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  • Eating Disorders


    "Eating disorders" refers to several well-known and several less well-known problems. When we talk about eating disorders, we are as concerned with the emotional suffering and disturbance in how sufferers perceive themselves as we are about the eating and nutrition themselves. It can be difficult for many people to tell the difference between their healthy efforts to control their eating, and emotionally driven and distorted efforts to change who they are, or manage emotional suffering through the substitute of food and the control of what goes into and comes out of their bodies.

    Each of the the forms of eating disorder involves deeply painful emotions and thoughts and self-perceptions, usually having to do with weight and body image. Bulimia refers to a pattern of compulsive or emotional eating followed by "purging", or self-induced vomiting. Anorexia refers to severe restriction of calories resulting in malnutrition, damaging weight loss and long-term health consequences.

    Both well-known eating disorders are often associated with something called Body Dysmorphic Disorder, in which sufferers believe in and literally perceive major flaws in their bodies, which are hugely exaggerated. These individuals cannot live with their perceptions of their bodies, and take dramatic steps to alter them, including but not limited to purging, laxatives, starvation, excessive exercise, and substance abuse (e.g. diet pills and stimulants).

    In all cases, the focus on weight and body shape is only part of the picture - these individuals cannot live with the way they FEEL, the feeling associated with being themselves. There are, in all cases, emotions, memories and self-perceptions that they simply cannot live with. And yet they do not want to die.

    This is where counseling comes in. It is important that significant eating disorders be addressed with the help of a therapist as well as medical consultations, nutritional counseling and sometimes residential programs. However, in many cases, the flexible and caring guidance of an experienced therapist with whom you can talk by phone and e-mail can be an extremely valuable part of the solution.

    Fill out our request form, and we will speak within hours or a few days, at no initial cost to you, about how we can help.