The eating disorders we know as anorexia and bulimia today were initially thought of as nothing more than effects of body image obsession and low self-esteem. However, we know now they are more complicated than previously thought. Studies have also proven them to be outcomes of other things like your environment, your past experiences, and even your own genes.
Environment – Do you regularly come in contact with people who pressure you to conform to certain beauty standards? Can you easily obtain diet pills and weight-loss products? If so then this environment increases chances of eating disorders.
Mental Health – Mental health issues can also be one of the influences. A classic symptom of depression is the need to have more food or avoid it at all costs. However, it should also be mentioned depressive symptoms you might have may be in no way linked to eating disorder at all.
Personal Experience – Trauma brought on by personal experiences can cause eating disorders. These experiences can involve physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, or just be experiences that destroyed confidence, or increased shame and guilt.
Genes – Genetics can be a reason. If at least one member of your family suffers from these disorders you have 12 times greater chances you will also suffer from them.
Anorexia and bulimia are not just destructive but also potentially fatal. How can you tell if you or someone you love is suffering from eating disorders? Look out for the following signs:
Depression and Anxiety – Although these symptoms are not limited to eating disorders.
Extreme Attitudes when it Comes to Food – Overeating or refusing to eat at all.
Obsession over body image – Always worrying about how others view your body.
Strange Diet Behavior – Restrictive dieting with the goal of losing weight or fixating over reaching or maintain a certain weight.
Another symptom is a feeling guilt or shame after eating.
Around 30 million people in the United States alone suffer from anorexia and bulimia. However, of this total number only around 10 percent avail of proper treatment, according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders.
As for the rest? They either don’t get treatment, fail to recognize any disorder at all, or go about treatment the wrong way – often with disastrous results. If you or someone you know in Durham is suffering from these disorders there is someone you can turn to for help at Thriveworks Counseling in Durham with a counselor or psychologist.
Challenges and How to Get Bulimia Therapy
Don’t take eating disorders lightly. It’s like the tip of the iceberg; a lot more problems can lie just beneath the surface or emerge when you least expect them to. Losing essential nutrients by not eating right can lead to nutrient-related deficiencies like scurvy, and diseases like stroke, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension. Purging also has its risks; you can die from choking on your own vomit.
If you happen to survive the odds you will still find yourself trapped in an endless cycle of guilt, shame, and depression. Suicidal tendencies are often linked to destructive cycles such as these. The battle against eating disorders isn’t a struggle you have to fight alone. If you happen to be in Durham there are people you can ask for help.
Taking the first step is usually the toughest, but after that you may find it easier when others are there for you. We have counselors and psychologists who know what you are going through and can help you come out a better person.
