If you’ve struggled with addiction for any period of time, at some point, you may have felt like you are battling to maintain control of your life. Thus, in order to regain some control over a portion of your life, you may try to manipulate certain factors that you feel you are able to control. Sadly, in many cases, this means that some women try to limit their food intake, which can quickly spiral into an eating disorder. These conditions don’t provide much, if any, relief from the problems they pose, and they may intensify feelings of powerlessness. Fortunately, there are ways that you can regain control of your life. If you’re battling eating disorders and drug addictions, our co-occurring disorders treatment program for women can help. Contact Crossroads Maine today at 877.978.1667 for more information about our treatment options.

What You Need to Know About Eating Disorders and Drug Addictions

According to mental health experts, eating disorders are mental health conditions that involve a person’s abnormal eating habits. If you leave these habits unchecked, they can threaten your life and health. In many cases, a woman with an eating disorder may take her concerns about weight to an extreme, causing it to become the most important aspect of her life.

The signs of an eating disorder may vary depending on the type of eating disorder a woman is battling. There is a range of types of eating disorders, including:

Anorexia nervosa: This condition can involve severely limited food intake, and compulsive exercise to lose weight may take place, even if the woman with this condition is dangerously underweight.
Bulimia nervosa: This person will go through periods of binge eating, or eating excessive amounts of food, followed by purging episodes, where they rid their body of that food through vomiting, exercising, or other methods.
Binge eating disorder: This condition is marked by frequent binge eating sessions, where the person continues eating even if they feel uncomfortably full.

Drug addiction is a condition that involves a person using substances compulsively despite harmful consequences. A person with drug addiction is intensely focused on using that substance, to the point that it overtakes their life. Even if they know their drug use causes a problem, they will continue to use this substance because they feel as though they can’t live without it.

Signs of Co-Occurring Eating Disorders and Drug Addiction

Sadly, eating disorders and drug addictions can often coexist, but the signs often mimic each other. There are four signs that can indicate you, or your loved one is battling co-occurring disorders:

1. Inability to Quit on Their Own

One of the primary signs that a woman is battling an addiction or an eating disorder is that she cannot stop. Because both conditions are mental health conditions, it is extremely challenging for someone to quit on their own. For those with addiction, the substance rewires the brain so that it believes that it cannot function without the substance. If a woman also has an eating disorder, she also may feel like she cannot stop these destructive behaviors on her own.

2. Obsession With Food and Substances

One noticeable sign that you or a woman you love is battling eating disorders and drug addictions is showing an obsession with these factors. This may look like a preoccupation with losing the extra weight. However, it may also be a focus on getting the next high. When these obsessions overtake all parts of life, it’s time to get treatment.

3. Isolating Yourself

Another sign that you or a woman you care about may be facing co-occurring disorders is that you’ll find her isolating herself. She may be ashamed of her drug use or be afraid of judgment about her eating disorders, so she may decide to pull away from the ones she loves.

4. Physical Signs of Co-Occurring Disorders

Sadly, these mental health conditions also bring along a range of physical symptoms. These physical signs can help your loved one determine if you are battling drug addictions and eating disorders. These physical signs may include:

Severe weight loss
Sunken eyes
Decaying teeth
Scabby or blotchy skin
Sunken cheekbones
Calluses on knuckles

Contact Crossroads Maine

At Crossroads Maine, we want to give woman the support they need to overcome co-occurring disorders. We offer a co-occurring eating disorder treatment program, in addition to a range of addiction treatment options, such as:

To learn more about eating disorders and drug addictions, contact Crossroads Maine at 877.978.1667 today.