Depression And Eating Disorders, Very Common In Times Of Crisis
Depression and eating disorders are much more closely related than you might think. The prevalence of these conditions has increased dramatically in recent years, especially among the younger population.
Factors such as the health crisis itself, isolation, uncertainty and social problems are wreaking havoc in different areas of mental health. One example: Media such as The Guardian warn that the number of children and adolescents who need urgent treatment for bulimia and anorexia has quadrupled.
The eating disorders department of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (London) also indicates that the means are lacking and that this incidence should increase significantly in the coming months. Behind these realities hides the social isolation that we have been experiencing for many months.
However, there are other variables that we overlook and which also have a considerable psychological impact. Teleworking among adults and financial difficulties deeply undermine our psychological balance.
Depression and eating disorders: how are they linked?
Depression and eating disorders are very complex multidimensional realities. It is very common for the two to appear together.
Although the incidence is higher in women, men are also affected. Research from Stanford University indicates something interesting in this regard.
Self-criticism and depressive thoughts are at the origin of the onset of bulimia or anorexia. In contexts of crisis and complexity, it is common for the cognitive and emotional world to become even more unfavorable and exhausting.
Little by little, a whole range of phenomena are projected in food and in the way we relate to it. Let’s dig deeper.
Mental anxiety and eating: a direct relationship
Many people have taken advantage of weight loss diets over the past year. However, in some cases the isolation and mental anguish have ended up pushing this goal to unhealthy extremes. The behaviors of fasting, binge eating and purging concern a good part of the population.
Another factor also emerged: the alteration of routines. Life has suddenly become more sedentary. It is no longer necessary to respect fixed schedules if you are at home.
On the other hand, those who used to eat out now do so at home, which does not always translate into better eating habits. We eat even worse.
And when mental anguish takes hold of us, many find their daily catharsis in food. It is their emotional escape and, by the same token, the mechanism that will sooner or later create a serious physical and mental health problem.
Depression and eating disorders have always had a relationship. However, these are two of the most frequent clinical realities in this time of crisis. The causes of this phenomenon are numerous:
- Social isolation that has lasted for months.
- Faced with the anxiety resulting from this context, many people use measures such as “purging” (vomiting or consuming laxatives) or excessive exercise as mechanisms to keep their reality in check.
- This unhealthy relationship with food is often the result of emotional ups and downs, the context of uncertainty.
- Greater use of videoconferencing, situations in which people feel more exposed to their own image. This dissatisfaction can lead many people to eating disorders.
- Job loss and financial hardship are also the causes of the onset of depression and eating disorders.
- Finally, the lack of future prospects is another condition that comes into play.
Times of crisis and uncertainty worsen or reveal existing mental health problems
There is another undeniable fact that we have undoubtedly overlooked in the current context. Many people already had mental health problems. This group is particularly vulnerable in these socially unfavorable contexts.
The units for attention to eating disorders, for example, have not been able to meet 100% of all needs. Now they are overwhelmed.
Likewise, people who had already overcome depression or had post-traumatic stress disorder have experienced relapses in the current context. Added to this is the fact that not everyone is able to seek professional help.
Depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, addictions, development of phobias… Almost devastating suffering intensified for those who were already vulnerable. Others, on the other hand, experienced for the first time a certain psychopathology from which they never imagined suffering.
Anyway, and to conclude, we can only emphasize once again that we indicated at the beginning. Depression and eating disorders have increased exponentially in children and adolescents.
This is a fact of great importance which we cannot ignore. We therefore need more means, more resources and greater visibility of this problem.
Our thoughts Do you know what the unified transdiagnostic protocol for the treatment of emotional disorders is? Find out here!
