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Eating disorders and issues over food

 

Healing the Relationship with Food: Understanding and Overcoming Eating Disorders

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Eating disorders are not simply about food and weight; they represent complex mental health conditions stemming from a tangled web of emotional struggles, distorted self-image, and often underlying anxieties. They are multifaceted conditions, and a variety of psychological treatments offer a path towards recovery.

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Types of Eating Disorders

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Eating disorders encompass a variety of diagnoses, including:​

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  • Anorexia Nervosa: Characterized by severe food restriction, intense fear of weight gain, and a disturbed body image.

  • Bulimia Nervosa: Involves recurrent episodes of binge eating (consuming large amounts of food in a short period) followed by purging behaviours such as self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise, or laxative use.

  • Binge Eating Disorder (BED): Recurrent binge eating episodes without purging, often accompanied by feelings of guilt and loss of control.

  • Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED): Encompasses clinically significant eating disorder presentations that don't fully meet the criteria for the specified diagnoses.

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Common Causes of Eating Disorders

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Eating disorders can arise from a combination of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors:

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  • Genetics: A family history of eating disorders, addiction, or other mental health issues can increase the risk.

  • Psychological Factors: Conditions such as anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are often linked to eating disorders.

  • Trauma: Experiences of physical, emotional, or sexual trauma can contribute to the development of eating disorders.

  • Dieting and Body Image: A history of dieting, body dissatisfaction, and societal pressure to conform to certain body standards can trigger eating disorders.

  • Stress and Life Transitions: Significant life changes or stressful events, such as starting a new job or the loss of a loved one, can lead to eating disorders as a way to regain a sense of control.

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The Role of Psychological Therapy

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Alongside any necessary medical support, psychological therapy is a cornerstone of eating disorder treatment. Here are the most established approaches:

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  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – Enhanced (CBT-E): An evidence-backed therapy specifically tailored for eating disorders. It helps identify and address distorted thoughts and behaviours related to eating, body image, and self-worth. Therapists guide individuals in establishing regular eating patterns, monitoring their feelings surrounding food, and developing healthier coping mechanisms.

  • Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): Focuses on improving interpersonal relationships and addressing social difficulties that often contribute to or maintain eating disorders.

  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT): Teaches skills in mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness – all valuable tools for individuals with eating disorders who may struggle with overwhelming emotions.

  • Mindfulness-Based Approaches: Cultivate non-judgmental awareness of thoughts and feelings related to food and body image, helping to break away from harmful patterns.

  • Addressing Co-occurring Conditions: Anxiety, depression, and trauma often co-exist with eating disorders and require tailored treatment alongside the eating disorder itself.

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The Road to Recovery

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Recovering from an eating disorder takes time, patience, and a dedicated support system. Organizations like Beat offer specialized resources and support within the UK. With the right treatment and support, full recovery is possible. Your GP should also be part of your support through this process to ensure that any possible medical consequences of eating disorders are not overlooked.

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Keywords:

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Eating disorders, food issues, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, OSFED, psychological therapy, CBT-E, interpersonal therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, co-occurring conditions, recovery from eating disorders, Beat UK, mental health conditions, distorted self-image, emotional struggles, anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorder treatment, support system.



Choice of approaches
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

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Existential Therapy

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Eye Movement Desensitization  and Reprocessing

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Integrative Psychotherapy

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Psychodynamic Therapy

How we can help

Holborn Psychotherapy Practice   Staple Inn   High Holborn   London   WC1V 7QH    Contact Us    Privacy Notice

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