Eating Disorders affect about 30 million people each year and seem to present themselves most often when a person is a young adult or just beginning their college years. We see people suffering from this devastating illness as young as 12 and into full adulthood. Eating Disorders are a real illness that can plague a person for a lifetime and end in fatal results. There are several different types of eating disorders. Being too small or too large isn’t the only indicator that your body is suffering from an eating disorder.

What Is An Eating Disorder?

• BINGE EATING DISORDER
  It’s the most common, and occurs when a person feels out of control. They consume so much food; it leads to discomfort and guilt, and possible severe weight gain.
• ANOREXIA NERVOSA – The Most Recognized Eating Disorder
  Sufferers have an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of what their body looks like. They will severely restrict, and/or purge calories to the point of starving, and generally tend to be at a weight that is noticeably too low.
• BULIMIA NERVOSA – The Easiest To Hide Eating Disorder
  Is the result of bingeing on large amounts of food and then throwing up (or purging) that food in the mistaken belief that minimal weight is gained.
• OTHER UNHEALTHY EATING BEHAVIORS
  For those that don’t fall in one of the above, but suffer from variations of the above, you may fall into the category of Other Eating Disorders.

Do You Show the Signs Of An Eating Disorder?

If you’re struggling with the way you perceive your body, and the way you choose to diet and eat your food, there’s a good possibility you have an eating disorder. Look at these 5 symptoms to see if this sounds like you, a family member, or a friend. You or the person you care about can learn what to do to take back control:

• SIGN 1: You Hide Weight Loss and Eating Habits
  If you’ve been restricting calories to the point that your clothes now look a couple of sizes bigger, or you know you will eat so much that you hide it from everybody, you may be hiding intense feelings about food that point to an eating disorder.
• SIGN 2:  You Feel Out of Control, or Have Anxiety
  Sometimes, when a big change like college occurs, you may feel out of control or saddened by the loss of what once was. These feelings can trigger you to try and feel in control through your food and your weight.
• SIGN 3: You Constantly Count Calories
  Working out is great for your body and mind, but if you’re hitting the gym with the sole purpose of eliminating each and every calorie you’ve consumed for the day, you may have an eating disorder. If you obsessively count calories and restrict yourself well under the daily amount needed, it is a sign that something is wrong.
• SIGN 4: You Avoid Eating with Others
  Withdrawing from your peers, especially when it’s time to eat is a common sign of an eating disorder. This could be because you feel guilty about the amount of food you will eat or because you have created rituals around the eating process.
• SIGN 5: You Consume Large Amounts of Food
  Everybody typically thinks an eating disorder is only about restricting, or binging and purging, but you would be wrong. If someone takes uncommon steps like abuse of laxatives, diuretics, diet pills, they may have an eating disorder.

Emotional Impact is a Key Component of Eating Disorders

The type of disordered eating is less important than if a person feels badly about themselves before, during, and after eating. If that is yours or a loved one’s situation, it likely indicates an eating disorder. Eating disorders are a real illness that you can’t fight alone. It’s not even really about the food itself. It’s more about extreme anxiety, trauma, and exercising control.

Don’t Try Fighting This Alone

Treatment for an eating disorder requires trained and experienced therapists to get to the root of the problem. Sirona Therapy, and our team of compassionate dedicated experts, will help you heal and deal with an eating disorder. Our outpatient treatment gets results. Learn how to get back on track and understand the motivation behind the self-harmful behaviors that have become all-consuming. Reach out today!

If you would like more information about our programs, or need help:

Jennifer L. Zauner, LCSWR
Clinical Director

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