Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are serious, life threatening eating disorders. Anorexia is an excessive weight loss due to not eating enough to maintain a normal weight. Anorexia is often coupled with extreme exercising, also to lose weight. Bulimia involves a cycle of bingeing and purging. This means eating a large amount of food in a short period of time and then expelling the food through self-induced vomiting, laxatives or excessive exercising.
While eating disorders may begin with preoccupations with food and weight, they are most often about much more than food. There are many reasons why abuse victims become trapped in eating disorders.
Here are a few that you may recognize:
- Eating or not eating is something you can control in an uncontrollable world
- Feeling that your body is “dirty” or “worthless” because of abuse, especially sexual abuse
- Feeling that somehow you caused your abuse by your appearance, either too fat or too enticing or tempting
- Wanting to die – suicidal motivation
- Reacting to unforgiveness, bitterness, and anger toward your abuser or God
- Having depression and anxiety from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
And the list goes on and on.
In addition to eating disorders, many abuse victims have to deal with obesity. Eating to pacify, comfort or appease hurting emotions can result in a battle with excessive weight gain that can’t be won.
The struggles battling the trap or bondage of eating disorders and obesity are both psychological and spiritual. Christian psychologists or psychiatrists have been trained in this area and know many methods of treatment that will help, but only God can truly and permanently heal the heart wounded by abuse.
With God’s help, through prayer and Scripture, and with the support of others, such as in CAMEO’s Choose Freedom Support Group, healing is possible. Watch this 3 minute video.
Choose salvation and freedom with Jesus.
With help from CAMEO Ministries you will be able to face your abuse and your addiction and bring it out into the light.
God promises never to give us more than we, with His help, can handle. God will give you the strength and courage to deal with your abuse and your addiction. This will require endurance and determination to fight through but you won’t be doing it alone or trying in your own strength.