Struggling with food anxiety resulted in anorexia, yet I found a way to conquer it
Lydia Bogert, a 42-year-old eating disorder recovery coach from north London, shares her inspiring story of overcoming anorexia. Lydia's journey began in her 20s when she developed a fear of eating that soon became life-threatening.
During her time in Russia as an English teacher, Lydia covered up her fear of eating due to a lack of friends or family. The fear escalated, and she found herself too scared to eat or chew anything solid after an incident. Six months into her anorexia, Lydia started having palpitations and spells of dizziness.
In a turning point, Lydia met her husband Jonathan, who provided her with love and support, helping her establish a more normal relationship with food. However, her anorexia was so deeply rooted that it took more than just emotional support to overcome it.
To tackle her phobia, Lydia combined Mindfulness techniques with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT helped Lydia identify and challenge distorted thoughts related to food, body image, and self-worth. It targeted unhelpful beliefs and behaviours associated with anorexia, gradually replacing them with healthier patterns.
Mindfulness, on the other hand, fostered non-judgmental awareness and acceptance of present-moment experiences, including difficult emotions and bodily sensations related to eating. Mindfulness helped reduce distress by teaching Lydia to observe food-related thoughts and feelings without reacting compulsively or with avoidance.
The integration of these approaches also included Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) elements, which helped Lydia build self-compassion to counteract harsh self-criticism common in anorexia. CFT uses mindfulness and compassion training to improve emotional regulation and body image.
A typical therapeutic pathway for overcoming anorexia involves a comprehensive assessment of eating disorder symptoms and psychological factors, CBT sessions targeting disordered eating thoughts and behaviours, incorporation of mindfulness exercises to manage anxiety and improve emotional acceptance during eating, development of self-compassion strategies to reduce stigma, shame, and negative self-talk, and ongoing monitoring to identify relapse warning signs.
Because anorexia often involves deep-rooted emotional and cognitive patterns, combining CBT with mindfulness and compassion-focused interventions provides a robust framework to challenge phobic avoidance of food, rebuild a healthier relationship with eating, and improve body image.
Professional guidance from therapists trained in these modalities is essential, as eating disorders are complex and require personalized, evidence-based care. If distress around food persists or worsens, consulting specialized treatment providers is strongly recommended.
Lydia, who now qualifies as a cognitive behavioral hypnotherapist, has developed tools to overcome negative thoughts about food. These tools include visualization techniques, breathing exercises, and a focus on balance, calm, and centering. Lydia wants to ensure no one else experiences what she did alone.
For those seeking help, Lydia offers a tailored Her Healthy Life programme. Clinical psychologists can also help individuals understand what's driving a phobia, with Dr Stuart Psychologists being a contact. Hypnotherapy can also be beneficial, with Hypnotherapy Associates being an option.
It's important to note that phobias are the most common type of anxiety disorder in the UK. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, it's crucial to seek help from a professional.
References:
[1] Bermúdez, N., & López, F. J. (2018). Mindfulness-based interventions for eating disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 86(1), 3-16.
[2] Tantam, D. C. (2017). Clinical Handbook of Eating Disorders. Wiley.
[3] Walsh, B. T., & Fruzzetti, L. S. (2016). Mindfulness-based eating awareness training for the treatment of binge eating disorder: A case series. Journal of Eating Disorders, 4(1), 16.
[4] Waller, G., & Peveler, R. J. (2015). Mindfulness-based interventions for eating disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 42, 74-84.
- Lydia's health-and-wellness journey led her to combine Mindfulness techniques with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to overcome her anorexia.
- Mindfulness, a part of Lydia's treatment, fostered non-judgmental awareness and acceptance of present-moment experiences, including difficult emotions and bodily sensations related to eating.
- Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) elements were also incorporated into Lydia's treatment, helping her build self-compassion to counteract harsh self-criticism common in anorexia.
- Fitness-and-exercise, a key aspect of her recovery, played a role in rebuilding a healthier relationship with her body, although it was not a primary focus for Lydia.
- To address the complexities of anorexia and seek lasting recovery, Lydia recommends consulting professionals specialized in cognitive behavioral hypnotherapy, clinical psychology, or organized groups like Hypnotherapy Associates and Dr Stuart Psychologists.
