Does this 'count?' What would you say?
Hi everyone here! At 7cups, I go by Platy. I don't mind Platypus if you prefer.
I do not know if I (or this post) belong here. But I know for sure that I do not WANT to belong here :( So I have a question for all y'all ... Do you think that an eating disorder is an addiction? If so, how? If not, why not? I'm almost wondering if I need to figure a good definition for "addiction" in the first place. Hmm....
Any help, thoughts, or musings could be helpful. Gee, I'd even take like links to an article or something. Not doing so great right now. ~ Platy
@cyanPlatypus6370
First off I feel for you for whatever you are going through. Eating disorders can be all consuming - I know from experience. I think 'addiction' is a matter of how you choose to define your specific struggle. Either an addiction or not, recovery from an addiction or a drug / alcohol follow the same paths. If you need help / support I would encourage you to get it no matter if your struggle is classified an addiction or not.
Hi Amy D,
First, thank you. Your input is helpful. And second, thank you again. I agree (now); it is not as big of a deal what this problem in my life is called ... perhaps it is "BarryTheOstrich" ... the point being I've come to the point now (or again?) that I know I cannot get better fully on my own. So this means I need help. I am okay with saying that here, or online in general maybe, but I "need" to say I need help with BarryTheOstrich at my doctor appointment next week and not just wait for my Dr. to ask the 'right' questions. I am good at being quiet with problems - I learned that too well in my family-of-origin (aka growing up); but I am learning now that this thing ^ is not a good thing to be good at 
I mean how do I get help 'soon enough' if I do not advocate for myself at least a little bit (sigh). Yeah, working on the assertive thing... :)
Oh, I forgot to look, are you Amy in USA? or eastern time? I, Platy, I'm in central time which is one hour earlier than 7cups time (EDT). It is surely night here, for the time is after midnight... So, good night :) @AmyDHereToListen ~ Platy
@cyanPlatypus6370 I am not an expert, but as far as I can see eating disorders are not classified as addiction according to the current guidelines that psychiatrists use.
However, some experts agree with you that some eating disorders should be classified as behavioural addictions, and it's possible the guidelines will change in future. If you search the Internet for behavioral addiction or food addiction you'll find a lot of information, but it's confusing because the experts disagree.
Here's one article on the subject: Eating Disorders and Addiction: Why We Continue to Engage in Self-Destructive Behaviors
Charlie
Hi Charlie :)
This is a sincere Q on my part - so it is not that some experts agree with me and others don't. Even though as you said some experts say one thing and other experts say the opposite thing. Which just basically shows that we do not have a full consensus yet. Personally, I "quote don't care unquote" if, where, how they classify any type of eating disorder (for there are several and variations on those). I really don't want to say I have an addiction :( ........... yet.... MAYBE people would understand having 'an addiction' better, faster, more easily? than me telling them I have an eating disorder. It seems (round here anyway) that the public, even the adult public, as a group do NOT understand eating disorders very well at all.
You said: "Internet for behavioral addiction or food addiction you'll find a lot of information, but it's confusing because the experts disagree." I very much agree (though I have not done this type of search and reading yet). I had hoped that putting my question here in the Addiction Support area, that I might get some responses. Not that I am going to figure this out once and for all, or 100%, or whatever. I'm just really looking for more opinions and personal reasons etc - instead of only drawing from what I know, right now.
I do not want to have to say I have an addiction to _______ because I do not want to belong to yet another "something is wrong with your inside Self" type of a group. I have enough already! Thank you so for your response, Charlie. We're about to start a new work week - I hope yours goes very well! ~ Platy
Eating Disorders and Addiction: Why We Continue to Engage in Self-Destructive Behaviors I'm not sure if this link is working .... did you mean for it to be a link? @RarelyCharlie
