I'm an Athlete
Just as an athlete has physical training, they also have mental training. However, what happens when these two areas intertwine?
Athletes often live in a world where their bodies and their performance are under a microscope. To reach a high level of success, athletes have to be very driven, and often the line between “high achieving” and “perfection” becomes blurred.
Athletes often experience a great deal of reinforcement for behaviors that can fuel eating disorders. For example, perfectionism can be seen as being a “hard worker.” Excessive training can be viewed as being “dedicated.” And “clean” eating can be seen as “being serious about your sport.” Many athletes with eating disorders feel increasingly detached from other areas of their lives, including their friends and hobbies. As the eating disorder becomes more severe, their performance can be impacted, creating more pressure to “do better.” This can increase the symptoms as they try to control their performance, and control their lives.
