Alcohol misuse disorders impact millions of Americans each year. Unfortunately, many people who struggle with an eating disorder also meet the criteria for an alcohol misuse disorder. When you have both an eating disorder and an alcohol misuse disorder, you have drunkorexia. Because of the severity and risks associated with the condition, which includes a decreased life span, drunkorexia treatment is necessary in order to fully recover.
Eating disorders are a type of mental health condition that can cause you to significantly alter how much you eat and obsess over your weight. Anorexia and bulimia are two of the most well-known eating disorders. Eating disorders carry the highest mortality rate of all mental health conditions because the drastic reduction in calories and nutrients leads to physical issues, such as heart damage, and can cause fatal malnutrition.
What is Drunkorexia?
Drunkorexia occurs when you meet the diagnostic criteria for both an eating disorder and an alcohol misuse disorder. Some of the most common eating disorders include:
- Anorexia nervosa, which is when you drastically limit how much food you eat
- Bulimia nervosa, which is when you force yourself to vomit after you eat to control your weight
- Binge eating disorder
- Chronic dieting
Among certain populations, the prevalence of having an eating disorder and alcohol misuse disorder are especially high. For example, young women are more likely than older women to have a drinking disorder and more than 70% of women have both an eating disorder and drinking problem.
Drinking disorders can include binge drinking, which is consuming more than 5 alcoholic beverages in less than 2 hours. When you struggle with alcoholism, you compulsively abuse alcohol despite wanting to quit or dealing with negative consequences. Alcoholism is also strongly linked with dietary issues such as malnutrition.
The risks of physical and mental health problems as a result of drunkorexia are extremely high. Eating disorders can cause heart problems and organ damage, while alcohol can hurt your liver. A drunkorexia treatment center Portland Oregon offers is the best course of treatment in order to fully recover.
What is Drunkorexia Treatment?
Drunkorexia treatment involves both inpatient and outpatient options, as well as a combination of evidence-based and holistic treatments. Inpatient programs at a drunkorexia and anorexia disorder treatment center Portland Oregon have focused on giving you the support, skills, and guidance necessary to recover.
Drunkorexia causes both physical and mental health problems, as well as withdrawal. When you are physically dependent on alcohol, withdrawal symptoms can become disabling. Alcohol withdrawal can cause:
- Vomiting, dehydration and stomach cramps
- Intense cravings
- Shakes, tremors, and sweats
- Delirium tremors and disorientation
- Aches and pain
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms increase your risk of relapsing because resuming alcohol use immediately alleviates your symptoms.
Drunkorexia treatment requires both mental health and substance abuse treatment. Eating disorders like drunkorexia often mandate a high level of care because of its complexities. Treatment centers can help improve your diet and address any deficiencies you have. Inpatient settings allow you to have access to treatment professionals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The increased support and supervision can greatly improve your chances of recovering.
Many treatment centers offer dual-diagnosis programs, which is especially useful if you have drunkorexia. Since nearly half of all people with a substance abuse disorder have a co-occurring mental health condition, rehabs are well equipped and prepared to meet your mental health and addiction treatment needs.
Finding Help Today
If you or a loved one is struggling with drunkorexia, reaching out for help is the first step in your recovery journey. Eating disorder and drunkorexia treatment provide you with the specialized treatment you need to regain control over your life. Contact us today 866.262.0531 to learn more about your treatment options.
