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Therapy for Eating Disorders

Struggling to overcome an eating disorder is never easy, especially as most eating disorders are triggered by environmental and societal pressures that often manifest psychologically. Whether you are struggling with an eating disorder yourself or if you have a loved one who is battling to overcome an eating disorder, understanding the signs, symptoms and therapy options available can help to live a happier life with a healthy relationship with food again.

Types of Eating

There are different types of eating disorders that affect individuals regardless of age and gender. Although eating disorders have been known to be more common among teenage girls and women, there are thousands of cases of men who also suffer with a variety of eating disorders and conditions. Anorexia noervosa, bullimia and even binge-eating are all classified as eating disorders. Anorexia is when an individual avoids eating as much as possible, ultimately lowering the body’s immune system and ability to function properly. When an individual is suffering from bullimia, he or she may often purge; eating large amounts of food and quickly vomiting afterwards to avoid caloric intake and digestion. Binge-eating is known as using food as a comforting object, rather than a source of health and nutrition.

Signs and Symptoms of Eating Disorders

Signs and symptoms of eating disorders vary depending on what you are struggling with. Anorexia symptoms include the avoidance of eating, skipping meals and often claiming not to feel hungry even when the individual has not eaten for an entire day. Eating large quantities of food, frequenting the bathroom immediately after eating and purging are the most common in patients who are suffering from bullimia. Those who binge-eat often do so when others are not around. Leaving bags of food, wrappers and eating large quantities of food at once without feeling hungry are common signs of individuals who are suffering from binge-eating.

Spotting the signs and symptoms of eating disorders is never simple, especially if you are living with the individual but rarely see them each day due to work or school. Keeping track of the meals your loved one eats may be the only way for you to determine whether or not he or she is suffering themselves. Understanding the signs and symptoms of eating disorders can also help you to determine if you yourself are struggling with an eating disorder.

Seeking a Specialist

Seeking a specialist can help to get you on the right track of overcoming any eating disorder you are struggling with each day. It is often possible to get a referral by asking your doctor directly. Working with a specialist is a method of finding local resources, rehabilitation programs and group counseling to get you the support you may need when overcoming an eating disorder.

Consider Inpatient Rehabilitation Programs

In-patient rehabilitation programs are ideal if you are unsure if you can overcome the eating disorder you are struggling with on your own. Inpatient rehabilitation programs require individuals to live within the facility while getting rehabilitated and throughout the duration of the program in its entirety. Inpatient rehabilitation programs often provide medical assistance to ensure your body is healthy at all times while regaining strength in addition to counselors and therapists. Individual and group therapy is also available at many inpatient rehabilitation facilities for individuals overcoming eating disorders.Family Therapy

If you want the support of your family and if you want them to understand your eating disorder, consider the route of family therapy. Family therapy is available to help everyone in your life including close friends and family members to better understand your eating disorder and how it effects you psychologically and emotionally each day. Family therapy is ideal when you need additional support and understanding from those around you while overcoming the battle of an eating disorder.

Joining a Recovery Group

Joining a local recovery group for those who have struggled with eating disorders is another way to connect with those who have experienced similar struggles with their own eating disorders. Connecting with other individuals with eating disorders is a way for you to get additional support while staying motivated and focused on getting healthy for yourself.

The more you know about various eating disorders that can negative impact those around you and yourself, the easier it becomes to get the help necessary to stop the potentially life-threatening issue as quickly as possible. Getting educated and informed about eating disorders, symptoms and how to seek treatment is the best way to get your own life back on track or to get the help for a loved one in your own life.