Eating Disorders Co Mordbid with Anxiety Disorders

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  • #602155

    I am doing my senior thesis on the co morbidity between Eating Disorders and Anxiety Disorders. After doing a tremendous amount of research I’m left with the impression that since symptoms are so similar there is often a misdiagnosis (I.E- One may not be able to eat for an extended period of time, & the doctor may say it’s from stress as opposed to further assessing whether an eating disorder is brewing.)

    Does anyone have any experience or know any interesting stories in which this was the case? Any input would be greatly appreciated!

    #853435
    Nechomah
    Participant

    No stories, but just gonna be picky for a second. It’s “comorbidity” – one word. Morbidity means something related to death, but comorbidity means existing at the same time, so totally different meanings.

    Hatzlacha with your thesis.

    #853436
    mytake
    Member

    You’re saying that eating disorders don’t have to be stress related, but the three women I know who suffered from Anorexia, all had to (eventually) deal with the stress that their doctors/therapists believed to be the culprit.

    One of em didn’t initially connect the disorder to stress, and although with the help of an excellent nutritionist she was able to eat better for a while, she relapsed soon after that. Once she was in therapy for her anxiety she was successful in beating the Anorexia.

    It’s also interesting to note that two of these women had OCD as well, which I believe is also caused by anxiety.

    #853437

    You’re right….and I spelled “Co Mordbid” wrong…brilliant.

    Sorry, It’s been a loooooong night of research :-/

    Thanks!

    #853438

    mytake:

    “You’re saying that eating disorders don’t have to be stress related, but the three women I know who suffered from Anorexia, all had to (eventually) deal with the stress that their doctors/therapists believed to be the culprit.”

    – An ED can develop from many different things, granted stressful/harmful situations is probably the forefront of reasons. Enmeshed families, impossible high standards, & genetics can all play a role in the development of an ED.

    “It’s also interesting to note that two of these women had OCD as well, which I believe is also caused by anxiety.”

    -Good Point. According to the literature I’ve read, Anorexia and OCD are closely related due to perfectionist expectations & high harm avoidance.

    What I found interesting was that PTSD was not generally related to Anorexia, but rather to Bulimia. I would have though that the ‘out of control’ feelings that victims of PTSD feel would lead to needing control (Anorexia). A professional in the field explained to me that the need to purge the pain and memories can lead to the Bulimia.

    “…but the three women I know who suffered from Anorexia”

    -Refuah Shliemah to them and all others who are suffering such pain.

    #853439
    happiest
    Member

    I feel kind of stupid for asking this but I’ll go ahead anyway.

    As a survivor/sufferer (being that a person never really gets over an eating disorder, it is never really gone because the symptoms can creep up from one day to the next like it does with me often), I’d like to add to this conversation but I honestly can’t understand the question. OP, do you mind rephrasing so I can understand it a little better please?

    Thanks in advance!

    #853440
    rc
    Participant

    I too, have no idea what you are trying to say/prove, but i can tell you this, Blood sugar levels. (ie insulin resistance) spiking and crashing cause anxiety. so if the eating disorder is wreaking havoc on the endrocrine system, as it might, that does cause anxiety. if you are interested in all this i can explain it to you further.

    #853441
    Health
    Participant

    NOMTW -“Good Point. According to the literature I’ve read, Anorexia and OCD are closely related”

    OCD is found with Bulimia also. A partial quote from an article:

    “These six anxiety disorders defined above have all been examined in research studies aimed at determining the comorbidity of anxiety and eating disorders. However, some have been found to play a great role than others. Social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and specific phobias have the highest rates of co-occurrence with bulimia nervosa, while social phobia and obsessive-compulsive disorder have the highest rates of co-occurrence with anorexia nervosa (Wonderlich & Mitchell, 1997).”

    #853442

    happiest: First of all-I am so sorry that you have gone through such an ordeal. You must be filled with incredible strength to overcome and master the disorder. I apologize for not being clearer in my post. I have been doing research (for my senior thesis) about the connection between an anxiety disorders (specifically OCD) and an eating disorders (specifically AN). A lot of the literature that I have read has shown that there is a very strong connection. After reading countless articles I am feeling so overwhelmed by the scholarly world and am asking if there is anyone in the coffee room that can share an experience or idea with me as a change of pace.

    Does that clear things up a bit? Sorry for the confusion!

    rc: That does sound interesting! I’d love to hear what you have to say. I know that when my blood sugar gets too low- I get crabby and can’t really focus until I eat something. Does that run along the same lines?

    Health: Oh wow, great excerpt. I will try to locate the original article and see if there is relevance to my research. Thank you for pointing that out!

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