I Think I Have an Eating Disorder
The first thing you need to know, and the most important thing to
remember, is that YOU ARE NOT
ALONE. Eating disorders are a lot more common than people
realize, and it's nothing to be embarrassed about. It can,
however, lead to physical problems, and it most likely indicates you
have other issues that need to be dealt with. So try to get help,
and don't be afraid of looking "bad," because you're not. These
things happen.
Clinical eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and
binge-eating disorder.
Eating disorders tend to be
expressions of underlying psycho-social issues that are causing you
problems. Both anorexia nervosa
and bulimia nervosa are characterized by fear of weight gain, feelings
of ineffectiveness and low self-esteem.
Anorexia nervosa is
identified by drastic weight loss from extreme food restriction. Most
individuals with anorexia don't recognize how underweight they are.
Even when down to 80 pounds, you may still "feel fat",
making it difficult to accept that youhelp. Alternatively, you may
recognize that you are emaciated but still experience an intense fear
of food.
Bulimia nervosa is
identified by frequent fluctuations in weight, with periods of
uncontrollable binge eating followed by some form of purging to rid the
body of the unwanted calories. This can be through self-induced
vomiting, laxative abuse, excessive exercising, or fasting. Each of
these methods are harmful and counter-productive.
Binge-eating disorder, or
compulsive eating, may be described as food intake that:
is emotionally "driven" to the point of physical discomfort
or beyond,
often occurs in secret,
is experienced as comforting to the individual and
may be a continuation of a regular meal or initiated apart from meals.
This
type of behaviour is different from bulimia in that it is not
followed by any form of purging.
Eating
disorders are caused by a combination of
societal, individual, and family factors. They are a manifestation of
complex underlying struggles with identity and self-concept, and of
problems that often stem from traumatic experiences and patterns of
socialization. Eating disorders are coping behaviours which provide the
individual with an outlet for displacement of feelings or with a
(false) sense of being in control. Common to all eating disorders is a
pervasive underlying sense of powerlessness. The thing to
remember is that, ultimately, YOU are in control of your life, no one
else, and only YOU can make decisions about what is right for you.
You can be fairly certain that
you have an eating problem if your eating behaviour or attitudes about
weight interrupt your life and take pleasure out of it. Typically,
people with eating problems are preoccupied with their weight, shape
and the food they are consuming. You MAY have an eating problem if your
experience some of the following:
excessive concern about weight, shape and calories
unusual eating habits
irregular menstruation or ceasing of menstruation
depression or irritability
guilt or shame about eating
strict avoidance of certain foods, particularly those considered
fattening
feeling fat when not "overweight"
use of laxatives, diuretics, purgatives
excessive exercise
vomiting to purge food
noticeable weight loss in anorexia
frequent weight fluctuation in bulimia
extreme concern about appearance, both physical and behavioural
The sooner you seek help, the
sooner you will be able to turn your problem around and begin a
happier, healthier life. People can and do recover from eating
disorders, but professional help is almost always required. The longer
symptoms are denied or ignored, the more difficult recovery will
be. Don't be afraid to seek help, it is NOT an admission of
failure, but instead, shows that you are in control.
Help comes in many forms, but
it primarily depends on what you're most comfortable with.
Initially people who have just come to terms with acknowledging their
own eating problem may feel that individual therapy is the safest and
most helpful route. For others, alienation has become an issue and they
are looking to meet with other individuals who have had similar
experiences. Group therapy, support groups, and self-help groups are
ways in which individuals can come together to normalize their feelings
and help each other with their experiences. For those whose eating
problems have reached a stage of medical and/or psychological crisis, a
more intensive approach may be needed, such as hospitalization or other
structured treatment programs. You can access these services either
through hospitals, local schools, community agencies, or individual
therapists.