Seeking Help for Eating Disorders – Overcoming Denial and Shame

Eating disorders are characterized by a person’s behavior patterns – the way that someone processes thoughts and perceives external information drives the development of bad eating habits and unhealthy activities. The eating disorders of anorexia and bulimia are rooted in psychological problems that often begin in childhood. Those who suffer from eating disorders have a warped perception of themselves and the world around them.

The disorder is not just found in adult women -it commonly affects men, boys and girls. People with eating disorders often suffer from anxiety, depression, lowered self-esteem and feelings of shame. With proper treatment, eating disorders can be controlled allowing an individual can gain a fuller life.

Types of Eating Disorders

Anorexia is an eating disorder where a person voluntarily reduces their food intake and partakes in extreme levels of physical activity to lose weight, causing the body to starve. They may perceive themselves as acting perfectly normal – perhaps thinking their behavior is normal dieting and not risky enough to damage their mental and physical health.

Bulimia is evident when someone continually consumes large amounts of food – in excess of what their body needs to survive. This is followed by behaviors or actions to rid the body of the large amounts of calories they ate through activities such as purging, use of laxatives, fasting or over-exercising.

Treatment for Eating Disorders

Psychotherapy

There are mutually effective treatments applied to both types of eating disorders. The most common is psychotherapy. More than 1% of patients with bulimia also suffer, or suffered, from anorexia – the root cause of the issues are likely the same. Treatment with psychotherapy should address all potential disorders, such as depression, as well. Because a person may be experiencing more than one illness or disorder, psychotherapy can be a lengthy process. It will consider all of the emotional and cognitive issues that cause eating disorders.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

The treatment that is preferred for both eating disorders, but for which there is less research to prove results, is cognitive-behavior therapy. The length of treatment is limited and its focus is designed to help the individual analyze their negative self-talk and self-image. By identifying, confronting and changing their cognitive-behaviors, a person can begin to take more control of the eating disorder(s).

According to eating disorder expert and psychologist John M. Grohl, “Cognitive behavioral therapy is the gold standard treatment for anorexia.” In 2008 the U.S. National Guideline Clearinghouse looked at treatments for bulimia and reported, “Cognitive behavioral therapy administered individually or in groups reduced core symptoms of binge eating, purging, and psychological features in both the short and the long term.”

Family Therapy

For both anorexia and bulimia, family therapy is also a viable eating disorder treatment option. This involves joint therapy sessions between the individual with the eating disorder and their family. The sessions help like any other counseling sessions, in that a person will begin to recognize the impacts and severity of their behaviors on their loved ones. Family therapy helps an individual with an eating disorder listen to feedback from their family, acknowledge impacts, and accept that they need and want treatment for the disorder.

Psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral and family therapy are all proven methods for their effectiveness through application, and with research to support their results.

The first step to assessing if you or a loved one has an eating disorder is usually to meet with an eating disorder specialist. The eating disorder specialist is an expert who will evaluate if an eating disorder exists in an individual. This is commonly followed by a visit with a physician who will determine a person’s overall health and any issues related to the eating disorder. These steps are necessary to determine the best course of action and treatment to address the eating disorder. Don’t underestimate the number and seriousness of issues that eating disorders cause. If you have an eating disorder – know that it’s not your fault. Help is available to give you the guidance, support and life you deserve.