Body Image, Binge Eating and Body Dysmorphia
Many children of narcissists have a complex relationship with food which may come in the form of binge eating. Men and women can both be affected.
Binge eating can be defined as episodes of overly excessive and rapid eating in a short period of time which are accompanied by a sense of a lack of control. This results in distress. There can be feelings of pleasure initially and then these devolve into mostly negative emotions. People may eat until they feel uncomfortably full, they may eat when they are not hungry, they may eat in secret through embarrassment and to hide their behaviour from others. They may feel disgusted with themselves, depressed or guilty after eating.
Around 30% of women with bulimia and 20-25% of those who binge eat met the criteria for PTSD.
Studies show that women and men with trauma and PTSD have higher rates of eating disorders than the general population.
Narcissistic parents are incredibly critical and the excessive and often relentless criticism from the narcissistic parent regarding body shape, eating habits and bodily changes throughout puberty can have serious consequences for the way their children feel about and relate to their bodies. The excessive criticism emanates from the extreme envy and jealousy and the desire to control which comes with NPD.
The lack of support in a narcissistic family can result in their children not being confident, resilient or self-assured. Children of narcissists may place a lot of emphasis on what others think of their physical appearance (and of them in general). Other’s views are seen as more important than their own.
Body Image and Binge Eating
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Brilliant! Thank you from Atlanta, Ga!
Excellent information, clearly and kindly presented.
I feel like this could be on the same line as chewing gum. When chewing or eating ancestral means there wasn’t a predator around so you are slightly more calm
I didn't experience eating difficulties until my enabling father died. I remember thinking clearly "I'm going to eat and eat and I don't care if I die." Good grief! What in the world?! That was 23 years ago. I gained 40 pounds rapidly and have kept it on. :( My overtly abusive narc mother is still alive, although in nursing care with dementia. I feel hopeless and disgusted with myself, definitely dissociated and unable to really see myself. If I were to lose the 40 pounds, I'd still perceive myself as obese and gross. I don't allow many photos, so my children will have few of me these last 23 years. I have c-ptsd and experience shame from the moment I awaken until I sleep, fitfully. This makes me horribly sad and angry. Thank you for talking about issues associated with having narc parent(s). Your videos are helpful and make me feel less alone and odd.
@childrenofnarcissists
10 ай бұрын
Hi amadahyrose, I am glad these videos are helpful to you. Please see this article on Shame - which I also read out on a video: childrenofnarcissists.org.uk/guilt-and-shame/ Here is a video by Patrick Teahan about shame: kzread.info/dash/bejne/gX-q1qmwdL2daNo.html
As soon as I started to lose weight because of her constant criticism she started feeding me large salads with huge amount of oil to try to get me to gain weight in retrospect it all makes sense…I would eat them just to make her happy knowing that I didn’t wanna gain weight or eat it it was definitely self-conscious and so many times I did my own way and I help other people even people who hurt me and then later on I feel regretful and resent
When you are starving emotionally you eat.
Don't confuse PTSD with CPSTD as they are 2 completely different conditions. The first is induced trauma due to extreme exposure to fear of having to kill or be killed and the other is induced trauma due to longterm emotional neglect or longterm fear of abandonment. I don't even think the two conditions belong in the same ball park. I have always been a picky eater, unlike all my siblings but I wouldn't blame it on my dysfunctional family issues. Now you're just taking this subject down the path of silly. Most body image issues come from society as a whole and the truth is most of us in Western society do not have healthy diets and never did. Young girls and boys are bombarded with advertizing about what it is to be perfect which plays a far bigger role in everything to do with this issue. Back in the early 1900's it was chic to be a bit on the heavier side like Marilyn Munroe. I'd say the Modeling & Fashion industry have been the largest influencers. One look and you can see beanpoles walking down runways as if this is attractive and it is far from that.
@childrenofnarcissists
10 ай бұрын
Hi DosBear, Thank you for your comments. In this article/video I am quoting from literature (sources at the end of the article) and the findings on PTSD. On the dissociative spectrum CPTSD comes after PTSD: childrenofnarcissists.org.uk/trauma-and-dissociation/ and interestingly CPTSD, as a rule, can only be developed in early childhood and rarely develops in adulthood. Yes, we have societal influences on body shape, but also we are affected by family. Maybe you have not been affected by this personally in your family - people from narcissistic families have similar but different experiences - but many people have been. Some narcissistic parents can be brutal about their children's physical appearance.
@DosBear
10 ай бұрын
@@childrenofnarcissists You can quote what schmeckspurt you want and you would still be way off base with regards to comparing PTSD and CPTSD. While they are both caused by anxiety and fear they are much different. But you go ahead and believe what you want. I'm only stating my opinion on the subject. As far as family having an affect on body image, etc, I wouldn't argue that, but I would say peers and society's influences play a far larger role. The parents and siblings themselves are influenced by the very same factors. Your welcome & thanks for your response, It is appreciated as well.