Glancing in the mirror from time to time to check your physical appearance, stepping on a scale, and focusing on a healthy diet and exercise regimen are all part of staying aware of your physical condition and maintaining good health. However, when those check-ins and routines become excessive or start to dictate what you eat (or don’t eat), they can begin to affect you more deeply than you realize.
Eating disorders are rooted in deep emotions tied to self-image and one’s relationship with their food. Eating disorders can lead to health complications and, in severe cases, suicide. Let’s explore what this disorder is really about and how ketamine therapy for eating disorder treatment may help restore a healthy relationship with food and a more balanced mental state.
Understanding Eating Disorders
Having a healthy diet and a balanced relationship with food is necessary to ensure you are receiving the right amount of nutrients. Keeping a healthy body is what fuels our brain function, and there is no surprise that the connection between depression and eating disorders is so often intertwined. First, let’s take a look at the most common types of eating disorders so we can begin to understand their link to mental health.
Anorexia is an eating disorder associated with obsessing over body image and being afraid of gaining weight. Those struggling with anorexia often don’t eat enough and cut out certain foods, which results in cutting calories and not receiving the right nutrients to fuel the body. People with anorexia are typically underweight and aim for an unattainable or unhealthy body.
Binge-eating, on the other hand, sits on the opposite end of the spectrum. It is often linked to finding comfort in food and over-consuming food past the point of fullness. This often causes weight gain, which creates great shame and guilt, creating emotional distress.
Bulimia can be seen as a combination of both eating disorders. It consists of periods of binge eating, followed by periods of vomiting. This cycle of eating, vomiting, guilt, and food restrictions takes an emotional and physical toll.
No matter which eating disorder someone is struggling with, the body often becomes deficient in nutrients, which directly impacts mental health.
The Link Between Mental Health and Eating Disorders
Those with eating disorders often develop these conditions as a way to cope with emotions and feel a sense of control. Depression itself can also lead to eating disorders. Stress and depression can increase cortisol, the stress hormone, which can disrupt metabolism and fade the brain’s hunger signals.
When our bodies don’t receive the proper nutrients, it begins to affect how our brains function. Vitamins and minerals like B12, amino acids, and iron are needed to help produce serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Without them, our brain struggles to regulate mood, which often leads to depression, anxiety, and fatigue.
Healing with Ketamine
Ketamine therapy for eating disorder treatment has shown promise in relieving depression and anxiety. Because many eating disorders are linked to depression and anxiety, targeting the root causes may lead to recovery.
Most antidepressants work by increasing the level of serotonin in the body; however, ketamine works by targeting the glutamate level. This neurotransmitter is responsible for communication between brain cells. Glutamate creates a quicker and stronger reset of neural pathways and restores neuropathic connections, leading to healthier brain communication. This process improves mood and helps people rebuild a healthier relationship with food and their bodies.
Those struggling with eating disorders are at risk of suicide and self-harm. Ketamine offers a quick relief when it is needed most. Ketamine for eating disorder treatment has become a popular way to help long-term recovery.
Contact Us Today
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder or mental health condition, reach out to us today. Our team is here to help you find the relief you need and guide you toward recovery through compassionate care.
