Perhaps conflating different coping mechanisms with one another to signify that they are being used in the same way or for the same thing. An example being using food as a comfort and a way to self sooth and using self harm. Depicting this shift and correlating the two could be done through having the protagonists view and understanding of their body change. Taking a scoop out of their face in front on the mirror like it’s ice cream ect? Would it work well to pick a specific comfort food such as ice cream in this way to clarify the point. i.e. depicting the relationship with ice cream as one of escape, piece and calm – a sensory experience to focus on in order to override distressing thoughts and feelings. Having the appearance of the ice cream in universe changing – maybe seeming more like mash potato initially or failing to work anymore as an emotional coping strategy and from there on having the protagonist interact with their body in a similar way to how they were initially using the comfort food. Auto-cannibalistic nature of self-harm– ‘the nourishment of the self through the destruction of the self’ – Philosophy Tube.