes it hard to self-regulate and see Beauty in all its forms, as we can only see and experience life from a limited perspective.
Once we’ve identified the thought/sensation and detached from it, some of my favorite tips are prioritizing physical comfort with comfortable clothing, a warm/weighted blanket, spending time in nature or around running water, a self-soothing activity, connecting with one’s senses, a journaling prompt, or calling a loved one for support.
Social media can definitely amplify feelings of inadequacy, dissatisfaction, and increase comparison- However, I consider it more of “fanning the flames”. The root of negative body image / preoccupation with appearance is rooted in disconnection, feeling separate from our body; this can be caused by many different things such as trauma or the combination of many different influences throughout one’s life. When we feel a deep, internal sense of disembodiment, we will constantly be looking for “what is wrong with us”, and the thing that catches our attention, the thing we notice most readily is our appearance.
Then the ‘comparison trap’ arises – and this is where social media comes into play more significantly. Diving deep into the origins of our painful beliefs/ideas about ourselves is where I recommend starting- this is where having a therapist on board is essential. From there, we can process these stories and see if they are rooted in truth.
One thing that is important in recovery is to understand how the body identifies, interprets, and processes fear. I often provide some education on the “reticular activating system”, which is a network of neurons located in the brain stem, and acts as a filter for all the sensory information coming in from the peripheral nervous system. Essentially, this bundle of neurons determines what is important (meaning is it safe or unsafe) or unimportant based on our subconscious filters.
These filters determine what we focus on, and what we are constantly bringing our attention to shapes our perception of ourselves & our reality. In order to find peace with food, our bodies, and more importantly, to have new experiences of ourselves, we have to bring attention to our subconscious thoughts. One practice I offer clients when they are feeling triggered or activated is to bring their attention to the present moment and list all the ways they are safe – ie: “I have access to my sweater if I am cold, there is a bathroom nearby, my dog is with me, I have a cup of water near me, I am talking to a safe person now, etc”
I also like to provide education on the relationship between unmet nutritional needs and anxiety. Restriction causes an increase in stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol resulting in an increase in anxiety and disconnection from the body. This understanding is so important in finding ways to nourish the body in times of distress in order to improve our ability to ground
and self-soothe.
Oh I love this question! I am definitely a book nerd, and am constantly sending book recommendations to my clients. My favorite books for recovery are actually not related to eating disorders specifically.
When things fall apart – Pema Chodron
This is probably the most transformative book I have read in my adult life- It’s a beautiful book to lean into when recovery feels hopeless, pointless, empty, and just that overall feeling of “no, I don’t think I want to go down this path”.. Pema Chodron is an American Buddhist nun whose work highlights the importance of befriending oneself, getting intimate with fear/uncertainty, and transforming our relationship with control – all elements essential in recovery. Becoming brutally and beautifully honest with ourselves, and learning to “stay” with ourselves or “look fear right in the eyes” – that is the hardest part.
The four agreements – Don miguel Ruiz
I read this book in high school, and at the time I could not conceptually understand why I instantly felt relief reading it- I have come to realize that feeling is a response to recognizing truth- my body was able to process it far quicker than my mind. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, the Four Agreements, serves as a guide to identify and free ourselves from our self-limiting beliefs. Ruiz breaks the book down into 4 agreements- Be Impeccable With Your Word, Don’t Take Anything Personally, Don’t Make Assumptions, Always Do Your Best – Not taking things personally is an agreement I often work on with clients. I particularly enjoyed how short, simple, and applicable it was.
You can find more information about Juliette’s services on her website here!
Merrit Elizabeth Stahle is an Eating Disorder Recovery Coach certified by The Carolyn Costin Institute. She holds a master’s degree in Health Promotion Management and a certification in Applied Neuroscience. She is fully recovered from an eating disorder and she has years of experience working with women with eating disorders.
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