I’m so glad you are here. If you are wondering if your relationship with food and your body is hurting you, please know that you aren’t alone. Unfortunately, eating disorders are becoming more and more prevalent in cultures that are obsessed with weight loss and dieting. In fact, in the US 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some time in their life. Anyone can develop an eating disorder regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, culture, size, socioeconomic status or sexual orientation.
What are eating disorders?
Eating Disorders are characterized by extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight and food. These disorders tend to be chronic and severe, and can be life-threatening if not recognized and treated appropriately. This is due to the nature of the illness: eating disorders affect every facet of your entire being and life, including your mind, physical health and body, self-perception, relationships, and your emotional well being. Eating disorders are the #1 most lethal mental health disorder, and you deserve to get help regardless of the severity of your symptoms. The earlier you receive treatment, the greater the likelihood of full recovery.
If you have already tried seeking treatment and you relapsed, please try again. You are worth full recovery even if it takes multiple attempts.
Lastly, eating disorders don’t go away without specialized treatment. You can avoid a lifetime of suffering and relapse by getting help now.
7 Signs That You Need Some Help
The following 7 signs may indicate that treatment is necessary for you to heal from dangerous eating behaviors. This list is simplified and non-exhaustive, and is meant to inform and inspire you to get what you need. If you recognize even one of the following symptoms, you could benefit from therapy and/or nutrition counseling. Please, reach out to a specialized, experienced professional to ask questions and get support.
1. You spend a great deal of time thinking about food, your body, and numbers.
The obsession about what, when, and how much to eat seems to take over your mind- whether you like it or not. These intrusive thoughts occupy most of your mental space, and consume enormous amounts of mental energy. Panic about food and fat can send you spiraling, and often takes precedence over everything else in your life. You have strict rules about eating and/or exercising.
2. These thoughts often lead to action.
You make immense efforts to eat a certain way, and compensate for not following the “rules.” Methods of compensation (ways to “make up” for eating) vary widely per person, but common behaviors are:
Restricting food, skipping meals, fasting, eliminating food groups or macronutrients
Bingeing
Exercising to “get rid” of calories consumed
Taking diet pills or laxatives
Purging
Self-harm behaviors like cutting or scratching yourself
Hyper-critical self-talk and self-hatred
Compulsively tracking workouts, calories expended, or steps
Tracking or counting calories in your mind or with an app, weighing your food
3. You can’t stop checking
You compulsively weigh yourself, measure body parts, and/or use the mirror, your hands, or clothes to check for weight loss/gain. You keep track of these numbers, and they will often define your mood for the day. Furthermore, the results of your checking behaviors largely defines your sense of self. Your value as a person is wrapped up in these numbers and measurements.
4. You have trouble focusing
It may be hard for you to concentrate on daily tasks or to fully engage in conversations due to the extraordinary energy cost of mental obsession combined with restrictive eating behaviors. You find that you can easily drift away from the present moment toward comparisons, food rules, or obsession with body shape/size and fat. You may feel fatigued and/or anxious a lot the time, and rely on coffee or stimulants to get through the day.
5. You don’t trust yourself around food
Feeling out of control around food is a hallmark of eating disorders. You may fear hunger, fullness, and/or being near an abundance of food- especially forbidden foods. You might avoid social gathering that involve meals, or need to study the online menu of restaurants before you go. This lack of self-trust may generalize to other areas of your life as well, leaving you with a sense of self-doubt, anxiety, or reliance on the opinions and validation of others. Lastly, you may find yourself stuck in the restrict/binge cycle. This happens when you intentionally eat less than you’d like, only to binge later, and the binges are typically on off-limit foods.
6. you are secretive about your food behaviors
You may feel the need to hide your eating behaviors, and eat in secret, or perhaps you pretend to eat more than you actually do. You may purge or take weight loss pills when you are alone; or you workout, track calories, and check in the mirror when no one else is home. Even though you are an honest and good person, you feel compelled to keep this part of your life secret, and feel guilt and shame about it. This secrecy causes painful isolation.
7. You feel alone and misunderstood
The isolation of having an eating disorder makes for a lonely life. You may feel painfully alone with your thoughts, and although I’m sure you have people in your life, it can be incredibly distressing to suffer in solitary with spiraling body-hating thoughts and uncontrollable food behaviors. Furthermore, having a negative body image can keep you from engaging socially, and therefore perpetuate isolation.
Get Specialized Support
The ACED team is an inclusive group of specialized therapists and dietitians who can help you to heal and get back to living your live.
We’re here to help. Schedule your complimentary 15-20 minute phone consultation to find out if the ACED team could be a good fit for you. If you’re ready, we’ll match you with your dream team.
Legal disclaimer: The ACED team is comprised of mental health professionals licensed to practice in the state of Texas. Reading our blog does not create a therapist-client relationship between us. Our blog is designed for informational purposes only, and is not intended as a substitute for professional care. The contents of this blog should not be used to diagnose or treat illness of any kind, and before you rely on any information presented here you should consult with a trusted healthcare professional. If you are currently experiencing a mental health emergency please call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.