Many therapists and treatment centers proudly state that they use a “holistic approach” to care for and help individuals overcome eating disorders. Yet, the same individual may receive somewhat different treatment at any of these “holistic” care providers. What does “holistic” mean in this context and how does a “holistic approach” to overcoming eating disorders differ from other methods of treatment?
Let’s start by defining what holistic means regarding eating disorders.
There are a lot of things to consider when seeking mental health care for yourself or a loved one and it’s hard to keep everything in mind. Words like holistic sound positive, but are frequently overused and become meaningless buzzwords. What do we really mean when we talk about overcoming eating disorders holistically?
The first known use of the word ‘holistic’ only dates back to 1926, so it’s a fairly new concept, at least in the English-speaking world. It refers to a view that all the parts of a whole are interconnected and only make sense in relationship to the whole. This pretty clearly translates in the medical world, right? Rather than looking solely at the illness or disorder, a holistic approach to healthcare considers the psychological, physical, social, and spiritual aspects of the individual and how they are intertwined.
How this works in practice can vary between practitioners. Holism is not the same as alternative medicine, though people who practice alternative medicine generally take a holistic approach. Conventional medicine can be prescribed from a holistic angle, particularly when it is combined with some aspects of alternative medicine as well.
Why is holism so important to recovery from eating disorders?
As anyone who has ever experienced or witnessed a loved one struggle with an eating disorder can tell you, eating disorders are really, really challenging to overcome because they affect your mind and body. They rarely respond well to only one type of treatment. Eating disorders, like behavioral addictions, change your body’s brain chemistry and harm other parts of your body as well.
People who suffer from eating disorders frequently have difficulty eating proper meals without experiencing stomach pain, and often have lasting damage to the lining of their esophagus. Not to mention the wide variety of mental health issues that may be contributing to the onset, longevity, and/or recurrence of the eating disorder or disorders, such as low self esteem or maladaptive coping mechanisms to other life stresses. Other physical health issues may be at play as well, such as thyroid problems that make it hard for someone to lose, gain, or otherwise maintain a healthy weight. When you consider all of the factors, it’s easy to see why a holistic approach makes a great deal of sense when attempting to overcome an eating disorder.
Let’s illustrate this with an example:
The physical act of overeating, not eating, or purging is usually linked to an individual’s experience of an emotion. In conventional medicine, the physical act may be treated separately and the emotional response that encourages this behavior may not be treated at all. For example, a person who has a reduced ability to intake food, due to an extended period of under eating, may be given pills so that he or she can eat a full meal without stomach pain. This solves the physical aspect, but does not address why this physical reality has occurred. A person who suffers from an eating disorder may or may not take the pill, and still not decide to eat healthy foods in healthy amounts.
Holistic treatment helps individuals process emotions in a healthy way so that natural feelings like anxiety or shame will result in a healthy response and not affect his or her eating habits.
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, don’t wait to seek help. As a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, I can help you take productive steps soon to feel better about food, your body, and yourself. If you have questions, you can contact me through this website or if you are ready to start your healing journey you can book an appointment.
