When You Need Treatment for Bulimia and Anorexia | Incheon Eating Disorders

Hello, this is Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic.

Food becomes an enemy, and weight becomes a report card. Your mind is filled with nothing but thoughts of food and numbers.

Thoughts of 'I must eat' and 'I must not eat' wage war dozens of times a day.

“After I eat, I’m plagued by terrible guilt. I want to hide my true self from everyone, and I’m scared because everything feels out of control.”

An eating disorder is not simply a problem of refusing food or eating too much.

It's a state where you imprison yourself in a cage of food and weight, losing your true emotions and voice, and disconnecting the mind and body.

The Illusion of Sole 'Control' Over My Life

When our lives feel like an uncontrollable, massive 'storm,' the mind desperately tries to grasp even the smallest 'joystick.'

Eating disorders begin with this illusion about the 'joystick.'

In a world where I feel out of control, the one and only thing I can perfectly control becomes the food and weight of my own body.

‘Mind’ and ‘Body’ Turn Their Backs on Each Other

In Korean medicine, eating disorders are seen as a state where the connection between the 'mind (spirit)' and 'body (digestive system)' is completely severed.

When the strength of the Heart (心), which governs the 'mind,' weakens, thoughts tend to become obsessive and easily overwhelmed by anxiety.

The Spleen and Stomach (脾胃), which govern 'digestion,' are highly delicate organs that are most susceptible to damage from excessive thoughts and stress.

The mind imposes unrealistic control on the body, and the body, deprived of nutrients, loses the strength to support the mind.

They isolate each other.

Therefore, Korean medical treatment begins by resolving the 'misunderstandings' between these two estranged partners, the mind and body, and facilitating their 'dialogue.'

3 Small Promises to Reconcile with Yourself

This is not a battle to be overcome by 'willpower.' It requires practice in understanding yourself and being kind to yourself.

Promise 1: Record Your Emotions (Feelings Journal)

Instead of tracking food and calories, try recording your 'emotions.' Note when you feel anxious, and in what situations your desire for control intensifies. Looking into your own mind is the first step.

Promise 2: A Small Gift for Yourself (A Small Gift for 'Me')

Give yourself a small gift that has nothing to do with food, solely for yourself. A warm bath, listening to your favorite music, a walk in a sunny park. Let your body know that things other than food can bring you comfort and joy.

Promise 3: Consult with a Professional (Seeking Support)

This is a battle that is too difficult to overcome alone. Working with a counselor or medical professional who can accurately understand your condition and provide specialized help is not a sign of weakness; it is the bravest and wisest choice.

Before Losing Your Entire 'Life' for the Sake of 'Control'

The price of the temporary sense of stability gained by controlling food and weight is simply too harsh.

At the end of that path lies life-threatening physical collapse, including cardiac dysfunction, osteoporosis, and organ damage due to malnutrition, as well as mental destruction in the form of complete social isolation.

Your entire world vanishes.

However, recognizing that this is a pathological condition and reaching out for help now is not merely about normalizing eating; it is the only opportunity and choice to restore a healthy relationship with food, break free from the compulsion of control, and reclaim autonomy over your body, mind, and entire life.

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