Secrets from yourself are usually based on inescapable stress situations in childhood. They often involve blatant physical, sexual and emotional abuse. However, roots of secrets can be found elsewhere as well.

Some examples are:

• To change homes, schools, friends and neighborhoods regularly or in a traumatic way.
• To face death or serious illness of crucial people in your life.
• War
• Riots
• Earthquakes
• Fire
• Refugee flight and resettlement

Too much unpredictable behavior and schedule changes can cause intolerable stress to a child. Sometimes the child discovers that food stops or at least dims the pain of that stress.

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5/28/98 Eating Disorders Online WWW Resources