When Trauma and Eating Disorders Overlap: How Integrated Therapy Can Help
Wounds We Can’t See Still Need Care
When trauma and eating disorders overlap, recovery has to go deeper. EMDR, somatic therapy, and DBT-PE can help untangle the roots.
It’s common to think of eating disorders as being solely about food, weight, or body image. But for many people, disordered eating is deeply rooted in trauma—sometimes early, sometimes recent, and often unspoken.
Whether it’s childhood neglect, emotional abuse, sexual violence, medical trauma, or attachment disruption, trauma can shape the way we relate to our bodies, emotions, and sense of safety. And when trauma and eating disorders overlap, treatment must go beyond surface-level symptom relief. It must address the deeper wounds.
The Trauma–Eating Disorder Connection
Trauma doesn’t always show up as flashbacks or nightmares. Sometimes, it shows up as chronic self-criticism, body shame, hypervigilance, or emotional numbing—all of which can fuel eating disorder behaviors.
Binge eating may serve as a way to self-soothe or disconnect.
Restriction may offer a sense of control or numbness.
Purging may be used to release tension or manage unbearable emotions.
These behaviors are not just “bad habits.” They often develop as survival strategies—creative but ultimately unsustainable ways to cope with pain.
Why Trauma-Informed Care Matters
Standard eating disorder treatment is essential, especially when medical stabilization is needed. But when trauma is a central piece of the puzzle, deeper healing often requires trauma-informed care—an approach that recognizes the role of past harm and helps clients restore a sense of safety, agency, and embodiment.
This doesn’t mean rehashing traumatic memories right away. It means working slowly, with respect for the nervous system’s pace, and tailoring treatment to each person’s needs.
What Integrated Trauma Treatment Can Look Like
Here are a few evidence-based approaches that can support both trauma recovery and eating disorder healing:
1. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
EMDR helps people process traumatic memories that may be stuck in the nervous system. It uses bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements or tapping) to reduce the emotional charge of past events. In the context of eating disorders, EMDR can target the root experiences driving body shame, anxiety, or compulsive behaviors.
2. Somatic Experiencing
Somatic therapies help clients reconnect with their bodies in a safe, attuned way—essential when trauma has disrupted the mind-body connection. Techniques may include grounding, breathwork, or tracking physical sensations. For people with eating disorders, this work can rebuild trust in bodily cues like hunger, fullness, and safety.
3. DBT-PE (Dialectical Behavior Therapy–Prolonged Exposure)
DBT is already well-known for helping people manage intense emotions and reduce self-destructive behaviors. DBT-PE combines those skills with carefully structured trauma processing. This can be a powerful approach for clients with both PTSD and eating disorders, particularly those with histories of emotion dysregulation or self-harm.
A Gentle, Collaborative Approach
No single method works for everyone. A skilled trauma-informed therapist will collaborate with you to find the right pace and tools. This may include building skills to tolerate distress, exploring trauma narratives when appropriate, and gradually learning to feel safe in your body again.
Recovery Means Wholeness
Healing from an eating disorder isn’t just about eating “normally” or reaching a target weight. It’s about reclaiming your life, your voice, your capacity to feel, and your right to be here fully. When trauma is part of your story, that healing requires care that reaches deeper—into the nervous system, the memory, and the self. You deserve that kind of care.
