The Call For Eating Disorder HelpHow often do we hear about someone or know someone who is in need of some form of eating disorder help. This call for help is often expressed in one of the following ways: Help, I have an eating disorder!You should know a few important things. First, you must remember that disorders like this may serve an important purpose. Even though you might ask for help, you might not be willing to give up the emotional or physical problem that the eating disorder is helping you solve. Here are several situations where you might ask for help, but are not able to accept. Personal Eating Disorder Help1. Help! I have an eating disorder! Do you need a way out of social events? Do you need to increase your self-esteem? When you are invited to do something with others, do you ever find yourself thinking about your size. You find yourself only able to go if you feel thin enough. However, you are never thin enough. This is a called Body Dysmophic disorder. This disorder occurs when you lose perspective of the size of your body and feel fat when you are much below a healthy body weight.  Spouse and Eating Disorder Help2. Help! My spouse has an eating disorder!Does food help you when you’re experiencing uncomfortable, thoughts or feelings? Do you eat compulsively to get away from uncomfortable situations? Binging on food may be how you "numb" distressing or painful feelings. Do you experience thoughts like, "Don't notice me! I am afraid of a romantic relationship! Binge eating disorder or compulsive overeating may lead to weight gain. Weight can also serve an important purpose. It can create a shield around you to help you feel secure.
Even adults who have developed anorexia are unsure if the really need help. A good anorexic wants to hear "You Look Too Thin". Internally they feel successful. Thinking, "I am able to do something others cannot do. I look great." When someone notices and says, "You look good or healthy" an internal voice might scream, "I'm a failure. I look fat! I am no longer special! I am less than others are!"
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4. Help! My teen has an eating disorder!
Does your teen struggle with weight issues? Do they feel like their friends have perfect bodies? Then they want to lose weight. But the teen has difficulty giving up the food they love and cannot lose weight.
Then the teen discovers Bulimia.
Bulimics binge on large amounts of food then vomit, use laxatives and/or exercise to excess to prevent weight gain. Parents usually shout for help when they find out their teen has Bulimia.
Generally, Bulimia doesn't start in adulthood. It begins in adolescents. Occasionally, it carries over into adulthood.
You may continue to derive the pleasure from being able to eat large amounts of food and get rid of to keep their weight down. It is usually not until you realize the consequences to your body that you ask for help.
5. Help! My adolescent has an eating disorder!
The adolescent often implies, HELP! I have an eating disorder, however, really means HELP, DON'T HELP. I am almost an adult now and can take care of things myself.
On television, in movies and in magazines your child gets messages to keep getting thinner. Friends compete to see who weighs less. The latest trends say that how you look is all that matters. Do not worry about what it does to your body.
In this early teen stage, a child wants to be free from controlling adults. They will tell you how they want to be their own person. The main issues at this time of life are control and developing their own identity.
Teens and adolescents want to have as much control over their life as they can. At the same time, they unconsciously need to feel that they have guidance.
They do want help, but some are confused as to what they want help with. Then, they push away their parents. Anorexia is withholding food and/or eating a very low calorie diet.
This disorder is one way of feeling a sense of control. Anorexia shows the world, I can do something you cannot. I feel good about myself.
6. Help! My child has an eating disorder!
Children live in a world where they have little to no control. Refusing to eat is one of the major ways that they gain control over their parents, teachers, and other adults.
7. Help! My child still has an eating disorder!
Help, my child is gaining too much weight! Children often use food to deal with anxiety, depression, emptiness, or loneliness.
Often parents and children have power struggles about food. These struggles can result in an eating disorder when the child becomes an adult.
Even though there is eating disorder help available today, eating disorders are on the rise amongst all age groups.
Why is this?
On this website we will help you understand the complexities associated with eating disorders, as well as the help that's available to you.
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