Psychological Aspects with an Emphasis on Eating Disorders
An eating disorder does not just revolve around food. There are a ton of other factors that play into this disorder and one of them is having body dysmorphia. One of the correlations between the two is body checking. A body dysmorphia behavior that is also an effect from an eating disorder includes frequently weighing yourself, pinching or wrapping hand around stomach, waist, thighs and arms. Even asking others for reassurance such as: "do I look fat?" can cause heightened anxiety around their body. Body avoidance is another correlation that is caused by both an eating disorder and body dysmorphia. Body avoidance consists of avoiding mirrors and tight fitting clothing.
Transgender and Eating DisordersBody dysmorphia and gender dysphoria are two completely different disorders. This is why some transgender people can have body dysmorphia and gender dysphoria concurrently.
One study of 289,024 college students reveals that transgender students, compared to cisgender students, are almost five times as likely to report an eating disorder. A common reason for the possible risk of developing an eating disorder as a transgender individual is that a lot of them are wanting to achieve the unrealistic standard of the ideal masculine or feminine body type. In some cases, the issue of gender identity appear during treatment for an eating disorder, as the individual recognize their body dissatisfaction is due to the gender identity instead of a fear of gaining weight. In other situations, a transgender individual in the process of transitioning to the affirmed gender develops an eating disorder. Montano, G. (2019, January 18). Eating disorders in transgender youth. Retrieved from https://www.mdedge.com/endocrinology/article/131620/mental-health/eating-disorders-transgender-youth How to Get HelpPlease do not be scared to reach out to family, friends, or even online resources. Here are a few:
National Eating Disorders Association: Hotline: (800) 931 - 2237 Betterhelp: Counseling Website with online chat. www.betterhelp.com The Healthy Teen Project: Learn More about ED's for Youth & Adolescents www.healthyteenproject.com |
Learn from individuals themselves:
Luke Knudsen: Transgender Activist and co-chair for the Trevor Project " My eating disorder allowed me to control the parts of me I was too scared to show the world, the parts that were too masculine to exist in a feminine body, the parts that were scared that my parents would find out they didn’t have the perfect daughter they thought they had. It took me many more years before I was comfortable enough in myself to come out to the world and express myself as a queer transman."
Ryan Sallans: Transgender speaker, author, and storyteller. "At 19, a sophomore in college, I was newly diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. I was incredibly thin—with stick-like arms and a non-existent waist. I wasn’t happy with the way I looked, but I did find comfort in the fact that the way I ate (or didn’t eat) brought me a more masculine figure. I didn’t have hips or breasts. I stopped menstruating, so I didn’t have a traumatic monthly reminder that I could carry a child." "Anorexia, in the beginning, made me feel like I was more closely connecting to my identity as an athlete. With power and dedication, I had complete control."
Knudsen, Luke. “Existing as a Trans Person with an Eating Disorder.” National Eating Disorders Association, 8 Nov. 2018, www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/blog/existing-trans-person-eating-disorder. Sallans, Ryan. “My Life with Anorexia as a Trans Man.” San Francisco AIDS Foundation, 16 Aug. 2019, www.sfaf.org/collections/beta/my-life-with-anorexia-as-a-trans-man/. |