Double Despair

It is no secret in the field of eating disorder treatment that there is a strong correlation between trauma and eating disorders. Just as abuse is prevalent in every community, and affects all people regardless of age, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality, so it is with eating disorders; neither abuse nor eating disorders discriminate. When an eating disorder is entangled in the roots of abuse, the trauma resulting from the abuse needs to be treated, along with the eating disorder. The research is clear that traumatic events, especially those involving abuse or violence between people, have been found to be significant risk factors for the development for a variety of psychiatric disorders, including eating disorders.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), “On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. 1 in 5 women…