Trauma Therapy & Eating Disorders
Your experience of trauma is just that— yours. It is not subjective to other opinions— not by any professional, family member, friend, or just any person in general. I cannot tell you what trauma looks or feels like for you. What I do know, is that there are often experiences or events in our lives which shape the way we see the world and our relationships; this includes food, our bodies, and ourselves. This could mean a lot of different things; experiences could be one-off, multiple instances, or ongoing. Experiences could feel traumatizing, while other times they could feel insignificant in the moment. Experiences could be direct, or happen vicariously through the experiences of others. Some examples of this, in relation to eating disorders and negative body image, could look like:
Parental neglect or feeling over-controlled by a guardian;
Being bullied or teased from a young age (or any age at all);
Food insecurity or punishment around eating/not eating;
Over-exposure to diet culture and thin-ideals;
Lack of body safety or autonomy of any kind;
Feeling out-of-control due to external life circumstances;
Grief or loss of someone, something meaningful, or any value of some kind
Complex trauma, post-trauma, or traumatic experiences, aren’t just abusive or emotionally-impacting events, they are emotions interpreted by the brain as painful, negative, or excessively vulnerable. Naturally, our brains do what they do best—adapt. When we feel instances of pain or discomfort, we become resourceful, and search for ways to cope. An eating disorder, for those who have experienced trauma, may be an adaptation to find control, safety, or comfort. Food restriction can sometimes make us feel small, when we don’t want to be seen; it can make us feel like we “fit in” with thin culture when we feel lost within ourselves; most of all, it can make us feel like our bodies are ours, and ours to control when life feels uncontrollable. Binge-eating can feel comforting or numbing, and is often a direct response to our restriction. Purging, both through emptying and exercise, can feel adaptive and responsive to our eating behaviours, especially when our eating creates shame or guilt. These are all valid responses and feelings—however there reaches a point when our minds and bodies deserve more— more living without punishment.
Through specific trauma therapy interventions and exposures, my goal is to guide and support clients in exploring the experiences that shape the way they view themselves and their bodies. Through this journey, together, we can learn more adaptive ways of coping with painful experiences and life stresses.
What does trauma therapy for eating disorders look like?
Trauma therapy is about exploring the parts of ourselves which carry our shame, guilt, and vulnerability-- and processing them. Analyzing the pieces of ourselves which we want to shove down and avoid (this might feel uncomfortable at first—especially if your coping style is avoidance!). It is through this exploration that we can hope to find insight to our pain, but more so, to find better ways of healing.
Trauma therapy can seem daunting and broad, but there are a lot of fantastic resources and therapists available to support you. In my practice, I choose to focus on eating disorders and body image, which means my work is integrative and adaptive. My work involves focusing on the here-and-now, in order to find adaptive ways of living; however it also dives into past experiences and history in order to explore learned values, core beliefs, and events that shaped us. Eating disorders aren’t always clearly related or responsive to trauma. They are, however, a response to experience. Just like any other coping skill, we adapted using food control, during a time when we felt it was necessary for our well-being. Maybe now it is time to explore other, more lucrative, skills-- the ones that you and your body truly deserve.
Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) and Dissociated Parts Work
In my practice, I like to use IFS and dissociated parts work with clients who have experienced trauma and are coping with eating disorders. I believe that these interventions can be a great way to look at our internal systems— the different “parts” of ourselves that protect us, respond to trauma & stress, and help us process emotions and feelings. During instances of trauma, especially in childhood, critical experiences can impact our cognitive functioning significantly— in the sense that these experiences influence our growth and how we carry on throughout life. Usually we can see our suppressed trauma come out in ways we go about everyday life— whether it be in how we navigate relationships, how we set boundaries, how we emotionally process stress— even basic human functions like how we sleep and eat. This is why I often approach trauma and eating disorder therapy with parts work. Exploring the “parts” of ourselves which have experienced certain instances of trauma, and what that “part” carries into present life, can inform so much about our everyday habits, including our eating behaviours. Through guided therapy, exploring each “part” can help to learn about ourselves, and to re-learn more adaptive and fulfilling coping skills.