Appetites: AN EMPOWERED GUIDE TO RECLAIMING SEXUAL DESIRE AND PLEASURE IN EATING DISORDER RECOVERY

When it comes to food and sexuality, there is no better link than the human body: a complex machine that allows us to experience a wide range of emotions and express them verbally and physically. A physiological drive for sex exists in the same way that our bodies require food for nutrition and sustenance, giving us the chance to connect with others on an emotional and vulnerable level. The way we feel about our bodies affects how we feel about other people and vice versa. Regardless of whether a person has an eating disorder, it can be challenging to define a healthy and balanced sexuality.

One of the most important parts of eating disorder treatment is figuring out who you are, apart from your eating disorder. Only when we allow ourselves to explore and discover who we are as sexual beings—including our values, capacity for emotional intimacy, orientation, boundaries, and sensuality—can we truly embody our true selves and enter into intimate relationships with others

It is rare for eating disorder treatment to include discussions about sexuality, despite the fact that an eating disorder can lead to a host of sexual complications and dysfunctions. Therefore, it is not surprising that studies have found that harmful attitudes toward sex and sexual dysfunction persist even after treatment. Even after someone has been through ED recovery, shame, body dissatisfaction, and negative attitudes toward sex can still cause problems with sexual functioning and relationships. This is true even though an increase in libido may come along with weight restoration and the cessation of eating disorder behaviors. Self-esteem and body image are intertwined with sexuality and can linger long after the eating disorder's physical and behavioral manifestations have faded.

People in eating disorder recovery rarely, if ever, intentionally create space to think about and question the beliefs, values, and boundaries they hold about sexuality. Instead, we often only do so after they have been challenged, compromised, or violated. Discovering what feels right and comfortable for you personally requires being open-minded, curious, and reflective about your sexual experiences and beliefs.

So, as we start this discussion about eating disorders and sexuality, I ask you to bring your inquisitive mind along.