Sexual Abuse and Eating Disorders - Effects on Physical and Mental Health

Introduction

Sexual violence may affect a person in many ways. It changes their lifestyle, behavioral pattern, emotional status, and mental health. To overcome this bad experience, they act differently. An eating disorder is one such method adopted to cope with stressful conditions.

What Are the Effects of Sexual Abuse?

Sexual abuse or any mental trauma can leave various psychological, emotional, and physical scars on the survivor. The impact of sexual abuse can differ from person to person. The victims may go through depression, panic attacks, sleep disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), self-harm, substance abuse, dissociation, suicidal tendency, flashbacks, and eating disorders are some of the many effects of sexual abuse or mental trauma. The survivors of sexual abuse face these situations, where they need assistance to overcome the situation.

Are Sexual Abuse and Eating Disorders Related?

Sexual abuse can leave several problems in a person's life, like low self-esteem, body-image issues, and self-critique. As a result, they start binge eating or develop eating disorders to cope with such situations and hide their emotional feelings. Many survivors use food to cope with trauma, to feel good, and hide their emotional distress. These coping mechanisms prevent them from overreacting to a situation. They take eating habits as a way to conceal their problems. These actions help them get temporary relief from psychological trauma, but unknowingly leading to bigger health problems.

What Are the Various Types of Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders can affect each differently based on emotional feelings and perceptions of the body. The four major types of eating disorders are as follows:

1. Anorexia Nervosa: People with this eating disorder severely restrict their food and self-starve, leading to excessive weight loss and severe health issues.

2. Binge Eating: Characterized by binging, uncontrolled eating of food

3. Bulimia Nervosa: Characterized by a cycle of binge eating and clearing out all the food either by laxatives or finger-induced vomiting.

4. Restrictive Food Intake Disorders: Selective eating and lack of interest in certain food due to the food's smell, taste, texture, or color.

What Are the Problems Associated With Eating Disorders?

1. Excessive weight loss or weight gain.

2. Disrupted eating pattern.

3. Changes in eating habits like chewing excessively or under-chewing, pushing food around a plate, and playing with food.

4. Mood changes.

5. Altered sleep pattern.

6. Low energy.

7. Irregular or absent menstrual cycles.

8. Chronic constipation.

9. Gastrointestinal problems.

10. Erosion of teeth due to induced vomiting.

11. Bad breath.

12. Hair loss.

13. Dry and chapped nails.

14. Low blood pressure or pulse.

15. Overall poor health.

16. Increased chance of upper respiratory tract infections.

17. Low self-esteem.

18. Withdrawal from gatherings.

19. High chance of injury.

20. Malnutrition.

21. Dehydration.

22. Substance abuse.

23. The functioning of the nervous system gets disrupted.

24. Hormonal imbalance.

How Do Eating Disorders Affect the Physical and Mental Health of an Individual?

Eating disorders can have negative effects on a person's mental health. A person with eating disorders is at risk of developing diseases like:

• Obesity.

• Malnutrition.

• Osteoporosis.

• Certain types of cancers are associated with the gastrointestinal tract.

Along with the physical health issue, they also experience mental health issues like:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

• Depression.

• Anxiety.

• People with altered mental health will also start with substance abuse or alcohol drinking.

How Are Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) And Eating Disorders Connected?

Many studies have found a strong correlation between PTSD and eating disorders. However, these conditions co-exist in the case of the majority of patients. They utilize food to gain control of feelings or try to disconnect from certain things, or consider them as a punishment to their body. PTSD patients usually develop anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, or bulimia nervosa.

How Can Eating Disorders Be Treated?

Treatment of eating disorders is multifactorial due to the complex factors associated with them. A person having a history of childhood trauma or sexual abuse cannot simply stop eating disorders like anorexia nervosa or other eating disorders. Recovering from eating disorders needs professional intervention.

• The treatment starts with a nearby doctor or primary care provider.

• The first and foremost step before treatment is understanding the problem.

• The doctor or primary care provider can help the patient reach out to more social resources, especially psychotherapists or mental health specialists.

• Psychotherapists or mental health specialists can talk to them about their traumatic experiences, the problems, and fears they face, what they expect from society, and much more for the success of the treatment sessions.

• The psychotherapist organizes various talks through sessions, group sessions, and activities incorporating lifestyle changes to overcome mental trauma and lead a better life.

• A team of professionals help in the treatment journey.

• Doctors and therapists can manage physical, emotional, and psychological problems.

• Dietitians can provide a healthy diet plan and make them understand the need for a healthy food habit.

• People with traumatic experiences and eating disorders need great support from their friends and family.

• Supportive people with a positive approach will help them to start with new habits and maintain consistency.

• The family members play an important role by giving them all the mental support throughout the therapy sessions.

Scientifically Proven Therapies for Treating Eating Disorders

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): An evidence-based therapy that helps people challenge and overcome their perceptions. This therapy helps in the regulation of emotions and helps to develop healthier methods to cope with stress.

2. Residential or Inpatient Therapy: Inpatient therapy helps break their unhealthy eating habits and removes the shame or low esteem in their personality.

3. Dialectical Behavior Therapy: This behavioral therapy helps to change maladaptive behaviors and focuses on mindfulness, de-stressing, and controlling emotions.

4. Support Group: This provides a space for them to talk about their trauma and discover triggering factors for eating disorders and tools to sustain recovery.

What Happens if Eating Disorders Are Left Untreated?

Eating disorders can be deadly if left untreated. In addition, eating disorders developed due to various reasons can cause physical and mental diseases.

• Bulimia nervosa patients are at a high risk of developing esophageal cancer due to continuous regurgitation. The food mixed with stomach acid flows from the stomach to the mouth. This leads to increased esophageal irritation and chances of oesophageal cancer.

• Anorexia nervosa patients are at high risk of cardiac problems, liver failure, and kidney failure due to malnutrition.

• Binge eating can result in obesity, a high risk of stroke, high blood pressure, and cancer.

So patients suffering from eating disorders need intervention, care, and support with proper treatment. Even after the completion of treatment, they need to be addressed regularly by the caregivers to avoid a relapse.

Conclusion

Childhood trauma and sexual abuse can result in many psychological problems, and eating disorders are a major among them. Eating disorders can be very complex. Different individuals react differently to cope with their emotional stress. Finding the best support team and providing treatment can help people revert and lead healthy lives.