Eating Problems

Treatment Description

Although an eating disorder is when you have an unhealthy attitude to food and can involve eating too little or too much or becoming obsessed with your weight and body shape. Eating problems may not be just about food; they can be about difficult and painful feelings which you may be finding hard to face or resolve. This can take over your life and make you ill.

Men and women of any age or weight can be affected by eating problems, but they are most commonly affect young women aged 13 to 17 years old.

The most common eating disorders are anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder. But its also possible to have a very difficult relationship with food and not for the criteria for any specific diagnosis. This can be just as hard to live with as a diagnosed eating disorder.

Symptoms of eating disorders include:

• Spending a lot of time worrying about your weight and body shape
• Avoiding socialising when you think food will be involved
• Eating very little food
• Deliberately making yourself sick or taking laxative after you eat
• Exercising too much
• Having very strict habits or routines around food
• Changes in your mood

Physical signs include:

• Feeling cold, tired or dizzy
• roblems with your digestion
• Your weight being very high or low for someone of your age and height
• Not getting your period for women and girls

Counselling and psychotherapy can help with psychological causes of food-related problems. Eating disorder counsellors can help with issues such as comfort eating, pre-occupation with weight, binge-dieting, negative body image and eating disorders such as bulimia.

At MHS, we will work to address the underlying cause of the eating problem. Counselling will usually entail cognitive behavioural techniques such as goal setting, food diaries and thought monitoring and:

• Examine the thoughts, feelings and behaviours that maintain the cycle
• Gain self-understanding and insight, including identifying triggers
• Improve your eating habits, self-Image and psychological strength
• Develop tailor-made coping strategies to replace compensatory behaviours such as vomiting, laxatives and over-exercise.