Impulse Control Disorders and Eating Disorders
“Have you no self control?” People suffering from Eating Disorders have heard this question literally a thousand times from a concerned parent, spouse or friend. Often times it is said after a binge on a box of cookies, a carton of ice cream or a box of donuts. The sad truth is “No. We don’t have self control.”
Like Alcoholism an Eating Disorder is a disease
of the mind and Impulse Control Disorder goes hand in hand with Anorexia,
Bulimia and Compulsive Overeating. An Impulse Control Disorder is
defined as: A psychological disorders characterized by the repeated inability to
refrain from performing a particular action that is harmful either to oneself or
others.
Causes of Impulse Control disorder are thought to come from
4 possible areas.
- ED Suffers Struggle With Impulse Control
1.) Traumatic Brain Injury – Particularly true when
the damage has been done to the frontal cortex area. (Jentsch & Taylor,
1999.)
2.) Substance Abuse – Research shows that those who abuse
multiple substances show more impulsive behavior than those who abuse single
substances. (O’Boyle & Baratt, 1993).
3.) Major Mental Disorders -
Often associated with impulsivity while the individual is in a psychotic state.
This is particularly true of Bipolar Disorder where the impulsive behavior is
most often associated with the manic phase.
4.) Personality Disorders -
Primarily borderline, anti-social, narcissistic, and histrionic. Impulsivity in
the form of risk-tasking behaviors, sexual promiscuity, gestures and threats of
self-harm and other attention-seeking behaviors.
“So what is the
treatment for someone with Impulse Control Disorder AND an Eating Disorder?” I’m so
glad you asked! … At The
Victorian the program is structured to battle Eating Disorders from 3
angles. Mental, Physical and Spiritual. Here is how we do it.
1.) MENTAL
- Therapy – We teach our clients the life long tool of how to be their own
therapist. Our therapist don’t preach they challenge the clients ….“Ask
yourself, what am I feeling right now before I do this impulsive act? Now, play
it through…what am I going to do, how am I going to do it and how will I feel
afterward?” Through therapy we give clients tools to take care of
themselves and eventually heal.
2.) PHYSICAL - Medication – Within the
first few days of arrival at The Victorian an appointment is set up with a
trusted and outstanding Psychiatrist who assesses the client and prescribes
medication if needed.
3.) SPIRITUAL - Supportive Living Environment –
When it comes to Eating
Disorders and Impulse Control Disorder, recovery is a life long process. It
starts with the individual being held accountable for their actions by staff. At
The Victorian we don’t lock the cupboards or kitchen and we allow clients to
prepare their own food with staff present. The only job of the client is to be
honest, to ask for support when their impulses feel out of control and to speak
up when their ED (Eating Disorder) is chattering eating disordered thoughts to
them. Together staff and client can battle this disease together.
I hope
this answered some of your questions about Impulse Control Disorder and Eating Disorders! Have a
great weekend and Happy Recovery! Xoxo Irvina
