People with eating disorders need to know this

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — Emily Boring was diagnosed with an eating disorder by accident. After visiting the psychiatric office at her university to discuss her feelings of anxiety, she learned through several conversations that her behavior with food was classified as an eating disorder.

Emily, 27, a graduate student at Yale Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut, said the path to recovery and rebirth taught her a lot about how to care for herself and others.

Boehring spoke with CNN about the misunderstanding, embarrassment and stigma associated with eating disorders.

CNN: What do you wish people knew about disordered eating and eating disorders?

Emily Boring: I want people to know that this is common everywhere. Most people experience some kind of tumultuous relationship with food and their bodies because of our cultural environment.

The first thing I want to say is that disordered eating, as well as eating disorders, affects everyone, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age, or socioeconomic status. Eating disorders and disordered eating are not associated with being “thin” or underweight.

CNN: How do you define and treat eating disorders?

Boredom: Eating disorders are now classified as metabolic psychology, which means metabolism refers to the way the body processes energy, and then refers to the psychological part associated with the brain and behavior.

This is confirmed by the experience of people with eating disorders. For decades we’ve observed that eating disorders are triggered when a person lacks energy or doesn’t take in enough calories to support their body.

And eating disorders are nothing to be ashamed of. It is neither an option nor a failure. There is still a stigma attached to the idea that eating disorders are something we choose to do. And I will say: If someone is on the verge of realizing they have an eating disorder or receives this diagnosis from someone else, I stress the importance of early intervention. I would say that the first step to recovery is to find a good eating disorder team that includes a therapist, nutritionist, and doctor.

CNN: How should people of faith talk to people recovering from eating disorders?

Boredom: I speak mostly from my own experience, but I have also guided a few teenagers down this path. I learned the hard way what didn’t help them and received unhelpful comments.

Comments and actions related to food culture should be avoided as much as possible. In this country, the way we value fitness in popular culture is the antithesis of recovery. While diet culture is often masquerading as health, the core belief of this fundamental belief is a quality of fitness and a strong, healthy body that can only be achieved if they work hard.

There is a whole body of scientific literature showing that health and weight are not causally linked. Therefore, being overweight does not necessarily mean that a person suffers from health problems.

CNN: What do you mean when you say don’t use the “eating disorder voice” instead of the voice?

Boredom: I go to the doctor’s office and I’m scared of what’s going on with my body, and I can tell I’m going to gain weight. And the doctor might say, “There’s nothing to worry about, your body won’t change much.”

Even if this statement is true, it directly affects beliefs about eating disorders. Using the language of an eating disorder[உங்கள் அன்புக்குரியவர்களுக்கு]It’s so easy to try to reassure, and I’ve found that it doesn’t really work in the long run.

CNN: What are ways to talk to people without using an eating disorder voice?

Boredom: Some questions I encourage people to ask themselves are: “Does what I’m about to say imply that some bodies are better than others”? or “Do some foods have more or less moral value?”

Also, try to avoid mentioning anything related to numbers such as weight, calories, or hours of exercise per week.

Don’t judge a person’s inner state from their outer appearance. People are better off waiting and asking questions than wondering.

CNN: What should people know about reincarnation?

Boredom: Relapse is not a failure, it should not lead you back to the worst you experienced. You can realize it early and change the reality.

What I like to know about rebirth is that it happens quickly, suddenly, and consumes a person more than I thought.

If you are a person with genes for eating disorders, be it anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder or any disease for that matter, you should always be careful and vigilant about maintaining nutrition and eating plenty of food. Isolating yourself about food culture. Because it can happen quickly: a few days of restriction, shedding a few kilos, and then suddenly, you’re back to full-blown eating disorder.

I would also say that a setback is a learning opportunity. Every time I go back, I look back and discover something new about what recovery means to me.

I think a person should be kind to themselves, open up because a setback is a crisis, and do whatever they can to deal with it. But, this is not a failure, nor is it a sign that you will suffer for life.

CNN: What did you learn about recovery?

Boredom: In reality, recovery is about the present. It’s about being present, building relationships with your surroundings, and doing what you love. It is the physical presence of awareness of your body, the ability to feel sensations, listen to your body’s hunger cues, and feel full.