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05 September, 2010 12:06:59
The Eating Disorders Service
Who is this service for?
If you are affected by an eating disorder or someone you care about is caught up in one, then this part of the website is for you. We tell you a little about how to recognise an eating disorder as well as how to get the help you may need in order to recover.
What is an Eating Disorder?
Eating disorders are not a fad or fashion statement, they are ways of coping with emotional and psychological distress. If you have an eating disorder you have found a way of managing life’s difficulties through your relationship with food.
What is Anorexia Nervosa?
Anorexia nervosa generally arises from low self-esteem and a difficulty in coping with problems and worries in day-to-day life. You may restrict your nutritional intake by cutting out meals or particular food groups and this can help you feel more in control of your life or it may help you feel more accepting of yourself.
Symptoms may include:
Your body
- you will experience weight loss. You may feel cold and experience stomach cramps. Your periods may stop or become irregular. You may experience aches and pains or have dizzy spells.Your behaviour
- you may become increasingly ritualistic or become more obsessive in your behaviour. You may use excessive exercise as a form of control.Your thoughts and feelings
- you may experience an intense fear of gaining weight or have a distorted perception of your body weight. You may find yourself becoming more socially isolated. You may experience changes in your personality or experience mood swings. Sometimes you may even deny the existence of a problem.
What is Bulimia Nervosa?
Bulimia nervosa is also linked with low self-esteem, emotional difficulties and stress. You may be constantly thinking about food, calories and ways of getting rid of what you have just eaten. You may become caught in a cycle of eating a large amount of food, feeling that you have lost control of your eating and then making yourself sick.
Symptoms may include:
Your body
- you may experience frequent weight changes, a sore throat, tooth decay, swollen glands and irregular periods.Your behaviour
- you will eat large amounts of food and might be sick afterwards. You may also have periods of fasting and may find yourself being secretive about issues related to food.Your thoughts and feelings
- you may feel quite emotional or out of control. You may feel pre-occupied with thoughts around food, eating or calories. You may experience changes in your mood or personality.
What is Binge Eating Disorder?
Similar to both anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa you use food and eating as a way of dealing with some difficult thoughts and feelings. You may eat large amounts of food and experience a lack of control during these episodes of overeating.
Some symptoms may include:
Your body
- you will experience weight gain. You may have stomach pains, irregular periods or difficulties with disturbed sleep.Your behaviour
- you will eat large amounts of food. You may be secretive about how much you have eaten.Your thoughts and feelings
- you may feel quite emotional and depressed. You may feel preoccupied with thoughts around weight and food. You may feel totally out of control of your dietary intake.
Can I get better on my own?
You might want to get help, but you may be afraid of what might happen. Telling someone how you feel can be very scary. There may be part of you that thinks you could or should get better on your own and that your problems are trivial or just silly. You may even feel embarrassed about telling someone. We understand these concerns and appreciate how hard it is to seek help, but we also know that it is much easier to manage your recovery when you have the support and expertise of a professional who specialises in this field.
What does recovery mean?
The first important step in recovery is acknowledging that you have a problem and that you need help and support in tackling it. Most people make a full recovery from an eating disorder, but it takes time, hard work and determination. It is not unusual to feel confused and scared. People often feel ambivalent about recovery, part of them wanting to get better, the other part being afraid of letting go of the eating disorder for fear of losing control. These are all very normal and understandable feelings that therapy will help you understand and work through.
What will treatment involve?
All eating disorders have physical and psychological components and your treatment will need to address both of these factors. Expect to address your eating disorder behaviours that may include any of the following: regulating and increasing your current nutritional intake, monitoring your weight or working on weight gain. Reducing and eventually ceasing episodes of bingeing, self-induced vomiting, over exercising or laxative misuse. You will also spend time exploring the development of your eating disorder, your thoughts, feelings and your psychological difficulties, as well as alternative ways of coping with the stresses in your life.
