25 Functions Of Your Eating Disorder

There are many reasons why you might engage in disordered eating. To better understand what’s fuelling your behaviours, here is a list to help spark your thoughts…

Once you have a better understanding of the function, this will help us explore and target the underlying issues beneath the eating disorder to achieve long-term and sustainable recovery.

1.     Helps you cope with negative thoughts and feelings (e.g. depression, anxiety, shame)

2.     Relieves or manages stress

3.     Protects your self-esteem

4.     Controls your weight

5.     Suppresses traumatic memories

6.     Helps you feel in control

7.     Helps you hold your family together

8.     Provides you with comfort

9.     Helps you receive attention from family and/or friends

10.  Gives you a unique identity

11.  Gives you time for yourself

12.  Relieves boredom

13.  Helps you deal with big emotions such as anger by channeling the emotion(s) inward

14.  Allows you to procrastinate from overwhelming tasks

15.  Feels familiar (companionship, a habit, routine)

16.  Helps you strive for perfectionism

17.  Focuses and distracts you from more difficult issues

18.  Acts as an excuse for failed expectations

19.  Gives you discipline or punishment (“I don’t deserve to eat”)

20.  Gives you momentary freedom (play, escape, high, temporary amnesia)

21.  Numbs your emotions

22.  Buffers your relationships (removes emotion)

23.  Purging allows you a perception of normalcy – allows for “normal eating”

24.  Helps you fit the “ideal society”

25.  Gives you a sense of accomplishment/pride

26.  Other function(s): _________________________________________________________

Are you looking for support to heal from your eating disorder? I would be honoured to accompany you on your journey.

Feel free to book a Discovery Call to see if we might be a good match for therapy!