Eating Disorders
The label Eating Disorder can lay claim to a wide variety of habits from
Over eating to Anxoriea. Such is the seriousness of each to the
individual suffering from an eating disorder that it is important to point out that there
is help but the insistence on wanting the help and making the commitment to ask and work at the therapy
is the first step to recovery.
In todays society Eating disorders effects almost every family at some stage and increasing numbers of younger people both boys and girls are suffering from this Mental Illness . For parents it is a frightening experience to watch their child as young as six develop an Eating disorder but these are facts of to-days society.
What triggers an eating disorder is different for each individual. The associations with body image/ weight/ food are different for each individual and are linked to self esteem and confidence. The use of Counselling and Psychotherapy in helping with eating disorders along with a combination of CBT therapies and hypnotherapy [hypnosis] is a process I find invaluable when working in this area.
What are Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and
binge eating disorder include extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviours surrounding
weight and food issues. Eating disorders are serious emotional and physical problems that
can have life-threatening consequences for females and males of all ages.
ANOREXIA NERVOSA is characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. Symptoms include:
- Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for height, body Type, age, and activity level
- Intense fear of weight gain or being “fat”
- Feeling “fat” or overweight despite dramatic weight loss
- Loss of menstrual periods
- Extreme concern with body weight and shape
BULIMIA NERVOSA is characterized by a secretive cycle of binge eating followed by purging. Bulimia includes eating large amounts of food--more than most people would eat in one meal--in short periods of time, then getting rid of the food and calories through vomiting, laxative abuse, or over exercising. Symptoms include:
- Repeated episodes of bingeing and purging
- Feeling out of control during a binge and eating beyond the point of comfortable fullness
- Purging after a binge, (typically by self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives, diet pills And/or diuretics, excessive exercise, or fasting)
- Frequent dieting
- Extreme concern with body weight and shape
BINGE EATING DISORDER (also known as COMPULSIVE OVEREATING) is
characterized primarily by periods of uncontrolled, impulsive, or continuous eating beyond the point of
feeling comfortably full. While there is no purging, there may be sporadic fasts or repetitive diets and
often feelings of shame or self-hatred after a binge. People who overeat compulsively may struggle with
anxiety, depression, and loneliness, which can
contribute to their unhealthy episodes of binge eating. Body weight may vary from normal to mild,
moderate, or severe obesity.
OTHER EATING DISORDERS can include some combination of the signs and symptoms of
anorexia, bulimia, and/or binge eating disorder. While
these behaviours may not be clinically considered a full syndrome eating disorder, they can still be
physically dangerous and emotionally draining.
Help with eating disorders:
Among mental disorders, treatment of eating disorders can sometimes be especially
challenging -- for the person with the disorder, their family and loved ones, and even for the therapist.
Eating disorders are characterized in most adults who have them by a life-long pattern
of eating and associating food with emotional fulfilment or coping with negative emotions. Many people
who do this don't even realize the association they've made. Therefore one component of many people's
successful treatment will be to help the person gain that insight.
Treatments for each of the different types of eating disorders vary somewhat. Psychotherapy is the core of all eating disorders treatment so it's
best to read more about the specific disorder's treatment you're most interested in. As I have stated I
use a combination of Psychotherapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
If you are a concerned parent or friend or indeed someone suffering in silence, unsure of how to
address the above issues, please feel free to contact me on (087) 320 6842 or (053) 938 2819.