Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are characterized by severe disturbances in eating behaviour. They are generally viewed as a survival mechanism. Where an alcoholic uses alcohol to cope, a person with an eating disorder will use eating, purging or restricting to feel control in a life in which they feel out of control. Some of the underlying issues that are associated with an eating disorder include low self-esteem, depression, and feelings of loss of control, worthlessness, identity concerns, family communication problems and an inability to cope with emotions.

Eating disorders are usually divided into three categories:

• Anorexia Nervosa

• Bulimia Nervosa

• Compulsive Overeating

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa is a disorder where the main characteristic is the restriction of food and the refusal to maintain a normal body weight. Anorexia Nervosa sufferers are terrified by any actual gain or even perceived gain of weight. Experiencing body image distortion, sufferers participate in restrictive dieting, compulsive exercise, laxative and diuretic abuse. Anorexia Nervosa can be fatal.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia Nervosa, like Anorexia Nervosa, is an obsessive involvement with body shape and weight. Experienced as an addictive binge-purge cycle, the bulimic eats compulsively and then purges through self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, diuretics, strict diets, fasts, chew-spitting, vigorous exercise, or other compensatory behaviours to prevent weight gain. The medical complications of the binge-purge cycle can be severe and, like Anorexia Nervosa, can be fatal.

Compulsive Overeating

Compulsive Overeaters are often caught in the vicious cycle of binge eating and depression. Using food as a coping mechanism to deal with their feelings, many sufferers feel that binge eating temporarily relieves the stress of these feelings. However, they are left with feelings of guilt, shame, disgust, and depression. It is not uncommon for Compulsive Overeaters to eat normally or restrictively in front of others whilst bingeing in secret. For others, binges consist of "grazing" on foods all day long. Like other eating disorders, Compulsive Overeaters are constantly struggling and unhappy with their weight. Medical complications can also be severe and even life threatening for Compulsive Overeaters.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is the most researched method of treating eating disorders and has proven to be highly effective. Clients are given the opportunity to explore the reasons why they are maintaining the eating disorder. Triggers are addressed by helping clients to identify, question and modify thoughts, beliefs and attitudes that are relevant to the disorder. Clients discuss and agree on a number of possible alternative coping skills.