Escaping the Eating Disorder Prison from the Pandemic

The increased incidence of people developing or relapsing with eating disorders during the pandemic is well documented.

One fundamental cause is the lack of external structure during the periods of isolation. Without any interruptions, people whose eating disorders have very rigid rules experienced a hardening of those rules. Nothing interfered with the rigidity, and the eating disorder became more powerful than ever.

For many at this point, some life experiences have returned thereby creating an external structure again. However, after most of the last two years trapped in the limitations of the eating disorder world, returning to the real world is very difficult.

Although this may constitute a relapse, a better description is the increased power of the eating disorder rules and the confinement within the limitations of the illness. The result is a newly imposed prison by the eating disorder even while the prison of the pandemic is no longer as all encompassing.

People trapped in their eating disorder have forgotten how to be flexible enough with food to see friends, go out to a meal, attend a function or even break up their day by having plans. The mundane elements of a regular life seem impossible since they interfere with the minute and powerful rules established by the eating disorder.

Experiences that were well within someone’s grasp prior to the pandemic now appear to be far out of reach.

The treatment is clear and very important. Exposures to these new events and facing the barrage of eating disorders thoughts in the process are imperative. Anyone trapped by their eating disorder needs to begin to push back against these rules and not let the eating disorder remain dominant in the face of opportunities to resume some form of normal life.

The urge to put off these challenges will be great. Heeding the urges will only harden the behavioral changes of the pandemic and make them more challenging to overcome.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation is necessary. The changeable nature of the pandemic can’t be a reason to allow these behaviors to continue. Exposure to new experiences, breaking eating disorder rigidity and trying to experience life again are all critically important.