Eating Disorders Awareness Week

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions. They are not about vanity, willpower or attention. They are often about coping, especially coping with stress, trauma and overwhelming emotion.

During Eating Disorders Awareness Week, it is important to talk about something less discussed: the connection between eating disorders and dissociation.

What are eating disorders?

Eating disorders involve distress around food, eating, body image, and control. They affect people of all genders, ages, and backgrounds.

Here is a brief explanation of common types:

• Anorexia nervosa This involves intense fear of gaining weight, restriction of food intake, and a distorted experience of body shape or weight. People may eat very little, exercise excessively, or use strict food rules.
• Bulimia nervosa This involves cycles of binge eating followed by behaviours to compensate, such as vomiting, laxatives, fasting, or excessive exercise. These cycles are often secretive and linked with shame.
• Binge eating disorder This involves repeated episodes of eating large amounts of food with a feeling of loss of control, but without regular compensatory behaviours. People often report feeling disconnected or unable to stop during episodes.
• ARFID, Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder This involves avoiding or restricting food, not because of body image concerns, but due to sensory sensitivity, fear of choking or vomiting, or low interest in food. It can lead to nutritional deficiencies and weight changes.
• OSFED, Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder This diagnosis is used when someone has significant eating disorder symptoms that do not fit neatly into one category but are still serious and distressing.

Eating disorders are not lifestyle choices. They are complex psychological and physiological responses.

What is dissociation

Dissociation is a protective response of the nervous system. It can feel like:

• Numbness
• Feeling not fully present
• Emotional detachment
• Losing track of time
• Being on autopilot
• Feeling disconnected from your body It is not weakness. It is the brain trying to reduce overwhelm.

What research tells us

Research consistently shows higher levels of dissociation in people with eating disorders compared to the general population.

Studies have found particularly strong links between dissociation and bulimia nervosa as well as binge eating disorder. Dissociation may increase just before or during binge episodes. Researchers describe this as state based dissociation, meaning the detachment rises during moments of high emotional distress.

This can help explain why some people say: “It felt automatic.” “I do not fully remember it.” “It did not feel like me.”

Research also suggests connections between anorexia nervosa and detachment from bodily signals. Some individuals report altered experiences of hunger, fullness, or even their physical body. Depersonalisation type symptoms can appear, where the body feels distant or unreal.

There is also research discussing compartmentalisation, where parts of experience feel separated. Someone might say, “I know I ate it, but it did not feel like me.” This pattern has been observed in trauma related eating problems.

The research does not show one eating disorder equals one type of dissociation, but meaningful patterns exist.

Why dissociation and eating disorders often co exist

A common cycle may look like this:

• Stress increases emotional overwhelm.
• Dissociation reduces awareness and emotional intensity.
• Eating behaviours provide temporary relief or control.
• Shame or guilt increases stress.
• The cycle repeats.

Understanding this cycle shifts the narrative from self blame to nervous system protection.

Why this matters in recovery

If someone is dissociating, they may:

• Struggle to feel hunger or fullness
• Disconnect from their body
• Have difficulty remembering episodes
• Feel numb rather than emotional
• Find self care unreal or pointless

Addressing eating behaviours without addressing dissociation may miss an important piece of the picture. Trauma informed approaches consider both.

When to seek support

If eating behaviours feel out of control, secretive, medically risky, or emotionally overwhelming, professional support is important.

UK Support

• Beat Eating Disorders Helpline 0808 801 0677
• Samaritans 116 123
• NHS 111 for urgent mental health support

USA Support

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
• National Alliance for Eating Disorders
• Emergency services if immediate medical risk

Seeking help is not weakness. It is a step towards safety.

Stay connected with Ground Me

Understanding dissociation is a powerful first step.

• On iPhone, download Ground Me Dissociation Aid from the App Store to check your dissociation level and learn more in simple language. Android coming soon.
• Sign up to our newsletter at groundme.app to be the first to know.
• Follow @groundmeapp on instagram for updates and education.
• Get 1-2-1 Mental health consultation by e-mailing bilge@groundme.app

Ground Me is a self help app, not a diagnostic tool and does not replace professional assessment or care.