Quarantine and Eating Disorders, Part II

Although some people have been able to use this period as a time to take steps forward in recovery, others have struggled more with their eating disorder.

The constant stress and pressure of the pandemic have affected everyone, no matter their psychological state before. The barrage of news, the pause on life and the lack of contact have affected daily life for everyone. As this period has extended for weeks and weeks, it has taken its toll.

By and large, people have relied on tried and true coping mechanisms to manage the stress. For people with eating disorders, that has often meant a gradual escalation of symptoms.

Even if the intention is to maintain any gains or to stop the creep of worsening behaviors, many have found the eating disorder has started to infiltrate the extra time in their lives whether it means more food behaviors, worsening thoughts or increased exercise. We are all relying on what helps most during times of stress, and that is the same for people with eating disorders.

Few people have stayed in place with respect to their eating disorder. Most have either moved forward either seeing this time is a pseudo-program, as explained in the last post, or else drifted into worsening symptoms to cope with the stress.

The people who have seen this as a type of treatment entered the quarantine already primed to focus on recovery. That means having either just left a treatment program or just resolved to try to get well.

Those who are seeing an escalation of symptoms tend to have already been in a steady place with their eating disorder or struggling to find ways to get better.

Eating disorders always seem to be changing. Either the situation is improving or worsening most of the time. This pandemic appears to have escalated the pace of change for many people with eating disorders.

However, for those who want help, the support is available and just as effective remotely as in person. This is not a time to despair or wait. It’s as good a time as any to try to move forward with recovery.