Eating Disorders
Individual with eating distress are usually very sensitive individuals, intelligent, perfectionists and attractive. However they tend to be negative in their outlook,seeing themselves and the world in a negative way. Their self esteem is very low and this ability to control food helps them to communicate and voice their existence and feel alive.
Eating disorders are often thought to be about food. However, the disorder is a mechanism for coping - a way of avoiding some other problem the person does not feel able to cope with or face. It may give the person some sense of control over their life. People with eating distress have no real sense of their self.
However, an eating disorder can take over your life. Thoughts of food and eating or not eating can dominate your thinking to the point where this becomes the most important thing to you. It can get to the point where you may think you cannot live without it. Feelings of helplessness, shame and guilt can make it difficult to reach out to others for help. Not wanting to give up the disorder at some level and fear of losing this control can make it hard to seek change.
People think the answer is so simple with eating distress - "just eat". However it goes back to the fact that its not really about eating and is more about not knowing how to grow and change their distorted thinking and deal with the inner turmoil and pain.
How can Counselling and Psychotherapy help?
While it may seem difficult to believe it when in the grip of an eating disorder, people can and do recover. Recovery begins when a person recognises and acknowledges just what is happening. It is estimated that about 9,920 Irish people suffer from eating disorders.
Eating disorders are often thought to be about food. However, the disorder is a mechanism for coping - a way of avoiding some other problem the person does not feel able to cope with or face. It may give the person some sense of control over their life. People with eating distress have no real sense of their self.
However, an eating disorder can take over your life. Thoughts of food and eating or not eating can dominate your thinking to the point where this becomes the most important thing to you. It can get to the point where you may think you cannot live without it. Feelings of helplessness, shame and guilt can make it difficult to reach out to others for help. Not wanting to give up the disorder at some level and fear of losing this control can make it hard to seek change.
People think the answer is so simple with eating distress - "just eat". However it goes back to the fact that its not really about eating and is more about not knowing how to grow and change their distorted thinking and deal with the inner turmoil and pain.
How can Counselling and Psychotherapy help?
- Explore and understand the function the eating disorder has in your life and find alternatives that are more life-giving.
- It can help build your self esteem and helps to put in place resources for yourself.
While it may seem difficult to believe it when in the grip of an eating disorder, people can and do recover. Recovery begins when a person recognises and acknowledges just what is happening. It is estimated that about 9,920 Irish people suffer from eating disorders.