Psychoeducation & Eating Disorders

Eating disorders manifest themselves with weight loss and food-related symptoms, but the problem isn’t with food. Fortunately, the process of psychoeducation can help those suffering from disordered eating to better understand their disorder so they can get to the root cause or causes and see improvement.  

How Psychoeducation Works

Through this process, individuals learn about their eating disorder and take a direct look at the lies it tells them. Often, the brain sends signals that are false or misleading. For those with an ED, their head may tell them they’re anxious, but the body isn’t actually showing physical signs of anxiety at all. That’s why it’s important for those in treatment to learn to sense their own bodies and be able to determine what’s true and what the disorder is using to try to distract from the eating problem.  

This is common for those with a history of trauma, which can include anything from a blow to head after a fall to experiencing a crime or some form of physical or emotional abuse. Other lesser events can also lead to trauma, as can a death, divorce or some other painful experience. These events can cause a system to malfunction. Some cope with that malfunction by turning to drugs, alcohol, gambling, shopping or sex. Others act out their distress through food.  

Psychoeducation isn’t a magic cure for EDs, but it’s one piece of the puzzle in helping individuals in the process of recovery. The more we understand about eating disorders and the tools at our disposal to treat the problem, the greater success we can have.  

Eating Disorder Help

If you or someone you love is battling an eating disorder, call The Canyon at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.