Eating Disorders

What Are Eating Disorders?

The American Psychiatric Association describes eating disorders as illnesses in which people experience severe disturbances in their eating behaviours and related thoughts and emotions. People with eating disorders typically become pre-occupied with food and their body weight. Some of the more common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder.

There is no single cause of an eating disorder. We know that genetics play a large role, but the genetic part is only portion of the story. Environment plays a role too, especially in triggering onset, which often occurs in adolescence.

Eating disorders do not discriminate and can affect anyone. Although they are most common in young women, it is not unusual for older women to have an eating disorder. More and more young men are also developing eating disorders with greater influence and pressure from social media.

Health Outcomes for Individuals with Eating Disorders

Eating disorders have been linked to many different medical and psychological concerns. Below is a brief list of some of the other conditions people with eating disorders may also experience:

Heart issues such as lower blood pressure
Stomach problems
Interference with hormones
Anemia
Malnutrition

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How Does Counselling Help With Eating Disorders?

There are so many variations and nuances, of the three eating disorders mentioned, that the approach to treatment with counselling will vary according to each individual and the type of eating disorder they have. In counselling we will explore the depths of the type of eating disorder you may have, how it developed, what keeps the eating disorder around, as well as look at other methods tried in the past to resolve the disordered eating, to come up with a.tailored approach.

Disordered eating often comes with other mental health issues such as:

Anxiety
Depression
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Trauma
Addiction
Body dysmorphic disorder

Overcoming an eating disorder is possible, together we can find a plan that will help you.