How Drug Addiction And Eating Disorders Coincide

One of the most common aspects of drug addiction, if not the dominating aspect, is an overwhelming feeling that you have lost complete control over your life. Ultimately, this sensation of spiraling out of control can lead to a feeling of desperation, triggering a near-animalistic desire to get your train back on the rails. However, as psychiatrists have pointed out, this unbearable urge to regain control can often lead to additional mental problems like, for instance, eating disorders. Obviously, though, controlling one’s eating in such a dangerous way might feel empowering, but, in the end, it only leads to more pain. Let’s take a closer look and learn how drug addiction and eating disorders coincide.

Symptoms of Eating Disorders

First, let’s take a closer look at how you can identify eating disorders. Although many types exist, the most common include:

• Anorexia nervosa: Fear of gaining any bit of weight, marked by bouts of starvation and rapid weight loss.
• Bulimia: Extreme self-consciousness of weight-gain, accompanied by bouts of excessive eating followed by self-induced vomiting.
• Binge eating: Eating overabundant amounts of foods at an unsafe level.

What’s the Connection to Drugs?

According to a 2012 study conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), roughly 8.4 million American adults suffer from co-occurring/comorbid mental disorders. Within this group of people, a selective bunch are not only fighting an eating disorder but are also coping with the pain of substance abuse and addiction. Although comorbid illnesses are overwhelmingly severe, the combination of eating and drug problems can be significantly deadly for these reasons:

• Due to the eating disorder, the victim’s body is considerably weakened, increasing the risks for dangerous side effects produced by drugs.
• Victims may feel an urge to take part in dangerous behavior, like binge eating, due to the influence of drugs.
• Doctors may not initially realize a drug user has an eating disorder, given the fact that drug abuser and addicts will exhibit poor eating patterns.  

Seeking Treatment for Drug Addiction or Alcoholism    

Alcoholism or drug addiction are dangerous sicknesses that should never be taken lightly. All it takes to fall off the wagon and become sick is to take that first sniff, snort, injection, or shot before you are rolling downhill into insanity. Still, you can always push the train back up, but it will be a difficult hike. However, with the right mixture of perseverance and determination, you can easily get back on track and be happy once more.  

Are you suffering from a severe case of alcoholism or drug addiction? Do you have a friend or a loved one who is coping with the same illness? In both cases, get in touch us at with Asana Recovery today. Our professional team of counselors and healthcare experts will help you endure the painful process of drug withdrawal and detox and guide you along the rocky road of rehabilitation. Soon enough, you will experience a faster and much more efficient recovery.

If you are seeking more information about our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs or enroll in one of these programs today, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your leisure and your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how you can overcome your mental illness and take an extra step toward becoming a healthier person.