According to the National Eating Disorder Association , an estimated 30 million people suffer from an eating disorder and this number seems to climb every year. I identify with this more than I would like to admit. I, like many many others, have struggled for years due to body image issues and a need for control. Thankfully I was able to overcome the worst of it, but it feels like the struggle never really goes away... there is no "cure" but there is for sure hope. Since my first dose of CBD (nearly a year ago when I wrote this article) I have been able to achieve a healthy weight and maintain it for many months now. In this article we will take a look at the 3 most common eating disorders, look at risk factors and signs, & how CBD can help.

First, let's take a look at the most commonly diagnosed eating disorders:

• Anorexia Nervosa is probably the most well known eating disorder & causes the sufferer to see themselves as overweight even though most are dangerously underweight. A person suffering from Anorexia will severely restrict the amount of calories they consume and almost always totally avoid foods that are viewed to be "fattening". Basically the sufferer is slowly starving themselves to death. It's worth noting that in some cases this disorder is linked to other processes going on that suppress appetite. Some signs that may suggest that a person is suffering from Anorexia include:
• Extreme restriction of food intake that goes beyond just normal dieting
• Rapid weight loss and appearing emaciated
• Abnormal eating patterns (i.e: eating only certain very low calorie foods, cutting all food into tiny bits, hiding food, etc.)
• Obsessive concentration on fat content and calorie content in food
• Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by consuming abnormally large amounts of food, followed by an immediate attempt to purge to avoid gaining weight. Like Anorexia, the sufferer is driven by poor body image, anxiety, and the need for control. The binge is described by many sufferers as a "high"while they are consuming food, followed by debilitating anxiety in the form of regret and shame. These extreme feelings push the sufferer to "purge" everything they have just eaten. Purging can consist of any combination of: vomiting, taking diuretics or laxatives, and extreme exercise behavior. Some signs that may suggest that a person is suffering from Bulimia include:
• Consuming excessive amounts of food while not gaining (and many times even loosing) weight
• Broken blood vessels in the eyes
• Disappearance after meals, met with hostility or avoidance when questioned
• Chronic dehydration

If left unchecked, these disorders can cause severe dehydration, heart arrhythmia, loss of menstruation, hair loss, depression, chronic fatigue, just to name a few.

• Binge Eating Disorder is characterized by the same consumption of abnormally large amounts of food without the purging after. People who suffer from Binge Eating Disorder will eat until uncomfortably full, sometimes even when not hungry. Like with Bulimia the sufferer refers to the "high" during the binge followed by an extreme feeling of shame. Unlike Bulimia someone suffering from Binge Eating Disorder does not rush to get rid of the food they just consumed. Many people with this disorder will eat "normal" amounts of food when in the presence of others, then binge on hidden food when isolated. Some signs that may suggest that a person is suffering from Binge Eating Disorder include:
  
• Eating a normal meal in the presence of others, but gorging when isolated
• Extreme stress/anxiety that can only be relieved with food
• Inability to stop eating or control what is consumed
• Continuing to eat even when miserably full
• Inability to feel satisfied no matter how much food is consumed
• Feelings of shame and disgust when thinking about the binge sessions

There are of course many other eating disorders and variations in severity of the 3 listed here, however most eating disorders have many things in common that CBD can help with.

For most people the obsession and compulsion is fueled by anxiety. Too many people today don't grasp the fact that anxiety can cause a whole host of health issues, both mental and physical & you absolutely can gain control of your anxiety. As someone who has suffered from anxiety and suffered its damaging effects, it breaks my heart when I speak to anyone who is suffering as well. Anxiety causes your body to flood with hormones and chemicals that can do alot of damage in their wake. A healthy Endocannabinoid System is the key to better overall health. We produce cannabinoids in our bodies that interact with the same receptors as the phytocannabinoids in hemp and cannabis. CBD can decrease anxiety, protect & heal the brain, modulate & balance the production of chemicals in the brain, & allow you to maintain a healthy weight.
The last thing I want to say is.... Do not go through this alone. Talk to someone who has been through it. The best thing that happened to me when I was experiencing the worst anxiety of my life was when a friend of mine said that she had been through it as well. She gave me hope that it does get better and that in itself decreased the intensity of the anxiety and allowed me to focus on doing what I needed to to get better.

It does get better, I promise you it does. Do not believe your brain when it tells you that you will feel this way forever... that's a lie. It does not happen fast & there is no way through it but through it, but it does get better. Please, please, please give CBD a chance to help your body and mind heal. Also, if you ever need someone to talk to I am always right here. You can message me on Rustic Oils Facebook page or call me at the store at 816-434-5284.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease