Orri

Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses – they are not a lifestyle choice or a “phase”. They can cause significant harm, but they can be treated, and at Orri we know that with the right treatment recovery is possible. There is no one single cause of an eating disorder, rather, a combination of social, genetic and psychological factors that can contribute. Many professionals consider them to be a maladaptive coping mechanism: disordered thoughts and actions that lead to compulsions that overtake daily life. Negative life experiences – for instance, a traumatic experience – can play a role in the development of an eating disorder. The trauma may lead to overwhelming feelings of anxiety and stress, and the eating disorder serves a purpose to reduce those levels of anxiety and stress in the short-term, as the individual channels their energy into a preoccupation with food and eating.