Many of us are unaware of the personal relationship we have with food but most of us will turn to food, or away from it, at times of distress.
Problems can begin when a person uses food as their primary method of coping with difficult circumstances.
Disordered eating may involve either insufficient or excessive food intake to the detriment of a person’s physical, psychological and emotional health. It is often described as an outward expression of internal, often unexpressed, pain and confusion.
Disordered eating is complex and rarely attributable to just one factor. Common triggers include bereavement, bullying, abuse, trauma, low self-esteem, family issues and some illnesses. Idealised unrealistic body images in the media also play a role.
Though anyone can develop disordered eating habits, most likely to be affected are females between 15 and 25 years old. The number of males developing disordered eating is on the rise.
Types of disordered eating
Three common diagnoses for disordered eating are:
Also known simply as anorexia, this is characterised by extremely low body weight, distorted body image and an obsessive fear of gaining weight. Characterised by self-starvation and excessive weight loss, it is potentially life-threatening. People with anorexia nervosa may go to extreme lengths to limit food or calorie intake in an effort to attain a very specific, and unhealthy, body image. They may also exercise excessively.
Also known simply as bulimia, this is characterised by secretive cycles of binge eating followed by activities to compensate. Someone with bulimia will eat large amounts of food in a short period of time, then attempt to get rid of the food or calories through vomiting, using enemas or laxatives or exercising excessively. Bulimia can be life-threatening.
Sometimes called compulsive eating, this is characterised by periods of uncontrolled, impulsive or continuous eating to the point of being uncomfortably full. While there is no immediate purging (getting the food out of the body, as in bulimia) there may be sporadic fasts and diets as an attempt to compensate for over-eating.
Disordered eating of any type can be accompanied by feelings of shame, guilt, regret and depression. Eating disorders often lead to secondary health problems like damage to the teeth, reproductive system and digestive system.
Together with you, we can make things better
Counselling for eating disorders takes time and commitment, but it really helps. Your counsellor will support you in understanding the underlying causes and the immediate triggers of your disordered eating. They will help you to find other ways to cope when things get difficult.
Disordered eating can be about exercising control. People who don’t have control over other areas of their life can find comfort in controlling their eating. We will help you to gain control over other areas of your life and to express your distress in healthier ways.
Our therapists understand why people develop eating disorders; they won’t judge you. They are warm and empathic and will treat everything you say as confidential.
Meet our therapists working with eating disorders
