Eating Disorders Counseling

 

 

Admitting you have an eating, exercise, or body image problem that requires treatment is difficult. We understand that taking those first steps toward seeking help are filled with fear and anxiety but we also want to stress that there is HOPE! Finding and getting the right help is essential. There are a variety of treatment options available: individual therapy, group therapy, nutritional support, psychiatric care, outpatient, inpatient, residential, etc., and we can help you locate these resources.

 

You are not alone, do not be afraid to take the first steps toward your recovery

 

Persons with Anorexia Nervosa deliberately attempt to lose weight through self-starvation. Even though they may be extremely underweight, they see themselves as "fat", deny any problem with their eating habits, and will resist any efforts made to get them to eat or return to a more healthy weight.

 

Persons with Bulimia engage in frequent, often daily binge eating in which they eat very large amounts of food, often in secret. They will then try to counteract the binge by purging, which may involve self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, or prolonged fasting and exercise. Persons with Bulimia feel out of control in the cycle of bingeing and purging. Both of these disorders occur more frequently in young women, with Bulimia being the more common. It is estimated that one in twenty college-age women have an eating disorder. Both disorders may have serious medical consequences.

 

What is Anorexia Nervosa?

Anorexia Nervosa is a serious psychological and physiological disorder. Anorexia Nervosa has the following characteristics:

• The anorexic restricts eating to the point of emaciation.
• The anorexic may exercise constantly and take laxatives or diuretics to lose weight.
• The most common ages of onset are 11 and 18, the beginning and ending of adolescence.
• The disorder is mostly diagnosed in the upper middle class. However, both rich and poor can develop the disorder.
• Even though anorexics are extremely thin and underweight, most insist that they are not hungry or thin.
• With psychological help about 1/3 of all anorexics get better. About 20% die of the disorder.
• Approximately 60% of all anorexics also develop bulimia.

 

What is Bulimia?

Bulimia is binge-eating followed by self-induced vomiting or the use of laxatives. Bulimia has the following characteristics:

• The disorder usually begins in late adolescence and early adulthood.
• It is not easily recognized by others because bulimics may be of normal weight or a little overweight.
• Bulimics are aware of the problem and try to keep it a secret.
• Bulimics may become depressed, guilty, and disgusted with their binge-purge cycles. Yet they will not stop the behavior.

 

The Risks of Anorexia Nervosa & Bulimia

 

Anorexia Nervosa

• Loss of approximately 30% or more of body weight leading to emaciation.
• Irregular or complete loss of menstrual period.
• Dry skin.
• Hair loss.
• Growth of fine body hair.
• Withdrawal and isolation.
• Death.

 

Bulimia

• Abdominal pain due to overeating.
• Heart and kidney problems.
• Excessive constipation.
• Digestive problems.
• Swollen salivary glands.
• A tear in the esophagus.
• Diarrhea.
• Feelings of depression, guilt, self-disgust and loss of control.
• Loneliness and isolation.
• Frequent weight fluctuation.

 

While many persons with Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia deny the problem and are reluctant to seek help, they often come to the attention of friends and family. A direct, caring, and nonjudgmental expression of concern about their health by friends and family is often a vital first step in enabling persons with eating disorders to seek appropriate treatment.

 

Help is available in the form of individual psychotherapy, medical and nutritional counseling, and self-help support groups. With proper help, persons with an eating disorder can learn to stabilize their eating patterns, maintain a healthy weight, and become less preoccupied with food.

 

 

 

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