Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are characterized by severe disturbances in eating behaviour. The practice of an eating disorder can be viewed as a survival mechanism. Just as an alcoholic uses alcohol to cope, a person with an eating disorder can use eating, purging or restricting to deal with their problems. Some of the underlying issues that are associated with an eating disorder include low self-esteem, depression, and feelings of loss of control, worthlessness, identity concerns, family communication problems and an inability to cope with emotions. The practice of an eating disorder may be an expression of something that the eating disordered individual has found no other way of expressing. Eating disorders are usually divided into three categories: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Compulsive Overeating.

Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa is a disorder where the main characteristic is the restriction of food and the refusal to maintain a minimal normal body weight. Anorexia Nervosa sufferers are terrified by any actual gain or even perceived gain of weight. Experiencing body image distortions, Anorexics participate in restrictive dieting, compulsive exercise, and laxative and diuretic abuse. Left untreated, Anorexia Nervosa can be fatal.

Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa, like Anorexia Nervosa, is an obsessive involvement with body shape and weight. Experienced as an addictive binge-purge cycle, the Bulimic eats compulsively and then purges through self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, diuretics, strict diets, fasts, chew-spitting, vigorous exercise, or other compensatory behaviours to prevent weight gain. The medical complications of the binge-purge cycle can be severe and like Anorexia Nervosa can be fatal.

Compulsive Overeating
Compulsive Overeaters are often caught in the vicious cycle of binge eating and depression. Using food as a coping mechanism to deal with their feelings, many sufferers feel that binge eating temporarily relieves the stress of these feelings. However, they are left with feelings of guilt, shame, disgust, and depression. It is not uncommon for Compulsive Overeaters to eat normally or restrictively in front of others and then make up for eating less by bingeing in secret. For other Compulsive Overeaters, binges consist of “grazing” on foods all day long. Like the other eating disorders, Compulsive Overeaters are constantly struggling and unhappy with their weight. It is not uncommon for the number on the scale to determine how they feel about themselves. Medical complications can also be severe and even life threatening for Compulsive Overeaters.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is the most researched method of treating eating disorders and has proven to be highly effective. The client is given the opportunity to explore the reasons why they are maintaining the eating disorder. Emotional and thinking triggers are addressed by helping the client to identify, question and modify thoughts, beliefs and attitudes that are relevant to the disorder. The client and therapist discuss and agree on a number of possible alternative coping skills.

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