Best Therapists for Eating Disorders Treatment
Eating disorders are serious conditions where you might experience a severe and ongoing…read more
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You don’t have to control your thoughts. You just have to stop letting them control you.
Lana Steiner
Layers
You don’t have to control your thoughts. You just have to stop letting them control you.
Lana Steiner
Layers
You don’t have to control your thoughts. You just have to stop letting them control you.
Lana Steiner
Layers
You don’t have to control your thoughts. You just have to stop letting them control you.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about the product and billing.
What is an Eating Disorder?
Eating disorders are serious conditions where you might experience a severe and ongoing disturbance in your eating habits, along with distressing thoughts and emotions about food. They can impact your physical health, mental well-being, and social life. Common types include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), and other specified feeding and eating disorders.
These disorders often start in adolescence or young adulthood and can affect up to 5% of people. While they are more frequent among women, they can affect anyone, regardless of age or gender. Eating disorders frequently occur alongside other mental health issues such as mood and anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and substance use disorders.
Types of Eating Disorders
Anorexia Nervosa
In anorexia nervosa, an individual will severely restrict their food intake and have an overwhelming fear of gaining weight. This can lead them to eat very little and become dangerously thin, even if others think they’re already underweight.
Bulimia Nervosa
With bulimia nervosa, an individual will experience frequent episodes of eating large amounts of food in a short period, known as binge eating. After these binges, you might try to get rid of the food through purging behaviours, like vomiting or using laxatives, to prevent weight gain.
Binge Eating Disorder
In binge eating disorder, an individual will often eat large quantities of food in a short time, feeling out of control during these episodes. Unlike bulimia, you typically don’t purge afterward, which can lead to weight gain and feelings of shame or guilt.
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
ARFID involves avoiding certain foods or eating very small amounts without the concerns about body weight seen in anorexia. You might have specific preferences or aversions to foods, leading to a limited and often inadequate diet.
Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder (OSFED)
OSFED includes eating disorders that don’t neatly fit into the categories above but still cause significant distress. This could include a variety of eating behaviours that impact your life in serious ways.
Symptoms
Eating disorders can show up in different ways, affecting your psychological, physical, and social health. Identifying these disorders isn’t always straightforward because they can manifest in various forms. However, certain symptoms can serve as warning signs that you or someone you know might be struggling with an eating disorder.
Emotional & Behavioral Symptoms
Your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are deeply connected and can influence each other. Here are some emotional and behavioral signs that might indicate an eating disorder:
Preoccupation with Food and Weight
You may constantly focus on weight loss, dieting, food rules, or specific eating patterns.
Mood Swings
You could experience extreme changes in mood.
Mirror Checking
Frequently checking your appearance in the mirror.
Social Withdrawal
Pulling away from social activities, especially those involving food.
Hyper-Focus on Food
Being overly concerned with food, calories, and nutritional content.
Eating Alone
Preferring to eat alone or hiding food.
Skipping Meals
Regularly skipping meals.
Fear of Weight Gain
An intense fear of gaining weight.
Physical Warning Signs
When your body is not getting the nutrients it needs, it can show physical signs. If you notice any of the following, it could indicate an eating disorder
Weight Fluctuations
Rapid changes in weight, either gaining or losing quickly.
Constipation
Severe issues with bowel movements.
Low Blood Pressure
Experiencing unusually low blood pressure.
Slowed Vital Signs
Slower breathing and pulse
Lethargy
Constantly feeling tired or sluggish.
Causes of Eating Disorders
Genetic Causes
If there’s a history of mental health issues in your family, such as depression, anxiety, or substance abuse, you might be at a higher risk of developing an eating disorder yourself. Genetic predispositions can influence how likely you are to experience mental health challenges, including eating disorders. Additionally, certain medical conditions like Type 1 Diabetes can also increase your risk.
Environmental Causes
The environment you’re in plays a significant role. Family dynamics and beliefs about food, weight, and self-image can contribute to the development of eating disorders. Social influences, such as pressure from peers, media portrayals, and societal standards about body image, can also be contributing factors.
Psychological Causes
Psychological causes often involve having another mental health condition alongside an eating disorder. Certain personality traits, such as perfectionism, low self-esteem, and distorted body image, can make you more susceptible. Past or present trauma can also play a significant role in triggering disordered eating patterns.
Tips
- Find Healthy Coping Ways, Engage in activities you enjoy to manage stress.
- Avoid Triggers, Stay away from situations that worsen negative thoughts about food.
- Seek Support, Connect with supportive friends, family, or support groups.
- Challenge Negative Thoughts, Work on changing unhealthy thoughts about food and body image.
- Eat Mindfully, Focus on your food and listen to your hunger cues.
- Follow a Meal Plan, Stick to a balanced eating plan created by your dietitian.
- Get Professional Help, Work with a therapist and dietitian who specialize in eating disorders.