Eating disorders are serious and often difficult mental illnesses to overcome. They can affect people of all ages, genders and backgrounds, and not only impact the individual suffering from the disorder but their family members and loved ones as well.
Unfortunately, there is still stigma around eating disorders, and the shame that comes with it can make sufferers feel reluctant to seek help or even admit they have a problem.
This is why psychologists who specialise in treating eating disorders are important for recovery. They will help you understand your disorder better and give you the tools to overcome it.
What are eating disorders?
Those with eating disorders suffer from extreme emotions when it comes to food and weight. This leads them to develop abnormal behaviours in relation to food that can severely impact their health, social life, or daily living.
There are three main types of eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating.
Some people will starve themselves or restrict what they eat, while others binge and then compensate for the extra calorie intake by vomiting, fasting, overexercising, or misusing laxatives.
How does a psychologist treat eating disorders?
Psychologists use a variety of methods to treat eating disorders. If it is related to anxiety, they can help you develop coping skills for when you attend social events or confront situations that make you feel anxious.
They may also teach you to break down overwhelming tasks into manageable ones, so that your thought process can be more realistic and less “catastrophic”.
Therapists use various techniques to help you talk about difficult emotions and process them in a healthy way, and help you identify unhealthy behaviours so you can overcome them.
Regardless of the approach, they will encourage you to adopt healthy eating habits for your body and lifestyle. This includes ensuring you socialise with friends and family, so you have realistic expectations for yourself and your relationships with others.
Why is it important to seek treatment for an eating disorder?
The sooner you seek help, the easier the disorder is to treat. Unfortunately, many feel too ashamed to admit they have a problem, which can delay the recovery process.
It’s important to realise you are not alone in your struggle and that seeking help does not mean you are weak. It simply means you care about yourself enough to try and get better.
Discovering the cause of your eating disorder is another important step. This will give you insight into why you developed this behaviour so you can stop it from continuing.
What are the benefits of therapy?
The recovery process is not an easy one, but it’s definitely worth it to be free from the control of an eating disorder. During therapy, you will learn coping strategies to help you get through the day-to-day while battling an eating disorder.
These skills can continue to impact your life even after treatment has ended.
Therapy will give you the opportunity to gradually accept your thoughts and feelings, while inculcating healthy habits that will ultimately benefit your mental and physical health.
Dennis Relojo-Howell is the founder of Psychreg. Connect with him on Twitter @dennisr_howell.