Given the current economic climate, we wanted to write about the impact that financial stress can have on people with eating concerns.
Financial stress can trigger or worsen eating disorders in several ways:
- Increased anxiety and stress levels: Financial stress can lead to increased levels of anxiety and stress, which can trigger or worsen eating disorder behaviors.
- Disruptions to routine and structure: Financial stress can cause disruptions to daily routines and structures, such as changes in work schedules or changes in eating patterns, which can trigger or worsen eating disorder behaviors.
- Negative body image: Financial stress can lead to feelings of shame and insecurity, which can contribute to negative body image and self-esteem issues that can trigger or worsen eating disorder behaviors.
- Coping mechanism: Some individuals may use food or their eating habits or exercise regimes as a means of coping with stress and anxiety caused by financial difficulties. This can lead to the development or worsening of an eating disorder.
It’s important to seek support from a mental health professional if you are struggling with an eating disorder and financial stress. A treatment plan that addresses both issues can help improve your overall well-being and quality of life.
However this can be difficult to justify when you are experiencing financial stress. Investing in your eating disorder recovery during a recession is important for several reasons:
- Mental health is just as important as physical health: Eating disorders can have serious and long-lasting consequences on your physical and mental health. Taking care of your mental health during a recession is just as important as taking care of your physical health.
- Recovery can lead to improved productivity and quality of life: By focusing on your recovery, you can improve your ability to function in daily life, including work and relationships, which can ultimately lead to improved quality of life and productivity.
- It may save money in the long run: While seeking treatment for an eating disorder can be expensive, the cost of not addressing the issue can be even higher. Untreated eating disorders can lead to hospitalization, missed work, and other related health problems, which can be more expensive in the long run.
- A recession can increase stress and trigger eating disorder behaviors: Economic uncertainty and increased stress levels can trigger or worsen eating disorder behaviors. Investing in your recovery during a recession can help prevent this from happening.
Overall, investing in your eating disorder recovery during a recession is a way to prioritize your mental and physical health, which can lead to improved quality of life, increased productivity, and cost savings in the long run. If you are considering delaying treatment due to financial pressure associated with the economy, we encourage you to think again. We also encourage you to consider lower cost options if full fee options are not available. These can include:
- Self help guides and programs, such as those offered at Centre for Clinical Interventions
- University studies- your local eating disorder charity is likely to know of any that might be available
- University clinics often offer low cost treatment options
- Your local eating disorder charity, who can often offer a range of support services (unlikely to include free treatment)
Please reach out to us at BodyMatters if you want treatment for your eating, dieting or body image problem
