What are Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders are intricate mental health conditions that instigate an unhealthy preoccupation with body shape and weight, leading to detrimental and occasionally perilous eating habits. These harmful eating behaviors can include:
- Restrictive eating habits such as limiting the amount of food you eat.
- Eating excessively in one sitting.
- Adopting unhealthy habits like over exercising and inducing vomiting to eliminate calories.
What are the symptoms of an eating disorder?
You may have an eating disorder if you are experiencing any of the following eating disorder symptoms:
- Spending a large amount of time planning when you can next eat and what you will have
- Feeling out of control around food
- Hiding eating habits from family and friends
- Seeing drastic changes in your weight due to your eating habits
- Your relationships suffering as a result of your eating disorder
- Your health or self-esteem suffering as a result of your relationship with food
- Restricting what you eat, purging after meals or binge eating
Anorexia and bulimia
The most common eating disorders are anorexia and bulimia. Anorexia is caused by over-dieting and an excessive concern for weight and appearance. People with anorexia disorder tend to lose weight rapidly, skip meals, and still feel that they are overweight. Bulimia symptoms are characterized by binge eating followed by episodes of purging, or vomiting.
Treatment for eating disorders
Our eating disorder therapists will help you to regain control of your life and this will take place in a comfortable and understanding environment where you are free to explore your own feelings and concerns. Receiving treatment can be a daunting time for anyone with an eating disorder so we ensure that you are treated safely and sympathetically, providing the most appropriate form of therapy for your individual needs. It can be particularly difficult to accept that you have an eating disorder but we are here to help.
Mindfulness is one form of eating disorder therapy that has proven to be particularly successful for treating an eating disorder. It utilizes traditional methods of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), promoting a greater acceptance of thoughts and feelings and leading to increased self-esteem.
Get in touch
For further information, please submit an enquiry form in confidence. We will provide you with details on all our eating disorder treatments and offer help managing your mental health.