Nourishing the Soul: Supporting Recovery from Eating Disorders

Eating disorders such as over-eating, anorexia and bulimia are complex and debilitating conditions, often the result of feelings of low self-worth and self-hatred. They affect people physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

Someone with an eating disorder (not a member of the Baha’i Faith) once scrolled through one of my books and read this quote from the Bab, Forerunner of Baha’u’llah, the Founder of the Baha’i Faith:

As this physical frame is the throne of the inner temple, whatever occurs to the former is felt by the latter. In reality that which takes delight in joy or is saddened by pain is the inner temple of the body, not the body itself. Since this physical body is the throne whereon the inner temple is established, God hath ordained that the body be preserved to the extent possible, so that nothing that causeth repugnance may be experienced.

RELATED: A Balanced Diet for Eating and for Living

She said: “If I could really believe that was true, my eating disorder would be gone”!

So how else can we help someone who struggles with these issues?

Some principles that come to mind in terms of helping someone with this issue are:

Everyone in her family and in her community has a part to play. Dr. J.E. Esslemont, in the book Baha’u’llah and the New Era, describes it perfectly:

The work of healing the sick, however, is a matter that concerns not the patient and the practitioner only, but everyone. All must help, by sympathy and service, by right living and right thinking, and especially by prayer, for of all remedies prayer is the most potent. ‘Supplication and prayer on behalf of others,’ says Abdu’l-Baha, ‘will surely be effective.’ The friends of the patient have a special responsibility, for their influence, either for good or ill, is most direct and powerful. In how many cases of sickness the issue depends mainly on the ministrations of parents, friends or neighbors of the helpless sufferer! Even the members of the community at large have an influence in every case of sickness. In individual cases that influence may not appear great, yet in the mass the effect is potent. Everyone is affected by the social ‘atmosphere’ in which he lives, by the general prevalence of faith or materialism, of virtue or vice, of cheerfulness or depression; and each individual has his share in determining the state of that social ‘atmosphere.’ It may not be possible for everyone, in the present state of the world, to attain to perfect health, but it is possible for everyone to become a ‘willing channel’ for the health-giving power of the Holy Spirit and thus to exert a healing, helpful influence both on his own body and on all with whom he comes in contact.

So if you can suggest a family consultation, preferably with someone skilled in bringing about a unified decision, it would be good. The Universal House of Justice elaborates:

A Baha’i who has a problem may wish to make his own decision upon it after prayer and after weighing all the aspects of it in his own mind; he may prefer to seek the counsel of individual friends or of professional counsellors such as his doctor or lawyer so that he can consider such advice when making his decision; or in a case where several people are involved, such as a family situation, he may want to gather together those who are affected so that they may arrive at a collective decision. There is also no objection whatever to a Baha’i asking a group of people to consult together on a problem facing him.

Abdu’l-Baha has given us a lot of wisdom in the quotes below.

She needs prayer:

Turn thou toward God with thy heart beating with His love, devoted to His praise, gazing toward His Kingdom and seeking help from His Holy Spirit in a state of ecstasy, rapture, love, yearning, joy and fragrance. God will assist thee, through a Spirit from His Presence, to heal sickness and diseases.

Regular prayer (asking God) and meditation (listening for the answer) are integral practices in the Baha’i Faith. These practices can help individuals struggling with eating disorders connect with a higher power, find inner peace, and gain insight into their emotions and behaviors.

It doesn’t have to be complicated: I often cry from the very depth of my soul, “O God, help me!”—and this always does the trick when I can’t say longer Baha’i prayers.

She needs a combination of treatments—spiritual and physical:

There are two ways of healing diseases, the material and the spiritual way. The first is the remedies of the physicians; the second prayers and turning one’s self to God. Both must be practiced and followed. The diseases that happen to be caused by physical accident are cured by medical aid; others, which are due to spiritual causes, will disappear by spiritual means. For instance: For a disease due to grieving, fear, nervous impressions, the spiritual remedies will take more effect than the physical.

The Baha’i Faith encourages a holistic approach to well-being, encompassing physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Recognizing the interconnectedness of these aspects of life could inspire her and her family to seek comprehensive care and support in her recovery journey.

After reading an earlier draft of this article, someone told me:

I struggled with over-eating and besides the help of a good therapist, my family and friends, I needed a group of people who specifically understood eating disorders: Overeaters Anonymous. The social networking and support offered by people with lived experience, for specific heartaches that led to my eating disorder, was tremendous in helping me overcome the pain and shame of being overweight. 12-step programs encourage and emphasize the spiritual nature of the compulsions.

Well said!

RELATED: Fasting and Eating Disorders: When Hunger Turns Harmful

She needs to consult the best specialist AND follow his advice (whether she likes to or not):

“It is incumbent upon everyone to seek medical treatment and to follow the doctor’s instructions, for this is in compliance with the divine ordinance.”

Shoghi Effendi tells us that love goes a long way:

The love and consideration he has been shown by the friends, and by the members of your Assembly in particular, will, he feels certain, help to a marked degree in counter-acting the painful effects of the insidious disease from which he is so severely, yet so uncomplainingly suffering.

If she could do some form of volunteer work or service, she’d be focused on others and not on herself:

By Thy Power, verily, the sweetness of servitude is the food of my spirit; with the fragrance of servitude my breast will be dilated, my being refreshed, my heart delighted, my eyes brightened, my nostrils perfumed, and in it is the healing of my disease, the allaying of my burning thirst, the soothing of my pain.

By shifting her focus toward helping others, she can redirect her energy away from the unhealthy thoughts and behaviors associated with eating disorders. Serving others can also give her a sense of purpose and self-worth.

Ultimately, all healing comes from God:

All is in the hands of God, and without Him there can be no health in us!

And finally, following God’s laws is the best way to get better:

Praise be to Him, ye are acquainted with the various laws, institutions and principles of the world; today nothing short of these divine teachings can assure peace and tranquillity to mankind. But for these teachings, this darkness shall never vanish, these chronic diseases shall never be healed; nay, they shall grow fiercer from day to day.

For example, the Baha’i Faith encourages detachment from material possessions and worldly attachments. For individuals with eating disorders, this teaching can help shift their focus away from harmful preoccupations with appearance and body image—concerns that are worsened through social media and the entertainment industry, which often glorify unrealistic body types. Detaching from these concerns allows them to prioritize their inner well-being.

As we’ve seen, recovery from eating disorders is a challenging and multifaceted process that requires a combination of medical, psychological, and spiritual support. The Baha’i teachings offer valuable guidance and solace for anyone on this difficult journey to wholeness. With a lot of love, compassion, and self-acceptance, those struggling with eating disorders can find strength, hope, and the support needed to nourish not only their bodies but also their souls on the path to recovery—and for that, I am grateful.