How To Treat An Eating Disorder With Pictures

If you are in junior high or high school, talk to the school counselor. If your school doesn’t have one, speak with the nurse about what you’re going through. If you are in college, there may be counselors available on campus to speak with. You may also have access to a health center with a medical doctor on staff. Many larger universities do, especially if they offer a wide range of studies, which include nursing and medical school. If you are an adult, search for a mental health professional who specializes in eating disorders. Try using this website or this one to begin your search if you live in the US. Outpatient therapy is also a good place to start when beginning the road to recovery, and can help address the emotional needs that accompany eating disorders. [3] X Trustworthy Source National Eating Disorders Association Nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and communities affected by eating disorders Go to source Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are beneficial therapeutic practices when treating eating disorders. [4] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source These approaches help you challenge your thoughts and feelings, which are crucial to examine in eating disorders. Family therapy is often a strong component in treating eating disorders. Families may need a better understanding of eating disorders and how to relate to a family member with an eating disorder in an understanding way. Sometimes, family dynamics may make an eating disorder worse. Many people have been treated successfully for eating disorders and no longer suffer emotionally. They end up living happy, peaceful, and fulfilling lives.

By taking care of your body, you can begin to nourish yourself and build a better relationship between your mind, body, and emotions. Be sure to follow up with your medical professional regularly throughout your recovery. If you have bulimia nervosa or binge-eating disorder, your doctor may prescribe fluoxetine (Prozac) to help reduce binge episodes. Mortality rates in people who do not treat their eating disorders is high. [6] X Research source In order to give yourself the best chance at a long and healthy life, seek medical and psychological treatment.

Many people who suffer from eating disorders have a history of trauma, including neglect in childhood, bullying, physical abuse, or sexual abuse that has led to low self-worth. [8] X Trustworthy Source National Eating Disorders Association Nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and communities affected by eating disorders Go to source It’s important to talk about these feelings and resolve these traumas through working with a therapist.

You may need to find different friends or friend groups to help you avoid triggers. Surround yourself with people who want to love and support you, not bring you down. Ignore any judgments from anyone.

If you feel like you need more support than weekly therapy, or are struggling significantly with medical and psychological symptoms, seek inpatient or residential care.

Preoccupation with food and counting calories Fears of certain foods, like those containing fat Intense fear of gaining weight or of being “fat” Perception and self-esteem based in body perception Avoiding situations involving food Frequently weighing oneself Denial of eating problems or weight loss Withdrawal from friends

Extreme food restriction Extreme thinness, emaciation Inability to maintain a healthy weight, pursuit of being thinner and thinner Loss of menstruation in women and girls Dry, yellowish skin and brittle hair Low blood pressure

Eating large amounts of food at one time Feeling out of control while eating Eating when you feel full Eating until you feel sick Finding comfort in food after feeling sad or lonely Immediately vomiting or taking laxatives or exercising after eating Bingeing and/or purging in secret Having worn tooth enamel Sore or swollen throat

Once you identify your triggers, have a plan for how to handle them. You may want to call your sister or best friend, say a prayer, or call a therapist. Your therapist can help you learn healthy ways to cope when you are triggered.

Work with a dietitian to help you get back on track to healthy eating. You may choose to engage in being vegetarian or vegan, but assess your motivations. If choosing to be vegan is a way to restrict your food instead of a purely health-related or moral choice, reconsider this lifestyle. [17] X Research source Allow yourself the occasional treat. If you enjoy brownies or cheeseburgers, allow yourself to have one occasionally. Food is meant to nourish us and also to enjoy. It’s important to eat foods you like and enjoy.

Reducing exercise doesn’t mean cutting it out completely, but you may want to take a temporary break for a bit to help your body reset if you’ve been putting a lot of stress on it. Consult with a medical professional when you’re ready to change your exercise habits. Let exercise be something you do to honor and love your body, not break it down or make it lose weight.

List the positive qualities of your body. They don’t need to be connected with your weight; maybe you appreciate your curly hair or the color of your eyes, or the fact that you have an outie belly button. You have beautiful parts of your body that get neglected when you focus only on what you perceive as ugly. It might be hard to receive a compliment without finding a way to put yourself down, but smile and say: “Thank you. ” If you hear other people talking negatively about their bodies, remind them that it’s important to treat yourself and others kindly. Avoid situations that encourage fat shaming, whether related to media, friends, or in magazines.

When you eat, be present with the experience. Turn off the TV and remove other distractions. Set down your fork between bites, and try to concentrate on the smell, texture, taste, temperature, even the sounds of the food you are consuming. [20] X Research source If your mind wanders, that’s okay, just try to guide it gently back to the present moment. Mindful eating involves making a conscious choice to eat and to determine what you eat. [21] X Research source When struggling with mindful eating, tell yourself, “I will eat my breakfast to nourish my body because I love myself. " When struggling with previously avoided foods, tell yourself, “I am making the choice to eat this brownie for dessert because I enjoy it. "

Ask if the thought is based in reality (Is there any fact or is this just an interpretation?). Look for alternate explanations (Is there a more positive way to approach this? Can there be other meanings?). Put the thought into perspective (Is it possible you are catastrophizing the situation, or expecting the worst? Will it matter in two years?). Use goal-oriented thinking (Is there a way to approach this situation that helps me achieve my goals? Is there something I can learn from this?). [22] X Research source If you have the thought: “I am fat and nobody likes me”, observe the thought and begin challenging. You might ask yourself: “Is it true that nobody likes me? No, I have my best friend and my dog, and I know they love me. " Or: “Am I actually fat? I only weight 110 pounds and I’m 5'8”, and that’s underweight. Also, my friends tell me I’m too thin. Even if I was fat, I am still lovable and loving. "

Your body will tell you when to eat and when to stop eating, when it wants exercise and when it’s had enough exercise. Learn to trust your body’s messages, and most importantly, listen to them. Trust your body’s innate ability to communicate these messages to you. If you overate or engaged in binge eating in the past, learn to listen closely to your body and any signals it has for you to denote hunger and satiation.

Think about what feelings drive your eating habits, and remember that “fat” isn’t a feeling. You may struggle with self-worth and self-esteem problems. When your attention turns to food, what happened right before? Were you focused on a perceived shortcoming, loneliness, or sadness? Figure out what emotions drive your disordered eating.

Calling a friend or family member Listening to music Playing with a pet Reading a book Taking a walk Writing Going outside

Practice light yoga, meditation, and relaxation exercises. Try progressive muscle relaxation. Lie down and relax your body, breathing more and more deeply as you relax. Starting with your right fist, tense the muscles, then relax. Then move to your right forearm and then to your upper arm, tensing then relaxing. Move through your right arm, then left arm, face, neck, back, chest, hips, and each leg and foot. You should feel very relaxed throughout your entire body, not carrying any tension in your muscles.

Make a list of your positive qualities. You might be intelligent, creative, artistic, a math whiz, kind, caring, and compassionate. You have beautiful things to add to the world; acknowledge them! Combat negative thoughts about appearance with statements about who you are as a whole. When you find yourself critical of your appearance, transition your focus to things that make you feel valuable that are outside of your looks. These can include your kindness, generosity, intelligence, and skills. Remind yourself that your value is not your appearance, but who you are.

Reflect on what it felt like to break a “rule”. Did you feel anxious before? What about during? How do you feel afterward? How did your body respond? Learn to improve the relationship you have with food, and begin to enjoy the process instead of dread it.