Why You Can’t “Snap out” of an Eating Disorder

Are you or have you ever suffered with an Eating Disorder? If so, have you ever been on the receiving end of someone asking you when you’ll “snap out” of it? Or maybe you’ve been the one to tell someone suffering to “snap out” of it. What most people don’t realize, unless you’ve been through an Eating Disorder yourself, is that this is not something you can merely “snap out” of. If it were, I wouldn’t have a job as an Eating Disorder therapist.

Eating Disorders are a disease, and one that a person can’t just “snap out” of. If a person is struggling with an Eating Disorder, the longer they are struggling and not getting proper care and not actively working on recovery, they are getting worse.

This post is more focused on Anorexia and Bulimia, if you are looking to learn more about why a person can’t just “snap out” of Binge Eating Disorder, this post would be more helpful for you which explains Binge Eating Disorder in terms of Neuropathways.

When a person is suffering with an Eating Disorder, particularly in this case, Anorexia and Bulimia, the Eating Disordered mindset can be very illogical, but it takes over the person’s brain. In Eating Disorder treatment, one of the very first things we do is identify that there are essentially 2 parts of the person; the Eating Disorder self and the healthy self (see BATTLE: Eating Disorder Self vs Healthy Self. When a person is in their Eating Disorder, the Eating Disorder is getting stronger and the healthy self is getting weaker.

Though the Eating Disorder is illogical, it is very convincing. It’s almost like an abusive relationship. Most people in abusive relationships don’t just “snap out” of it. They may get tired of it, may say they’re done with it, may want to be done with it, but the abusive partner tends to win them back. Something very similar happens with Eating Disorders, although the struggles in intrapersonal (within the person) as opposed to interpersonal (between more than 1 person).

Another thing making it difficult to just “snap out” of for these Eating Disorders is the malnutrition that comes alongside. When a person suffers with Eating Disorders and malnutrition, it distorts the brain’s perception and essentially makes the brain sicker so to speak. When their thought process may seem illogical to a healthy mind or when a healthy mind can clearly see how sick they are, the sick mind doesn’t see that it’s illogical and doesn’t recognize how sick it really is.

Proper treatment for these Eating Disorders is extremely necessary. Getting help from someone who understands the Eating Disordered brain and is able to work with it as well as be patient with it is incredibly helpful. Here’s a Guide to Getting Help for an Eating Disorder

I hope you found this post helpful! If you know anyone else who could benefit from reading this, please share with them. If you have any questions, concerns or requests for future posts, please leave a comment or message me privately.

I wish you wellness and understanding on your journey to finding your State of Balance!

You May Also Find these Videos Helpful:
What is Anorexia Nervosa?
What is Bulimia Nervosa?
What is Binge Eating Disorder?

or these posts:
BATTLE: Eating Disorder Self vs Healthy Self
Misunderstandings of Eating Disorders
How to Break and Form Habits
Guide to Getting Help for an Eating Disorder