Neurodivergence can affect many different parts of your life, but did you know that includes your eating habits? Whether you have autism or ADHD or dyslexia or Tourette’s syndrome, your neurodivergence changes the way you connect with the world, and food is a big part of that.
But eating disorders are dangerous. Anorexia in particular can be deadly. That’s why it’s important to be able to identify the signs of eating disorders.
Neurodivergent people can struggle with eating disorders just like their neurotypical counterparts. But does that mean you’re more likely to develop one? Or do you just have a different relationship with food and eating? Are your irregular eating patterns different from eating disorders or are they the same thing and you just didn’t know?
Sensory Aversions
Some neurodivergent people, particularly those with autism, experience sensory issues. This can lead you to a restricted diet. If you experience sensory issues, you may dislike certain food textures so strongly that you won’t eat them.
Another part of autism is the need for routine. If you’re autistic, it’s possible you may dislike certain foods because their texture and flavor constantly change. They aren’t consistent, and that bothers you.
Both of these affect the way neurodivergent people eat. It affects your diet, and it can sometimes mean you don’t get all the nutrients you need. But that doesn’t automatically make them causes for concern. Just because you struggle with food textures doesn’t mean you’re going to develop an eating disorder.
Disordered Eating
Disordered eating is common in neurodivergent people who experience executive dysfunction, like those with autism or ADHD. This also happens to neurodivergent people who often lose track of time. It’s what we call alternating episodes of not eating followed by binge eating.
Disordered eating can happen for a variety of reasons. Maybe you’re concentrating on your work and don’t want to get distracted, or you’re so caught up in what you’re doing, you lose track of time. Maybe you don’t even realize how long it’s been since you’ve last eaten until you find yourself extremely hungry, and that’s when you binge eat until you’re satisfied.
While this can be worrying for your health, it doesn’t automatically mean you have an eating disorder. It just means your eating patterns are not regular.
Connection With Eating Disorders
While sensory aversion and disordered eating aren’t automatically going to cause eating disorders, it’s very likely they contribute to them. Sensory aversion leads to you avoiding certain foods or nutrients that you need. If the restrictions are extreme, there may be an underlying eating disorder that makes these attitudes more severe.
Disordered eating is not an eating disorder on its own, but many of its signs are also signs of bulimia or binge eating disorder. The underlying reason behind the unusual eating pattern is what sets disordered eating and eating disorders apart.
Addressing Eating Disorders
Whether you’re neurodivergent or not, addressing potential eating disorders is important. The problem is, when you’re neurodivergent, your treatment is going to look very different to that of a neurotypical person.
Many treatment plans for neurotypical people with eating disorders are less effective for neurodivergent people. Sometimes they’re not effective at all. That’s why it’s important to find the right type of treatment that best fits you.
As counselors, we can help you figure out what works best for you. We can help you address what you struggle with, whether it’s a pattern of disordered or otherwise unusual eating or a genuine eating disorder. There’s no shame in seeking help when you need it, so schedule an appointment with us. You don’t have to live with this forever.
Learn more about eating disorder therapy in Colorado.
