Anorexia -- Addiction To Starvation

Whereas over-eaters eat to feel better, anorexics starve to feel good. For anorexics, the sense of control offered by managing the intake of food gives a sense of order and predictability in an otherwise uncertain world.

Fasting may release chemicals in the brain that create a loss of appetite and a sense of euphoria. These good feelings then lead to more fasting to continue the high. For an anorexic, food deprivation is not about dieting. It's about trying to control life and circumstances in order to feel safe.

An anorexic may become so addicted to starvation that food loses its appeal altogether. Eating may become impossible and the anorexic may need to be hospitalized and fed intravenously against her will to avoid starvation and death. Like any other addiction that's left untreated, the condition of anorexia becomes worse, never better.

Anorexics have a distorted perception of themselves. They feel fat and see fat when they look in the mirror, regardless of how much or how little they actually weigh. This is not stubbornness or opinion. There is actually a disturbance in perception that, to the anorexic, is factual and all too real. Regardless of what family, friends, even professionals say to the contrary, an anorexic won't believe it. When a true anorexic looks in the mirror, they will always see fat. Even if they wear a size 0, they will still believe they are overweight.

The management of food is a key issue for those addicted to starving. Anorexics are often obsessed with food. They think about food, plan how, when and what to eat. They are generally compulsive about counting calories and working out. An anorexic can often tell you exactly how many calories she's consumed in a day or a week, and how her level of exercise has affected the total calories consumed.

In June, 2008, Scientific American reported that researchers believe anorexia is like drug addiction. But in anorexia, the drug is deprivation. The article suggests that "dieting becomes the ultimate accomplishment, a fix that a certain kind of dieter learns to crave."

The article goes on to say that victims of anorexia appear to get pleasure from "planning and evaluating long term consequences." This is consistent with the sense of control that's so important to anorexics. Starvation addicts are also obsessed with goal attainment and success. They strive to avoid criticism, negative consequences and mistakes at all costs.

Starvation addicts tend to be perfectionists with chronic anxiety about not measuring up. For anorexics, food intake is one thing that can always be controlled. Deprivation gives a rewarding sense of satisfaction at being able to resist temptation and restrict food intake.

Anorexics are unlikely to seek help on their own and intervention is often necessary. Anorexics may look emaciated, but they can't see it. The only real consequence for an anorexic is death.