Eating Disorders Counseling

Eating Disorders
An eating disorder is a secret that is kept hidden until the problem, like many addictions, is out of control. Eating disorders are hard to recognize because those who are suffering from them are stealth and cover-up experts. Denial is a large part of the problem and just gets stronger as the disorder progresses. Women make up 90-95% of the eating disorder victims. (Although occurrences involving men are on the rise.)

Types of Eating Disorders
There are several types of eating disorders, each with its own unique symptoms. But all have the common ground of extreme disturbances in eating behavior:

Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa is willful starvation and excessive exercise is often accompanies it. The goal is to be at the perfect thinness state. This is an attempt to have control over a part of their life when they feel not in control.

Bulimia  
Bulimia is characterized by uncontrollable eating (“binge eating disorder”) followed by purging. The means of purging is by vomiting, laxatives or diuretics. They are actually attempting to purge intolerable feelings such as anger, loneliness and depression.

Bulimarexia
Bulimarexia is gorging and vomiting, followed by bouts of voluntary starvation and is sometimes accompanied by obsessive exercise, a combo of anorexia nervosa and bulimia.

Obesity
Obesity is compulsive overeating in an attempt to fill an emotional void. Overeaters use food to tranquilize their feelings, especially anger. Signs of Eating Disorders

Because the eating disorder victim is to good at hiding their addiction, it’s not an easy one to spot. But here are some symptoms to watch out for: