From a study on perfection and anorexia:

Levels of perfectionism stayed the same while eating disorder symptoms and psychiatric symptoms decreased during recovery. Levels of perfectionism were inversely related to duration of remission so that individuals that had short illness duration had lower levels of perfectionism at both follow-ups. Patients with initial high levels of perfectionism may be at risk for a long illness duration which we recommend clinicians to acknowledge.

I am personally very interested in “chronic anorexia” — which is a controversial topic, since some believe that all eating disorders are life-long illnesses (like addictions — even when you haven’t had a drink in 30 years, you still haven’t recovered) and others believe that everyone can recover and that there is no difference between a “chronic anorexic” and any other anorexic.

I fall somewhere between the two camps — I think some people have chronic eating disorders and others do not. I believe that there is an inherent difference… possibly a genetic difference. Maybe compare it to depression — some people have Major Depressive Disorder, and others have one depressive episode in their life (which could be largely situational). Some people really do have a chemical imbalance that requires them to be on medicine for life, while others can take SSRIs for 6 months and be okay. At some point, depression is depression… but I really think you’re dealing with two different beasts.

The word “risk” really speaks to chronic anorexia. I feel that people with some degree of an ED history are forever at risk. Not everyone, but those with chronic EDs — yes, forever at risk. This article shows that there are underlying differences — in this case, a personality trait (perfectionism). It’s not just about the food, bad body image, or your even your familial relationships and childhood experiences… it’s this underlying risk. Because of who you are — your genetic predisposition, personality, and comorbidities — you are always at risk. Not that you can’t get better and live a normal life — but you have to be conscious.

Tags: Eating disorder, anorexia, chronic anorexia, bulimia, perfectionism, recovery, eating disorder recovery, mental illness