Should you consult a psychotherapist for an eating disorder? Incidences of eating disorders are on the rise in both women and men. More broadly, many people are struggling with disordered eating, which is a term that captures a challenging relationship with food, that does not necessarily meet criteria to be diagnosed as an eating disorder. Your body image and your relationship with food can seriously affect your quality of life. It can also be difficult to alter these areas on your own. Learn how counseling can be a crucial part of treating these mental health concerns:
Eating Disorders Defined
You may have heard of eating disorders. They are often depicted on television and movies. Sometimes, eating disorders can present with complex symptoms and can even become dangerous. In fact, there are 3 forms of eating disorder that a person may be affected by. Each has its own symptoms and risks.
Anorexia nervosa may appear as the most commonly talked about disorder. This involves restriction of eating. Oftentimes, the person will get to a point where they eat very little or nothing on a regular basis. As a result, they lose weight and their health can be at significant risk. The disorder can result in death.
Bulimia nervosa is also well known. This disorder involves engaging in a cycle of binging and purging behaviors. A binge is defined as eating a large amount of food in a very short time period, with a sense of loss of control over one’s eating. A purge is intended to eliminate that food. This is usually done through vomiting, but it can also be done with the use of laxatives and excessive exercise.
Another, lesser known eating disorder is called binge eating disorder. This involves engaging in binging behaviors without the purging behaviors. This disorder can cause weight gain. Both bulimia and binge eating disorder can be difficult to manage, with health effects that increase over time.
Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are all serious conditions. They are each incredibly difficult for a person to manage or eliminate on their own. If you suspect you have one of these conditions, it is important to seek therapy from someone experienced in treating eating disorders.
Disordered Eating Concerns
Not every unusual eating behavior will fit neatly into one of the above categories. Some symptoms may overlap or not quite measure up. This does not mean that those symptoms are not cause for concern. Instead, they may constitute disordered eating behaviors that would also benefit from treatment.
In the category of disordered eating could be behaviors such frequent dieting, excessive exercise, and constant critiques of one’s body. Such behaviors could be the result of poor body image and low self-esteem. If left unchecked, these concerns could grow and become a bigger problem such as a more clearly defined eating disorder. For this reason, it is important to seek therapeutic help right away.
Closing Thoughts
If you suspect you have an eating disorder or if you have noticed that you are engaging in disordered eating behaviors, then you will want to seek help. A trained and experienced counselor can assist you in addressing these concerns.
Contact experienced and Licensed Clinical Social Worker Laurie Sloan at 212-413-7088 today to schedule an appointment for treatment of your eating related concerns.
For more information, please visit my main website: www.LaurieSloane.com
See our other blog post on this topic: https://www.best-therapist-nyc.com/top-therapist-in-nyc-will-therapy-help-eating-disorders/