Eating Disorder

Do you often obsess over your weight and complain about weight problems? Are you continuously worried about your eating habits and exercise activities? How about wearing baggy clothes or dressing in layers to hide your body shape? Do your friends or family suggest that you may have a weight problem or body image issue? Do you feel as if your concerns about your body image or weight are taking over your life?  If so, we can help you get through this!

It’s important to remember that eating disorders can easily get out of hand and are complicated habits to break. These problems require professional treatment. Our Healing Crossroads care and support can help break these patterns to regain your health and happiness. WE WILL GUIDE YOU ON YOUR PATH TO RECOVERY!

The two most common forms of eating disorders are Anorexia and Bulimia.  Anorexia applies to individuals that have an extreme fear of weight gain and a distorted view of their body image. In result of this, they strive to maintain a very low body weight. Some restrict their food intake by dieting, fasting, or excessive exercise. They hardly eat at all and often try to eat as few calories as possible, frequently obsessing over their food intake. People of all ages, including children, suffer from anorexia.

Bulimia is characterized by routine binge eating and purging. Someone with bulimia may undergo weight fluctuations, but seldom experiences the low weight as seen with anorexia. It is characterized mainly by episodic binge eating and followed by feelings of guilt, regret and depression. It is often associated with measures taken to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting, the use of laxatives, dieting, or fasting.

Symptoms:

ANOREXIA

• Intense fear of gaining weight or being fat, despite being underweight.
• Distorted view of one’s body image or denial of the dangers of one’s low weight.
• Fatigue, Dizziness, or fainting.
• Low self-esteem.
• Menstrual irregularities or loss of menstruation.
• Refusal to eat and denial of hunger.
• Eats very little, but constantly thinks about food.

BULIMIA

• Having a distorted view of one’s body image or negative body image.
• Regular episodes of out-of-control binge eating.
• Inappropriate behavior to prevent weight gain.
• Eating food for comfort.
• Self-induced vomiting or Laxative use.
• Lack of control with eating or inability to stop eating. Eating until the point of physical discomfort and pain.
• Alternating between overeating and fasting. Rarely eats normal meals. It’s all-or-nothing when it comes to eating.

Solutions/Interventions:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy to target unhealthy eating behaviors.
• Identifying irrational and rational thoughts about weight and body image.
• Learning to keep a diary of eating episodes, binge eating, purging, and the events that may have triggered these episodes.
• Identifying underlying issues related to the eating disorder.
• Chang self-defeating thought patterns into patterns that are more helpful to improve your mood and your sense of mastery over your life. Coping skills to be able to handle daily problems differently.
• Breathing exercises and relaxation techniques to deal with stress. When you calm your breathing, your body and mind also become calm.
• Family therapy and group therapy also may be helpful for some people.