The idea of sitting as a healing mechanism may seem ludicrous to those in the throes of an eating disorder. Yet dozens of scientific studies have shown that mindfulness as practiced in Zen meditation can be very helpful to those struggling to break free from disordered patterns. In fact, a 1999 study at Indiana State University found that mindfulness practices helped patients with binge eating disorder to decrease both the frequency and intensity of binges within just a few weeks.
Psychology of Eating Disorders
Psychotherapist Susan Schulherr describes eating disorders as both obsessive and compulsive -- a preoccupation with food, weight and the rituals related to those things tied to urgent and nearly involuntary behaviors. People with eating disorders develop a belief system that ties body shape and food habits to self-worth. The disorder is "a vote of no-confidence in your personal ability to. . . create a life to be proud of." Once someone has become entangled in these damaging processes and behaviors he essentially becomes addicted -- dependent on the disorder as a solution to the no-confidence vote.
Zen Meditation as a Process
Zen meditation is one of several mindfulness traditions that emphasizes observation and detachment from thought patterns. Practitioners begin by drawing attention to their breath or another object of focus. As their attention drifts, they recognize the drift and identify ideas as thoughts: self-contained units that are separate from the self and its identity. Once the thought is acknowledged, the practitioner releases it and turns her attention back to the object of focus. As the practice advances, she may spend more time observing these thoughts and exploring any related feelings, careful to remain unattached and non-judgmental.
Zen for Disordered Eating
One of the most immediate benefits of Zen meditation is the relaxation response. Periods of meditation tend to calm racing thoughts and decrease both mental and physical signs of anxiety. More so, though, the researchers at Indiana State believe that meditation puts a space between thought and action -- offsetting the compulsive nature of disordered eating habits. As the practitioner learns to pause and observe these thoughts, he can then begin to detach the disordered belief system from his identity.
A Larger Plan
Zen meditation is only one part of a multi-pronged approach to treatment for eating disorders. The National Eating Disorders Association recommends ongoing counseling and nutritional education as the minimum treatment for people with disordered eating, and medical observation may be necessary in more severe cases. If you or someone you know has an eating disorder, you may seek help immediately by calling the NEDA help line at 800-931-2237.
References
- "Journal of Health Psychology"; An Exploratory Study of a Meditation-Based Intervention for Binge Eating Disorder; Jean L. Kristeller and C. Brendan Hallett; January 1999
- Eating Disorders for Dummies; Susan Schulherr, LCSW; 2008
- The Eight Gates of Zen; John Daido Loori; 1992
- National Eating Disorders.org: Treatment of Eating Disorders
