Stress is a normal part of our everyday lives; and some stress can be good for us – providing us with extra energy, sharpening our focus, or helping us learn how to deal with setbacks. In fact, everyone experiences stress. It’s when stress becomes chronic, or leads to anxiety, that stress becomes harmful. 

Prolonged stress can become difficult to control, cause us to become socially isolated, impact our health, or lead to anxiety disorders. Chronic, persistent anxiety disorders affect nearly every aspect of the individual’s life. We’ve seen celebrities and sports figures come forward about their own struggles with stress and anxiety – letting us all know that chronic stress and anxiety can affect anyone. Some of the people speaking out have related how their stress or anxiety contributed to disordered eating. 

But, can chronic stress and anxiety really contribute to eating disorders? Many studies have indicated that among individuals with an eating disorder, anxiety disorders co-exist.

A comparative study published in the December 2016 American Journal of Psychiatry, indicated that “About two-thirds of the individuals with eating disorders had one or more lifetime anxiety disorders.”*  Additionally, this study found that the majority of participants reported the onset of an anxiety disorder in childhood, before they developed an eating disorder.* 

Of course, this is not to say that all stress or anxiety disorders lead to eating disorders. But, they could be a vulnerability factor for developing an eating disorder. 

So, how do we tell the difference between normal stress and chronic stress or anxiety? 

• Regular stress is generally temporary and short-lived  
• Regular stress may be associated with positive life events (marriage, a new job, buying a house)  
• Chronic stress or anxiety is a persistent state of excessive worry, fear, and nervousness that can interfere with daily life.  
• Anxiety can be caused by internal triggers and could be debilitating.

Signs of chronic stress or anxiety can include depression, digestive problems, difficulty sleeping, constant headache or muscle pain and marked changes in eating patterns.Of course, communication is key to recognizing and dealing with signs of anxiety or eating disorders in your loved ones. And, although the internet has numerous sites with suggestions for reducing stress and anxiety; your best option may be finding a trusted therapist or counselor who can help. 
 
Remember, short-term/temporary stress can increase our resilience and enhance our personal growth. When chronic stress and anxiety take over, that is the time to take action and provide needed support and help.

 * https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15569892/   
^ https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/eating-disorders#