Disordered eating occurs when thoughts and habits around food become abnormal. If these behaviors continue, it is possible for one to develop an eating disorder. There are many kinds of eating disorders, with the most common being compulsive overeating, anorexia and bulimia. One of the biggest challenges affecting someone who has an eating disorder is that he or she may no longer have the same physical signals to alert them of hunger. Eating disorder help is essential for a person to break the cycle of harm and begin to heal both the body and mind by utilizing eating disorder treatment.

But what is normal? This is possibly the hardest thing to define: normal eating. Everyone eats differently, from one dinner table to the other, there is no one right way to eat, however there are healthy and unhealthy ways in which to consume meals. Food in its essence is meant to nurture our bodies. Food is also often incorporated in most gathering to bringing people together and connect. Sometimes people go off track and their eating habits become unmanageable. Eating disorder help begins by identifying the relationship someone has with food.

Compulsive overeating is often associated with binge eating. Binging is eating large amounts of food without having the control to stop. Many times an emotional trigger is associated with compulsive overeating, such as stress, boredom, anxiety, or being overwhelmed. In these cases, food brings the individual short term comfort. Eating disorder treatment is a viable way to examine exactly what triggers this compulsive overating. In treatment we learn how to sit with these emotions and identify the underlying issues at hand.

Anorexia is typically associated with someone who is eating far less than the average person and has become too thin. In some cases, women no longer produce a menstrual cycle caused by malnutrition and being underweight. Eating disorder help is essential for someone with anorexia because there are severe physical risks at hand. Someone with anorexia may have a fear of becoming overweight and feel the need to continue to restrict even when they are already underweight. Restricting certain foods, constantly obsessing about what they have eaten, and punishing oneself for eating are all common traits of someone suffering with anorexia.

Bulimia is characterized by the need to “purge” or vomit after eating. Binge episodes followed by vomiting, exercising compulsively, or laxatives abuse are also common. There can be restrictive behaviors associated with bulimia as well. After eating, someone with bulimia will feel uncomfortable both physically and emotionally until they have purged or engaged in a behavior that has counteracted the eating.

What is your relationship with food? Often people have a combination of these eating disorder habits. There is an enormous amount of fear, shame, and guilt that comes with eating disorders. It is not uncommon for someone with disordered eating to isolate themselves and hide their habits from even those closest in their lives. Eating disorder help has become more widely available through books on mindful eating and support groups such as Overeaters Anonymous (OA).

At Solutions Treatment Center we offer eating disorder treatment that looks at the underlying issues and supports you in building a healthier relationship with food and yourself, ultimately helping you to live a more fulfilling life. Please give one of our caring counselors a call at 1-877-499-1354.