Around 30 million people in US alone are suffering from the most common eating disorders—anorexia and bulimia. This should heighten the alarm for the disorders’ consequences. It can range from life threatening to fatal. These cases can still be treated or even prevented at the onset. Baltimore anorexia and bulimia counseling may be an effective way to do it. However, only a small percentage of the affected population are able to get treatment. This result is according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. Hence, there are still a lot of patients that have to suffer from the consequences of these diseases.
The good news is that there are effective treatment options for anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders. You can receive eating disorder therapy at Thriveworks Baltimore, MD as soon as today or tomorrow. If you are struggling with anorexia, bulimia, or another disorder, know that the therapists and counselors at Thriveworks Baltimore are here to help you.
Top Causes of Eating Disorders?
The common misconception is that anorexia and bulimia are simple cases of disorders and getting back on track is easy. They are more complicated and they are also caused by other factors:
- Genetics is a critical factor in the person’s likelihood to acquire these disorders. When the person has family members who suffer from the same disorder, he/she is more likely to acquire it as well. The person’s genes also affect his/her behavior towards food.
- Depression also affects the person’s behavior towards eating, he/she can either totally abhor or be obsessed about food. A person who is undergoing depression can also show symptoms which is similar to that of a person who suffers from eating disorders.
- Traumatic experiences can affect the person’s self-esteem and confidence, wherein he/ could have experienced shame and guilt over eating. These experiences can vary from emotional, physical, or sexual abuse.
- Due to exposure to fad diets and other weight loss products, the person can develop eating disorders
- The people around the person can highly influence his/her perception towards food and his/her body image.
Symptoms of Eating Disorders
- Purposeful negligence of food intake.
- Depression and anxiety.
- One’s obsession about his/her body image.
- Engaging in a wrong diet which significantly reduces intake of nutrients to speed up weight loss.
- A person experiences shame or guilt after eating.
- Episodes of binge eating which is alternated with purging.
- One’s obsession over his/her weight.
Risks of Eating Disorders
The consequences of both anorexia and bulimia are worrisome. While some of them are short term, some can cause long term effects that can dramatically impact the lives of the patient. One of the most common risk is the person’s vulnerability to serious illnesses such as hypertension and stroke. Both of these can be fatal when not treated urgently.
On top of these health risks, people who are suffering from these disorders experience the vicious cycle of shame and guilt which will eventually cause depression, which affect their mental stability. Studies have shown the strong association between suicide and eating disorders.
While it may be a difficult battle to stop these disorders, there is hope and help available. Begin with one significant step now—join the anorexia and bulimia counseling in Baltimore. We have qualified and trained professionals who can help you on your journey.
