Key Takeaways

  • Veterans with eating disorders often also have chronic pain, PTSD, and anxiety.
  • People often get gabapentin for nerve pain and anxiety, but it can be easily abused.
  • People who misuse drugs may start by using them to help them sleep or deal with anxiety that comes from anorexia or binge eating.
  • Trauma-informed care, nutritional therapy, and substance abuse support are all parts of good veteran eating treatment.
  • Integrated treatment can help people stop relying on drugs like gabapentin and deal with the problems that caused them in the first place.

Introduction

Eating disorders are becoming more common among military Veterans, especially those who are dealing with PTSD, anxiety, or identity stress after leaving the service. People often hide, are ashamed of, or misdiagnose these conditions, which range from anorexia to binge eating and orthorexia.

The misuse of gabapentin, a drug that is often given to people with nerve pain and anxiety, is a very worrying trend. Veterans who have both physical and emotional damage may use gabapentin to numb pain or help them sleep better, especially if their eating habits have gotten out of control.

Comprehensive veteran eating disorder treatment programs are very important for dealing with both of these issues. They provide care that addresses both the physical and mental challenges associated with them.

What Is Gabapentin and Why Do Veterans Abuse It?

Gabapentin, also known as Neurontin, was first made to treat epilepsy. Now, though, it is often used to treat chronic nerve pain, anxiety, and trouble sleeping. Because it is not a narcotic and is thought to be safe, it is usually prescribed in veteran care systems.

Gabapentin can make you feel calm and happy, especially when you mix it with alcohol or opioids. Veterans who have trouble sleeping, flashbacks from trauma, or anxiety related to eating disorders may misuse gabapentin to calm down.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says that Veterans with co-occurring disorders are more likely to misuse prescription drugs, including gabapentin (VA.gov, 2023).

What Makes Eating Disorders Different in Veterans?

Eating Disorders Veterans

Veterans with eating disorders often go unnoticed because the military culture stresses discipline, weight control, and endurance. These values can hide signs of anorexia or orthorexia, especially in women, LGBTQ+ service members, and people who have body image issues after they get back from deployment.

Veterans may limit their food intake to feel more in control, binge eat to deal with emotional pain, or become obsessed with “clean eating” patterns (orthorexia). People who have these patterns are more likely to misuse drugs like gabapentin to control their pain or PTSD.

Veteran treatment programs that use trauma-informed care can help Veterans understand their problems better and get help that civilian programs might miss.

What Should a Program for Veterans With Eating Disorders Include?

A complete approach deals with both the eating problems and the risk of drug abuse. These programs should have:

  • Medical detox for people who are addicted to gabapentin or other drugs.
  • Nutritional rehabilitation tailored to the specific needs of military culture and trauma recovery.
  • Counseling for PTSD and trauma, such as ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy).
  • Group therapy with other Veterans helps them share their experiences and hold each other accountable.
  • Strategies that work together to help people with chronic pain without making them dependent on drugs.

Why Is Trauma So Important to Veterans’ Recovery?

Eating Disorders Veterans

Trauma changes how the brain reacts to fear, regulation, and reward, which creates a feedback loop that changes how Veterans feel about food, medication, and their bodies. Recovery from eating disorders or prescription drug abuse may not last long if you don’t deal with past trauma.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) are two evidence-based treatments that play a crucial role in helping Veterans identify the factors that contribute to their distress and develop effective coping strategies.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) says that trauma-focused therapy helps people with PTSD and other disorders that happen at the same time, like substance use and eating disorders (NIMH, 2023).

Conclusion

Veterans need more than just pain medication; they need full care that takes into account every part of their experience. Misusing gabapentin in the case of Veterans with eating disorders is not a sign of weakness; it is a call for more in-depth and compassionate care.

We honor those who have served by giving them trauma-informed, evidence-based recovery paths at Virtue Recovery Eating Disorders. To initiate the healing process with advanced veteran eating treatment, call 866-461-3339. You deserve the best care for your service, and that starts with restoring your health and self-esteem.

FAQs

1. Why do so many Veterans get gabapentin?

It helps with nerve pain, sleep problems, and anxiety without the stigma of drugs, but it does come with some risks.

2. How can you tell if a veteran with an eating disorder is abusing gabapentin?

Taking more than the recommended amount, using it to help you sleep or improve your mood, or mixing it with alcohol or other drugs.

3. Do a lot of Veterans binge eat?

Yes. Many people who have been through trauma, depression, or identity confusion after service use binge eating to deal with it.

4. What can a veteran do to get help with an eating disorder?

By getting in touch with programs like Virtue Recovery Eating Disorders, which focus on trauma-informed care for Veterans.

5. Is it possible to deal with gabapentin withdrawal while getting treatment for an eating disorder?

Yes. Detoxification and therapy are safer and more effective when supervised by a doctor.

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