What is an eating disorder?
An eating disorder refers to debilitating eating patterns. Often these are paired with atypical exercise regimes and false bodily perceptions of the self, which dominates an individual’s life. Eating disorders can be grouped into three main categories, anorexia, which is characterised by the incessant need to control weight through not eating enough and over-exercising. Bulimia, which refers to eating followed by forceful efforts to not gain weight (such as purging). And binge eating disorder which is where an individual indulges in considerable meals until they are disturbingly full. Anyone can be affected by an eating disorder across their lifespan; with teenagers being primarily susceptible to developing an eating disorder.
What are the symptoms of an eating disorder?
Psychological Symptoms of an eating disorder include:
- Excessive worrying, irritability, and anger
- Low self-esteem
- Obsessed with how people perceive you
Behavioural Symptoms of an eating disorder include:
- Purging behaviours
- Eating excessive amounts
- Over-exercising
Physical Symptoms of an eating disorder include:
- Feeling dizzy
- Digestion problems
- Sleep difficulties
How to treat an eating disorder:
One of the focal treatments that has been consistently found to ameliorate an eating disorder is attending talk therapy.
Our practitioners have experience in a range of eating disorder presentations. Together, ChAT can offer a multidisciplinary approach to help remedy your relationship with food, your body, and mind.
Each person’s difficulty presents in a unique way. For this reason, we do not adopt one fixed method for all our clients. Instead, we focus on formulating a treatment suited to your own idiosyncratic needs. Personalising your treatment ensures that we appreciate and recognise your exclusive requirements to coping with an eating disorder.
We recognise that taking the first step and asking for help requires resilience. Having said that, you have made it here! Now, book your first consultation with us so that we may help you on your journey to a healthy relationship with your food, body, and mind.