Ali Overcame 3-Year Coercive Control That Triggered Disordered Eating
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Aug 16
Ali Overcame 3-Year Coercive Control That Triggered Disordered Eating
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 16
Summary
Three years of coercive control by Ali’s ex-partner drove the restricted eating, compulsive exercise and anxiety that first brought her into therapy.
CBT sessions linked her food rules to the relationship, where he policed carbs, imposed meal plans, monitored spending, isolated her from friends and coerced sex.
That recognition stabilized her eating, as therapy reframed the problem from body image failure to trauma and psychological control.
Treatment then used CBT and PTSD-focused techniques to challenge distorted beliefs, reduce anxiety and build a checklist for healthier relationships.
Ali’s case underscores how coercive control can hide behind apparent consent and leave lasting psychological harm even without physical violence.