Eating Disorder Treatment
Have you or someone you know developed an unhealthy relationship with food? Do you feel like no matter what happens that your body is never good enough? Healthy enough? Slim or fit enough? Or simply put, do you see a different version of yourself in the mirror... like the woman in the picture?
If so, there's something in here for you to look at and I'm here to help.
Let's talk about the true nature of an eating disorder. There are different forms, but at their core, people with eating disorders suffer from the challenges around loving their bodies and nurturing their own health. In terms of numbers, upwards of 30 million Americans suffer from eating disorders in their lifetime. So if this is you, you're definitely not alone.
The hardest thing about eating disorder treatment is the simple fact that food is a very regular part of our lives. We can't escape it; we need food to survive and that simple fact makes resolving issues around food, body image and self-esteem a true challenge.
If you know that something is not quite right with loving your body, I am here to help. My practice supports clients in Jupiter Florida and the surrounding West Palm Beach community so if you're in my community and need help, please reach out. I offer all clients a free 30-minute session to explore if working together is the right decision for you.
What I know is that if you have an eating disorder, it is extremely important for you to be aware that you can feel better about yourself and have a healthier relationship with food and your body. Eating disorders can quickly jeopardize your overall health. These conditions have the highest mortality rate among all mental illnesses. SO, if you suspect you or a friend are suffering from disordered eating patterns, calling for help could actually be saving a life.
What's truly concerning is that often in addition to the psychological effects of your eating disorder, which may co-exist with anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder among others, there are also a great deal of medical conditions that can happen in concert with a full-fledged eating disorder.
According to the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), medically individuals with anorexia nervosa often suffer from:
- Reduced heart rate
- Low blood pressure
- Hair loss
- Decreased bone density
- Muscle loss and weakness
- Dehydration
And binge and purge behaviors often associated with bulimia can lead to:
- Tooth decay
- Electrolyte imbalances
- Gastric rupturing
- Irregular bowel movements
- Constipation
- Peptic ulcers
It's really scary to live life with an eating disorder. But the good news is that you're not alone. If you want to explore working with me, here's how I approach our work. My strategy is holistic. Together, we will investigate:
- You're whole being- by that I mean we will explore how your eating disorder is affecting your mind, body, and spirit
- I will help you address negative thought patterns that reinforce your disorder. We want to correct these and give you new langauge to speak to yourself about your body
- If you're suffering from depression, anxiety or other challenges that often show up with eating disorders, we'll address those too
- Together, we will change the way you view your body and your relationship with food and offer you compassionate support as you make your way to a healthier lifestyle
- I'll help you deal with feeling of guilt or shame associated with eating and develop healthy coping mechanisms that can be used in the place of your old behaviors that no longer work for your new life
Remember, you are not alone; over 30 million people in United States are struggling with an eating disorder. Whether you are suffering from anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge-eating disorder or eating or feeding disorder, don't wait until your health is quickly deteriorating before reaching out for a helping hand.
To begin the healing process, I can be reached for a free 30-minute consultation at (201) 621-2160 or email me at brentberms@gmail.com.