anorexia

I wonder if alimentary disorders are just a form of TMS

comments welcomed, thanks !

 

LOL, miquel - I had to look up "alimentary" to learn that it means having to do with nourishment.

I'm not a TMS practitioner or any kind of health professional, but by being close to this work for six years, and knowing that anorexia is a mental disorder, then yes - along with anxiety, depression, OCD... I can see how anorexia might be one of the TMS "equivalents". It could be characterized as a "distractive" condition.

 

I think much of the emotional fuel for my IBS is that it makes me afraid of food, which is such a basic human need and source of pleasure, both physically and socially. It makes itself a constant distraction that way, even in the absence of pain. So I can see the similarities to anorexia and other eating disorders there.

 

In a sense, I believe so, but more so I think it's a distraction. One of many distractions a person can use (excessive work, tv, drugs, social gatherings, exercise, etc.). From what I've learned and understand, eating disorders are merely a sign of something emotionally troubling going on. It gives a person who feels like they've lost control of many things in their life some sense of control. What you eat (orthorexia), or how much you eat (anorexia, bulimia) allows the person to feel in control of something. During my eating disorder I feel as though I used it because I couldn't control all of my pain/symptoms, but I could eat a "perfect" diet.

 

@Ewok2 posted this link on another thread. It's a brilliant Q & A that includes issues such as these.

http://www.tmswiki.org/forum/threads/getting-to-the-heart-of-tms.6095/ (Alan G. - Getting to the heart of TMS)

 

Overeating. Flip side of the same coin some would say. On a website about eating disorders, one article attempts to give a psychological profile of an overeater.

Most, but not all would describe themselves as kind.
Most put others first and attend to the needs of other people and not themselves
Most, but not all have some difficulty knowing or expressing needs
Many, but not all lack clarity about how they feel and cannot manage their feelings properly
Most, but not all have low self worth
Most, but not all need to be liked

The list above could be used to describe many amongst us who suffer from other TMS symptoms too. So yes, I agree with what Alan writes on the link provided by Plum. Eating disorders are a form of TMS.

I understand this intellectually but absorbing this on a deeper level rather than consuming the entire contents of the biscuit tin/cookie jar is still a work in progress.