Restricting or overindulging is about longing: a longing to be cherished and safe. Both eating habits are forms of the fight-or-flight response. Without a sense of safety and belonging, fear is ever present, so undereating and overeating are ways to numb fear when there is nowhere to go. When food replaces maternal care, self-development may stop. Hidden beneath the urge to eat or starve is a little one waiting for love and protection.
