DISTRACTIONS TO HELP REDUCE STRONG EMOTIONS: THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT

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Research and case studies:

 

Mealtimes can be a distressing time, resulting in strong emotions of shame and guilt. This is likely to be heightened in those who have suffered energy restriction and malnutrition. There have been several studies which have investigated the best methods to help combat unpleasant feelings following mealtimes with anorexia, with both consideration of visuospatial methods, verbal methods as well as somatic activities. The underlying processes that underpin post meal distress in those with eating disorders cannot be fully understood as they’re different for every patient. Those with anorexia have commented on the feelings experienced after eating. These feelings ad interpretations of their emotions range from the feeling of perceiving themselves being bigger than what they are which has been associated with distress, negative bodily images, and sensations as well as negative self-beliefs. It’s suggested by scientific studies that the feelings of body dysmorphia results from a misinterpretation of emotions of anxiety and bodily sensations of feeling full and bloated. This then contributes to the belief that rapid weight gain will occur. One possible way to reduce distress during the post meal period may involve interpreting the processing of feeling big, either through interrupting intrusive imagery, intrusive thoughts, or somatic experiences. 

 

Visuospatial, verbal, somatic and control distractions:

 

The study involved playing a computerised game (visuospatial), a computerised general knowledge quiz (verbal), a novel task requiring participants to use their fingerprints to translate a list of braille letters (somatic) and sitting quietly.  The findings of the study show that engaging in an activity after meals helps to improve the post meal experience for patients with eating disorders. It’s important to note that these patients were receiving treatment within a hospital setting. Research shows that those within a hospital domain may experience heightened feelings due to the restrictions imposed upon them after eating. These results can be relayed to patients in a community setting due to the increase of freedom they experience after mealtimes. Compared with sitting quietly, all three tasks increased positive affect, decreased negative affect, and decreased the level if intrusive thoughts and images. Braille was significantly more effective at reduce imagery. The results show there is preliminary evidence that post meal distress may be multidimensional and might be addressed by specific mechanisms which are beyond general distractions. There were both independent and dependant variables within the study which makes it difficult to evaluate and analyse the results. But the main take away from the investigation, is that to decrease the level of strong emotions and unpleasant sensations created due to nutrition are better combatted through distraction as opposed to no stimulus to bring a raging anorexic brain away from its destruction. Ultimately, the findings add to the scarce literature providing the evidence of the benefit if post meal activities for eating disorder patients. They are of practical use to patients and are supporting services that incorporate mealtimes. The outcome being to improve an individual’s ability to manage the post mealtime has the potential of improving their ultimate engagement with treatment to help combat anorexia.