EDNOS: The Silent Sickness

On July 19, 2010, my wonderful nurse practitioner confirmed what I had known for just over a year. Staring me down on my appointment summary were the words, eating disorder, unspecified. Most people would be terrified of such a diagnosis. For me, it was a welcome relief. It meant I wasnt crazy. It wasnt all in my head. I had not imagined its existence or tricked myself into thinking I was ill. No, it was real. Alice* was listening, and she was going to help me.
Unspecified eating disorders make up 70% of all diagnoses among patients with eating disorders according to The Huffington Post. Also known as EDNOS (eating disorders not otherwise specified), these disorders come in all shapes and sizes. EDNOS is a blanket term. Currently, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illness Fourth Edition says a patient has EDNOS if he or she fails to meet all the diagnostic requirements for Anorexia or Bulimia (The Huffington Post).
We all know about the spotlight disorders. Anorexia and Bulimia seem to get all the medias attention. However, most people have no idea that other EDs exist. Most of these lesser known disorders never enter the publics consciousness or come up in a high school health class discussion. Some of these are binge eating disorder (BED), Bulemiarexia, food addiction, Orthorexia, non-purging Bulimia, CS (chewing and spitting), Pica, and many others. Each of these is unique. Each has its own set of symptoms, and treatment for them is often as individual as the patients themselves. However, they all are considered EDNOS by the medical community.
People with EDNOS may do some of the following behaviors:
Binge eating (eating abnormally large quantities of food in a short period of time-i.e. an entire package of Oreos in an hour)
Hiding food
Obsessively weighing his/herself
Obsessively counting calories
Chronic dieting
Systematically cutting out entire food groups from his/her diet
Purging (This can come in many forms other than vomiting)
Vomiting after meals
Excessive use of laxatives or diuretics to lose weight (forms of purging)
Skipping meals
Excessively exercise
So what causes a person to develop EDNOS or another eating disorder? The short answer is that we dont exactly know. So to get the answers, I went straight to the source-women who suffer with EDNOS every day. Rachel believes she was genetically predisposed to an eating disorder. She has a family member with BED, and has been fighting various eating disorders for nearly 10 years. Emmas EDNOS began when her daughter became addicted to drugs and alcohol. Nakita isnt sure of a diagnosis, but she has been periodically bingeing and vomiting for 35 years. She isnt sure what caused it, but it began in high school. She was an athlete and began this cycle to control her weight.
For me, I dont really think there was one pivotal moment in my life that triggered my ED. What I can tell you is that I was always uncomfortable in my own skin.. I was a very small child. This plus my disability made me self-conscious. By eleven, I had accepted my disability just as puberty hit. My Cerebral Palsy stunted my growth quite a bit and I gained an incredible amount of weight during puberty, which was only made worse by the onset of my period. My new body came complete with acne and a muffin top. It was humiliating. I felt fat and unattractive. That year, I began binge eating. I regularly hid food in my bedroom, backpack, and purse. Diets were also regular occurrences. Bigger disappointments needed more food. Diets regularly failed me. This only shoved me back toward the refrigerator. I continued this way throughout middle and high school. Shockingly, no one noticed. Then again, I was good at hiding it. Binge eating was never discussed in my health classes. This sounds unbelievable, but I thought my behavior was normal. I honestly had no clue I was developing EDNOS.
In college, it escalated. Starving myself was never intentional. On a particularly busy day, I simply forgot to eat. After bingeing, I never want to eat because my stomach hurts so bad This pattern of bingeing and starving continued until last year. God began dealing with me about my eating habits in May. By October, I had found a support group and attended my first OA meeting. By the beginning of this year, my family and friends knew. As of this writing, I have not binged in 3 months and havent starved in a month.
You may be reading this and realize you see yourself or a loved one here. So, what do you do? First, you tell someone. If you are concerned for a loved one, tell them so. Its a difficult conversation to have, but it is vital. The person you tell should be trustworthy and supportive. A doctor, parent, or teachers are safe bets. It is important to remember that EDNOS is just as serious as other eating disorders. Second, you get educated. Use books, the internet, and your medical professional to get a handle on what youre dealing with. Some of the books Ive found helpful are The Battlefield of the Mind and Women, Food, and God.Third, get treatment. Treatment does not necessarily mean inpatient eating disorder rehab. However, this is always an option. EDs can be treated by seeing a therapist, counselor, nutritionist, or other expert. I have personally known some people who have successfully treated their eating disorders through 12 step programs such as Overeaters Anonymous.
I hope this article has given you a better understanding of EDNOS. It is a very serious illness that requires treatment. It is important to remember that it is possible to recover.