why do so many people with EDs struggle or move on to SH/SI and vice versa?

[psp3000]

was thinking about this today because I noticed that those communities intertwine/intersect alot

I am recovering from SH/SI but have always struggled with my body image and eating so when I was still coping using SH/SI it stopped me from binging and starving but now that I don't cope that way all I can do is either binge or starve to feel something or a feeling of accomplishment or maybe it is just another way of self harm for me who knows

one similarity I can think of is disliking your body so much that you would like to change it in some way although everyone's reasoning or story as to how they spiralled into ED-ed behavior is different

edit: to me they don't seem that different because I see them both falling under the umbrella of self harm

 

[AnonymousL]

For some people their ED isn't about body image issues or wanting to be super skinny, its about control.
They want to be in control over their body and what they eat or don't eat or wether they gain or not.

The same thing applies to SH. That's also about control for some people.

When you inflict harm on yourself you control the pain. It's not someone else causing you pain.
Whenever something sad happens in your life, you don't have control over it most of the times but with SH you do have the control over it. You choose how much, where, with what,....


That's my thoughts about it but ofcourse I can't speak for all.

 

[psp3000]

When you inflict harm on yourself you control the pain. It's not someone else causing you pain.
Whenever something sad happens in your life, you don't have control over it most of the times but with SH you do have the control over it. You choose how much, where, with what,....

that makes sense I never really thought about that but I can relate to that a lot
thank you for your thoughts

 

[Sweet Tart]

I wish I had useful insights to share. All I can say is that I agree there is overlap with ED and SH/SI and I also think there is overlap between EDs and addiction behaviors. I don't think there is much consensus about identifying or effectively treating EDs and it's very frustrating.