How to know if you have an eating disorder. Eating Disorders: Symptoms and Treatment Treating Eating Disorders

- a group of psychogenic behavioral syndromes characterized by deviations in the intake and processing of food. This group includes anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, overeating and some other disorders. Symptoms are varied, including refusal to eat, overeating, provoked and involuntary vomiting, use of laxatives, and denial of the subjective significance of the weight problem. The diagnosis is based on the results of a conversation with a psychiatrist and psychological testing data. Treatment is based on individual and group psychotherapy, the use of medications.

General information

In the International Classification of Diseases, eating disorders are classified under a separate heading "Eating Disorders". A common characteristic of the group is the contradiction between the physiological need for food and the desires of the patient. The peak incidence occurs in adolescence and young age. A stable gender predisposition is determined, girls and women make up 85-95% of patients with anorexia and bulimia, 65% of those with psychological overeating. According to recent studies, psychogenic eating disorders are more likely to develop in people from wealthy families with a high level of education and income, among residents of economically developed countries.

Causes of eating disorders

In the occurrence of disorders of this type, a significant role is played by the psychological and physiological characteristics, the social relations of the patient. Specific causes are determined by a specialist in the diagnostic process. As a rule, several factors are identified that predispose to the disease, and one or two that served as triggers. Among the possible conditions for the development of psychogenic eating disorders are:

• Psychological features. Disorders are formed on the basis of emotional instability, feelings of guilt, low self-esteem, suggestibility, dependence on the opinions of others. At risk are adolescents experiencing an age crisis.
• Microsocial conditions of life. An important role in the formation of violations is played by the family's eating habits - lack of a diet, addiction to sweet foods, as well as upbringing methods - overprotection, authoritarianism, the use of food as a tool for punishment or encouragement. In adolescence and young age, the comments of parents, peers, spouses regarding appearance become significant.
• Stress. Psychogenic increase or decrease in appetite, mechanical gluttony without a feeling of hunger arise as ways to compensate for emotional stress. Gradually, a change in food intake and its result become independent sources of stress.
• public values. Eating disorders directly form the imposed "ideals" of beauty - harmony, thinness, fragility. Indirectly, violations are formed as a result of increased requirements for success, ability to work, and stress resistance.
• hereditary predisposition. The features of the physiological processes that form the basis of a perverted, reduced or increased appetite, the development of fullness are genetically transmitted. These include hormonal imbalance, impaired transmission of neurotransmitters.
• Mental Illnesses. Psychogenic syndromes are often detected in schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, depression, psychopathy. Such cases are distinguished by pronounced clinical signs, resistance to therapy.

Pathogenesis

Pathological changes in eating disorders occur at two levels - mental and physiological. Initially, a conflict is formed between the basic need to eat and actual human desires that arise as a result of social relations, adaptation to stress, self-esteem, etc. Desire forms an obsessive, overvalued idea that determines motives and behavior. With anorexia, the thought of losing weight dominates, with bulimia nervosa - the fear of gaining weight, with psychogenic overeating - the desire to relax, avoid stress. In more rare cases, ideas are of a peculiar nature. For example, the patient is afraid to eat a certain type of food, considering it dangerous. Following mental changes, the process of processing and assimilation of food is disturbed, a deficiency of nutrients, vitamins, and microelements develops.

Classification

Eating disorders are very diverse. The most common and clinically distinct types are considered in the ICD-10 as separate nosological units. Less studied features - nervous orthorexia, drunkorexia, selective nutrition - continue to be investigated and are not considered as a pathology by all specialists. In accordance with the international classifier of diseases, there are:

• Anorexia nervosa. It is characterized by the dominant idea of ​​weight loss, severe restrictions on the volume and caloric content of food, and exhaustion. Accompanied by the risk of death.
• bulimia nervosa. It is manifested by bouts of gluttony, followed by a sense of guilt and forcible disposal of what was eaten. Weight remains stable or slowly increases.
• Psychogenic overeating. Gluttony occurs in response to a stressful situation, is fixed in behavior as a way to get rid of affective tension. Leads to weight gain.
• Psychogenic vomiting. Seizures develop against a background of strong emotions. Accompany somatoform diseases, hypochondriacal and dissociative disorders, pregnancy.
• Eating inedible inorganic origin. This group includes the eating by adults of chalk, clay, leaves of inedible plants. Violations lead to serious somatic diseases.
• Psychogenic loss of appetite. Craving for food decreases with prolonged depression, intense experiences that accompany psychotrauma. The severity and duration of the disorder directly correlates with emotional disturbances.

Symptoms of Eating Disorders

Symptoms of psychogenic anorexia are emaciation, persistent desire for thinness, unwillingness to maintain normal weight, distortion of body image, obsessive fear of weight gain. Patients adhere to excessively strict diets with the maximum possible restriction of calorie content and food volumes, eat food 1-2 times a day. If the rules of the “diet” are violated, they feel guilty, provoke vomiting, and use laxatives. The signs of dysmorphophobia are determined - a distorted idea of ​​​​one's own body. Patients consider themselves fat with really normal or insufficient weight. They are characterized by a depressed, depressed state, isolation, social distance, excessive preoccupation with nutrition and physical activity.

In bulimia, periodic episodes of eating large amounts of food are observed. Bouts of uncontrolled binge eating are followed by purging, a type of behavior aimed at ridding the body of the food eaten. Patients induce vomiting, take laxatives, give enemas, endure a period of strict dieting, and torture the body with physical exercises. Dominated by fear of weight gain, dissatisfaction with appearance, guilt. Episodes of bulimia often occur in secret from other people. The binge and purge cycle is repeated several times a week.

Psychological overeating is manifested by gluttony, which develops with emotional stress, stress. Patients do not realize the onset of satiety, continue to eat until the onset of uncomfortable sensations - a feeling of heaviness, fullness of the stomach, nausea. When eating food, they understand that the control of actions is lost, but they cannot restore it. The feeling of shame and guilt becomes a source of additional stress and again provokes gluttony. With psychogenic vomiting, seizures occur due to a stressful external situation and internal experiences. The eruption of the contents of the stomach occurs involuntarily. Psychogenic loss of appetite is characterized by an indifferent attitude to food. Patients indiscriminately skip meals, eat reluctantly, quickly saturate.

Complications

In disorders characterized by restriction in food intake, there is a risk of developing pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, diseases associated with a deficiency of vitamins, minerals, and nutritional compounds. Patients become thinner bones, develop osteopenia, osteoporosis, B12 deficiency and iron deficiency anemia, hypotension, lethargy, muscle weakness, brittle nails, hair loss, dry skin. In severe cases of anorexia, the work of almost all organs and systems is disrupted, and there is a risk of death. Complications of psychogenic vomiting and bulimia are chronic inflammation and sore throat, destruction of tooth enamel, irritation and upset of the intestines, kidney problems, dehydration.

Diagnostics

The primary diagnostic examination is often carried out 1-3 years after the onset of the disorder, when the patient consults a doctor due to the appearance of somatic symptoms - disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, a significant change in weight, weakness. Diagnosis is carried out by a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, somatic specialists. Specific research methods include:

• Conversation. The psychiatrist finds out the anamnesis, symptoms of the disease. He asks about the peculiarities of nutrition, the patient's attitude to his own appearance, existing stressful and psychotraumatic situations. The interview may be conducted in the presence of a close relative, as the patients themselves tend to deny the presence of the disorder and underlying psychological problems.
• personality questionnaires. The study is aimed at identifying character traits, emotional states, social problems that contribute to the development of eating disorders. Unstable self-esteem, dependence on the opinions of others, a tendency to self-accusation, a state of stress, psychological maladaptation are determined. SMIL, the Eysenck questionnaire, the Dembo-Rubinstein method, the Eating Behavior Rating Scale are used.
• Projective methods. Drawing and interpretation tests are conducted in addition to the questionnaires. They allow to reveal the tendencies denied, hidden by the patient - fear of gaining weight, rejection of one's own body, the need for a positive assessment of others, impulsiveness, lack of self-control. The test of color choices is applied, the drawing "Self-portrait", Thematic Apperceptive Test (TAT).

For the purpose of differential diagnosis - distinguishing between psychogenic disorders and somatic diseases - consultations of a gastroenterologist, cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychoanalysis, group trainings are prescribed. Work is underway to realize the existing distorted ideas about oneself, correct self-esteem, change behavior, master the skills of coping with a stressful situation.

Forecast and prevention

The prognosis is determined by the type of disorder, the timeliness of therapy. A favorable outcome is most likely in the absence of other mental illnesses (schizophrenia, depression, psychopathy), the preservation of the patient's critical abilities, and motivation for recovery. Prevention includes a commitment to proper nutrition from early childhood, the formation in children and adolescents of the value of health, body acceptance, the development of skills to withstand stressful situations, relieve emotional tension (playing sports, creativity, correctly defending one's own opinion, productive conflict resolution).

Eating disorders (also called eating disorders or eating disorders) are a group of complex psychogenic pathologies ( anorexia, bulimia, orthorexia, compulsive overeating, compulsion to exercise etc. ) , which manifests itself in a person with problems with nutrition, weight and appearance.

Weight, however, is not a significant clinical marker because even people with normal body weight can be affected by the disease.

Eating disorders, if not treated on time and with adequate methods, can become a permanent disease and seriously endanger the health of all organs and systems of the body (cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, endocrine, hematological, skeletal, central nervous system, dermatology, etc.). and, in severe cases, lead to death. Mortality among people with anorexia nervosa 5-10 times higher than healthy people of the same age and sex.

Currently, these disorders represent an important public health problem, as the age of onset has gradually decreased in recent decades. anorexia and bulimia, as a result of which diseases are increasingly diagnosed before the onset of menstruation, up to 8-9 years in girls.

The disease affects not only teenagers more, but also children before they reach puberty, which has much more serious consequences for their body and psyche. Early onset of the disease may lead to a higher risk of irreversible damage due to malnutrition, especially in tissues that have not yet reached full maturity, such as bones and the central nervous system.

Given the complexity of the problem, early intervention is of particular importance; It is essential that specialists from different specializations (psychiatrists, paediatricians, psychologists, nutritionists, internal medicine specialists) actively cooperate with each other for the purposes of early diagnosis and prompt action.

According to official estimates, 95,9% people with eating disorders are women. The incidence of anorexia nervosa is at least 8 new cases per 100,000 people per year among women, while in men it is from 0.02 to 1.4 new cases. Concerning bulimia, Every year per 100 thousand people account for 12 new cases among women and about 0.8 new cases among men.

Causes and risk factors

We are talking about risk factors, not causes.

In fact, these are disorders of complex etiology, in which genetic, biological and psychosocial factors interact with each other in pathogenesis.

In a consensus document on eating disorders, prepared by the Higher Sanitary Institute in collaboration with the USL Umbria 2 association, the following disorders were noted as predisposing factors:

• genetic predisposition;
• , drug addiction, alcoholism;
• possible adverse/traumatic events, chronic childhood illnesses and early feeding difficulties;
• increased socio-cultural pressure for thinness (models, gymnasts, dancers, etc.);
• idealization of thinness;
• dissatisfaction with appearance;
• low self-esteem and perfectionism;
• negative emotional states.

Signs and symptoms

Common signs of eating disorders are problems with eating, weight, and appearance. However, each option manifests itself in a certain way.

Anorexia nervosa

This is a psychiatric pathology with the highest mortality (the risk of death in these patients during the first 10 years from the onset of the disease is 10 times higher than in the general population of the same age).

People who suffer from anorexia nervosa fear gaining weight and engage in persistent behaviors that prevent them from gaining weight, through extreme dieting, vomiting, or very intense exercise.

The onset is gradual and insidious, with a gradual reduction in food intake. Reducing calorie intake consists of reducing portions and/or eliminating certain foods.

In the first period, we observe a phase of subjective well-being associated with weight loss, image improvement, a sense of omnipotence, which gives the ability to control hunger; later, concerns about the lines and shapes of the body become obsessive.

Fear of losing weight does not decrease with weight loss, it usually increases in parallel with weight loss.

Usually resort to excessive physical activity (compulsive/obsessive), constant checking with a mirror, clothing size and scales, counting calories, eating for several hours and / or grinding food into small pieces.

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms are also exacerbated by reduced calorie intake and weight loss.

Affected people absolutely deny that they are in a dangerous condition for their health and life and are against any treatment.

The level of self-esteem is affected by physical fitness and weight, in which weight loss is a sign of self-discipline, an increase is perceived as a loss of control. Typically, they come to clinical examination under pressure from family members when they observe weight loss.

To lose weight, in addition to the fact that patients avoid eating, they can resort to the following methods:

• compulsive physical training;
• resort to taking laxatives, anorexigenic drugs, diuretics;
• provoke vomiting.

People with anorexia nervosa have:

• extreme thinness with the disappearance of body fat and muscle atrophy;
• dry, wrinkled skin, the appearance of fluff on the face and limbs; reduction of sebaceous products and sweat; yellowish coloration of the skin;
• bluish hands and feet due to exposure to cold ();
• scars or calluses on the back of the fingers (Russell's sign), from continuously putting the fingers down the throat to induce vomiting;
• dull and thinning hair;
• teeth with opaque enamel, caries and erosions, inflammation of the gums, enlargement of the parotid glands (due to frequent self-induced vomiting and subsequent increase in acidity in the mouth);
• (slow heart rate), arrhythmia, and hypotension;
• stomach cramps, delayed gastric emptying;
• constipation, hemorrhoids, rectal prolapse;
• sleep changes;
• (disappearance, at least 3 consecutive cycles) or violations;
• loss of sexual interest;
• and increased risk of fractures;
• memory loss, difficulty concentrating;
• depression (possible suicidal thoughts), self-harming behavior, anxiety, ;
• possible rapid fluctuations in electrolyte levels, with important consequences for the heart (up to cardiac arrest).

bulimia

The main feature that distinguishes it from anorexia is the presence of repetitive overeating.

This causes episodes in which a large amount of food is consumed in a short period of time (bulimic crises alone, planned, characteristic speed of eating). It is preceded by dysphoric mood states, interpersonal stress states, feelings of dissatisfaction with weight and body shape, feelings of emptiness and loneliness. There may be a brief reduction in dysphoria after overeating, but they usually follow a depressive and self-critical mood.

People with bulimia use repetitive compensatory actions to prevent weight gain, such as spontaneous vomiting, abuse of laxatives, diuretics, or other drugs, and excessive exercise.

A bulimic crisis is accompanied by a feeling of loss of control; feelings of alienation, some report similar experiences of derealization and depersonalization.

Often, the onset of the disease is associated with a history of dietary restrictions or after an emotional trauma in which the person cannot cope with feelings of loss or disappointment.

Binge eating and compensatory behaviors occur on average once a week for three months.

Spontaneous vomiting (80-90%) reduces the feeling of physical discomfort, in addition to the fear of gaining weight.

Uncontrolled ingestion of large amounts of food ( binge eating )

Binge eating disorder is characterized by recurring episodes of compulsive eating for a limited period of time and a lack of control over eating during meals (for example, feeling that you cannot stop eating or that you cannot control what or how much you eat).

Binge eating episodes are associated with at least three of the following:

• Eat much faster than usual
• Eat until you have a painful feeling of fullness;
• Eat a lot without feeling hungry;
• Eating alone out of embarrassment about the amount of food you have swallowed;
• Feeling self-loathing, depression, or intense guilt after eating too much.

Binge eating compulsions cause distress, discomfort, and have occurred on average at least once a week for the past six months without compensating behaviors and disorders.

Restrictive eating behavior

Restrictive eating behavior is mostly seen in adolescence, however, it can also occur in adults.

This is an eating disorder (eg, marked lack of interest in food; avoidance based on sensory characteristics of food; anxiety about unpleasant consequences of eating) that is manifested by a persistent inability to adequately assess the contribution of nutrition. As a result, this provokes:

• Significant weight loss or, in children, failure to reach the expected weight or height;
• Significant nutritional deficiencies;
• Dependence on enteral nutrition or oral nutritional supplements;
• Overt interference with psychosocial functioning.

This disorder includes many disorders referred to by other terms: for example, functional dysphagia, hysterical lump or choking phobia(inability to eat solid food for fear of suffocation); selective eating disorder(restricted eating of a few foods, always the same, usually carbohydrates, such as bread-pasta-pizza); nervous orthorexia(obsessive desire to eat right, eat only healthy food); food neophobia(phobic avoidance of any new food).

Rumination disorder

Mericism or rumination disorder is characterized by repeated food regurgitation over a period of at least 1 month. Regurgitation is the regurgitation of food from the esophagus or stomach.

Recurrent regurgitation is not associated with a gastrointestinal disorder or other disease (eg, hypertrophic pyloric stenosis); it does not occur exclusively during anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, or restrictive eating behavior.

If symptoms occur in the course of mental retardation or pervasive developmental disorder, or intellectual disability and other neurological developmental disorders, they are severe enough in themselves to justify further clinical attention.

Pica

Cicero is an eating disorder characterized by the constant ingestion of non-edible substances for a period of at least 1 month. Substances commonly taken vary by age and availability, and may include wood, paper (xylophagy), soap, earth (geophagy), ice (pagophagy).

The consumption of these substances does not correspond to the level of individual development.

This eating behavior is not part of a culturally or socially accepted normative practice. It may be associated with mental retardation or chronic psychotic disorders with prolonged institutionalization.

If eating behavior occurs in the context of another psychiatric disorder (intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia) or medical condition (including pregnancy), it is severe enough to warrant further clinical attention.

Complications

Eating disorders can have serious health consequences, most commonly in anorexia nervosa, due to the effects of malnutrition (affecting all organs and body systems) and elimination behaviors (gastrointestinal tract, electrolytes, kidney function).

Women with eating disorders have greater perinatal complications and have an increased risk of developing postpartum depression.

For these reasons, the evaluation of medical complications requires specialists in this field.

Anorexia, in the long run can cause:

• endocrine disorders (reproductive system, thyroid gland, stress hormones and growth hormone);
• specific nutritional deficiency: lack of vitamins, lack of amino acids or essential fatty acids;
• metabolic changes (, hypercholesterolemia, hyperazotemia, ketosis, ketonuria, hyperuricemia, etc.);
• fertility problems and decreased libido;
• cardiovascular disorders (bradycardia and arrhythmias);
• changes in the skin and appendages;
• osteoarticular complications (osteopenia and subsequent bone fragility and increased risk of fractures);
• hematological changes (microcytic and hypochromic due to iron deficiency, leukopenia with a decrease in neutrophils);
• electrolyte imbalance (especially important reductions in potassium, with risk of cardiac arrest);
• depression (possibly suicidal ideation).

bulimia may cause:

• enamel erosion, gum problems;
• water retention, swelling of the lower extremities, bloating;
• acute, swallowing disorders due to damage to the esophagus;
• decrease in potassium levels;
• amenorrhea or irregular menstrual cycles.

Treatment of eating disorders

Nutritional rehabilitation for eating disorders at every level of care, whether outpatient or intensive care with partial or total hospitalization, should be carried out as part of a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach that includes the integration of psychiatric/psychotherapeutic treatment with nutrition, in addition to nutritional complications, with the specific psychopathology of the disorder eating behavior and general psychopathology that may be present.

Interdisciplinary intervention is indicated, in particular, when the psychopathology of an eating disorder coexists with a state of malnutrition or overeating.

During treatment, it must be constantly taken into account that malnutrition and its complications, if any, contribute to the maintenance of the psychopathology of the eating disorder and interfere with psychiatric/psychotherapeutic treatment and vice versa, if weight restoration and elimination of food restriction are not associated with improvement in psychopathology, there is a high probability of relapse.

Depending on the intensity of treatment, the interdisciplinary group may include the following professionals: doctors (psychiatrists/child neuropsychiatrists, nutritionists, internists, pediatricians, endocrinologists), nutritionists, psychologists, nurses, professional educators, psychiatric rehabilitation specialists and physiotherapists.

Having clinicians of different specialties has the advantage of facilitating the management of complex patients with serious medical and psychiatric problems associated with an eating disorder. In addition, both the psychopathology of the eating disorder and the caloric and cognitive dietary restriction, as well as the somatic, psychiatric and nutritional complications that eventually occur, can be appropriately addressed with this approach.

In fact, people with eating disorders should receive interventions that address both psychiatric and psychological aspects, as well as nutritional, physical and socio-environmental aspects. These interventions should also be rejected based on age, type of disorder, and on the basis of clinical judgment and the presence of other pathologies in the patient.

Interesting

How to treat an eating disorder, as well as how to get rid of food addiction on your own - you will learn about this in this article.

An eating disorder is any kind of disorder related to food and appearance. A strong desire to lose weight or fear of gaining weight, weight control or constant diets, obsession with proper nutrition, overeating and, conversely, refusal to eat.

These symptoms have specific names and even diagnoses - overeating, bulimia, anorexia nervosa, and recently orthorexia (obsession with nutrition) has also been included here. They are united by one term eating disorder, because one disease sometimes passes into another, and sometimes they can go in parallel. They often have the same roots and causes.

And if you dig deeper, into psychological motives, all these diseases are very similar in nature. I am a psychologist and I work with all types of food addiction. In this article, I will tell you what are the underlying psychological causes of these disorders, how are bulimia, anorexia and overeating so similar and different from the point of view of the psyche. And also how to treat them and whether it is possible to do it yourself.

How to treat an eating disorder - 3 root causes

Shame, guilt and punishment

Feelings that people with an eating disorder tend to experience more often than others are shame and guilt. These feelings are not always fully realized, sometimes it happens like this: some event happened to you in childhood, because of which you experienced a strong sense of shame or guilt, and it still reaches out for you, pops up in your life, you cannot forget it. Or it affects all subsequent events: every time something like this happens, you immediately experience shame or guilt, even if there was no significant reason for this.

“Shame, shame on you, what a horror, people will see, be ashamed ...”. If these words were often said to you in childhood, or were not said, but taught to experience these feelings, then most likely they accompany you to this day. You experience one of these feelings, or both at once, even where, by ordinary standards, you have not done anything shameful. And after a really unpleasant act by social standards, you can be ashamed, scold, blame, hate yourself for many more months, or maybe years.

Both of these feelings are formed due to the fact that the person allegedly did something wrong, or looked inappropriate. The difference between them, as a rule, is that shame is experienced in front of witnesses, while you can feel guilt in solitude.

Shame and guilt go hand in hand with an eating disorder. How are these feelings and eating disorders connected? They do not accept you, they compare you, they try to make someone better out of you, they criticize, shame, punish or entrust you with a sense of guilt. All this leads to self-rejection, low self-esteem, self-hatred, the desire to correct oneself, change, disappear, hide, punish, mock oneself or teach oneself a lesson. Feelings of guilt and shame are so deeply rooted in your subconscious that you continue to punish yourself again and again, even if you are no longer guilty of anything. Or so: you specifically do something because of which you will feel guilty. And also something for which you will then punish yourself. Most often unconsciously.

The punishment can be different: a complete refusal of food as a refusal of life. The desire to disappear, to dissolve, to hide, the feeling that you have no right to occupy the place. Another type of punishment is the cleansing of the stomach by inducing vomiting immediately after eating. “I ate so much, well, shame on me! I deserve punishment." Inducing vomiting in this case acts as a method of cleansing from sin, a way to free oneself from one's own imperfection. Sometimes guilt and punishment are reversed: you may overeat just so that you have a reason to beat yourself up.

I described the first reason that can lead to an eating disorder. Does being shamed as a child always lead to food addiction as an adult? No. And if you have an eating disorder, does that mean you were shamed as a child? Not at all necessary. But the tendency to food addiction is precisely among those who often experienced shame and guilt in childhood.

The trauma of the abandoned, the trauma of the rejected

During my practice, I discovered another undoubted trend: food addiction is more susceptible to those who received the trauma of being abandoned or rejected in childhood. can be obtained due to the absence of a parent (one or both). For example, leaving the family, long business trips, death, emotional absence (no involvement in your upbringing), or you were sent to a camp or sanatorium. The trauma of the abandoned is more likely to form overeating or bulimia.

This is a book that will become your bridge from victim to hero - a strong person who is not content with what he has, but changes until he is absolutely satisfied with his life.

When is a specialist needed?

Often a person cannot cope on his own because the disease is unconscious. It is difficult for a person to understand and analyze why he overeats or refuses food, what exactly prompts him to do this. And due to a lack of understanding of how to treat an eating disorder in his particular case, he simply gives up and decides to live with it.

The reasons that led to the appearance of the disease are often denied, repressed (forgotten), not realized, or the person simply does not admit to himself that they exist. This is the main problem of self-treatment: the majority of people are not able to realize, see and feel the motives of their behavior.

Eating disorders are socially accepted diseases, they are so common that it seems that there is no obvious reason to see a specialist. It would seem that almost every person has problems with eating behavior - so how then can we call it a pathology? But most diseases are provoked precisely by malnutrition, with cravings for flavor enhancers and sweets, refusal to eat or inducing vomiting. Underestimation of nutritional disorders leads to terrible consequences, such as dysfunction of the intestines, ovaries and, as a result, the absence of the menstrual cycle, loss of teeth, leaching of trace elements and vitamins.

From a psychological point of view, eating disorders are often the cause of social isolation, fear, anxiety, apathy, and depressive disorder.

In this case, the mandatory help of a specialist is needed. You can not put up with the disease and drag it out for a long time, because this is fraught with serious organic and mental destruction. I am a psychologist, and I conduct individual consultations via Skype. I can help you understand the causes of your disease and recover from it. We will work with both (if they were the cause) and your current state. The healing process consists in being aware of all the processes that are taking place in your mind and body. Also, between consultations, I determine for you tasks and exercises that will help you restore a normal relationship with food and your appearance.

Don't put off seeing a psychologist. Get started today. Right now.

Conclusion

I congratulate you, you have received a lot of new information about the treatment of eating disorders, how to get rid of food addiction on your own, as well as the causes and consequences of these phenomena. But the main thing is not what you got, but what you will now do with it. If you close the tab and think that someday you will definitely apply the information received, then it is unlikely that anything will change in your life. And if you write to me in order to start working on the path to a happy healthy life, or at least begin to increase self-esteem through self-love, then most likely you have come to my site today for a reason, and soon big changes await you. the best.

Let's summarize:

• Eating disorders - bulimia, overeating and anorexia nervosa - have similar roots and motives, and it happens that they exist in one person in parallel or flow one into another
• The causes of frustration can be shame and guilt, the trauma of being abandoned and rejected, and the pursuit of perfection. In fact, there are many more reasons, but all of them are somehow tied to a lack of acceptance of yourself, which in most cases was provoked by your rejection by a significant parent.

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Look out for warning signs. You must be honest with yourself if you find such symptoms. Remember, eating disorders can have life-threatening complications. Don't underestimate the seriousness of an eating disorder. Also, don't think you can handle it on your own without someone's help. Don't overestimate your strengths. Key warning signs to look out for include:

• You are underweight (less than 85% of the normal range for your age and height)
• You are in poor health. You notice that you often bruise, you are emaciated, you have a pale or sallow complexion, dull and dry hair.
• You feel dizzy, you feel cold more often than others (the result of poor circulation), you feel dry eyes, you have a swollen tongue, your gums bleed, and fluid is retained in the body.
• If you are a woman, your period is three months or more late.
• Bulimia is characterized by additional symptoms, such as scratches on one or more fingers, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, swollen joints, and so on.

Pay attention to changes in behavior. In addition to physical symptoms, eating disorders are also associated with emotional and behavioral changes. These include:

• If someone tells you that you are underweight, you will be skeptical about such a statement and will do everything possible to convince the person otherwise; you don't like talking about being underweight.
• You wear loose, baggy clothing to hide sudden or significant weight loss.
• You ask for forgiveness for not being able to be present at meals, or find ways to eat very little, hide food, or induce vomiting after meals.
• You are fixated on a diet. All conversations come down to the topic of dieting. You try your best to eat as little as possible.
• You are haunted by the fear of becoming fat; you are aggressively opposed to your figure and weight.
• You expose your body to exhausting and severe physical stress.
• You avoid socializing with other people and try not to go out.

Eating disorders can have different manifestations, but they all affect a person's attitude towards food and, if left untreated, can cause serious health problems. To determine if you have an eating disorder, you need to know what actions and feelings it manifests itself in and what effect it has on the body. If you think you have this disorder, seek help as soon as possible. If left untreated, the eating disorder can progress.

Steps

How to recognize the signs of an eating disorder

Look for the main symptoms. Many people with eating disorders are overly concerned about their weight, body size, and appearance. Common symptoms of an eating disorder include:

• feelings of depression and anxiety
• intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat
• desire to avoid contact with friends and family
• unusual attention to food and the nutritional value of the foods consumed
• fear of certain foods (for example, those containing sugar or fat)
• avoidance of food situations
• denial of eating problems or changes in weight
• attempts to get rid of food after eating a large amount of food through exercise, vomiting, use of laxatives
• daily weigh-ins

1. Learn to recognize the signs of anorexia. People with anorexia do not want to maintain a healthy weight. They are very afraid of gaining weight and consider themselves fat, even if they look thin or underweight. A person with anorexia may fast for several days in a row or eat very little food. A person feels content because he sees that he can adhere to such strict rules.

   • A person may have very strict rules about food, including the color of food that cannot be eaten, the time of day that is allowed for eating, and severe calorie restrictions.
   • If a person has anorexia, he is afraid of being fat or feeling that his body is fat, even if he is underweight. Even if a person is thin, he is not satisfied with his figure and feels better if he manages to lose a few more kilograms.
   • Remember if any of your relatives or friends commented on your weight or weight loss.
   • Consider whether you believe your value as a person is determined by your weight, clothing size, or food choices.

2. Understand the symptoms of bulimia. People with bulimia eat large amounts of food first, and then try to get rid of it, because this leads to extra pounds. A person understands that he should not overeat and gain weight, but he cannot stop and from time to time begins to eat everything. After eating, he may try to get rid of the possible consequences of overeating: induce vomiting, use laxatives or diuretics.

   Know the symptoms of binge eating. People with this eating disorder eat large amounts of food in a short amount of time. At the same time, they feel that they cannot control themselves during these attacks. There is nothing pleasant about compulsive overeating, and people experience negative emotions even when they are eating. These feelings persist even after they stop eating. People with this disorder do not induce vomiting or take laxatives after an attack.

   • The person may feel depressed, self-loathing, and ashamed.
   • You may have gained a lot of weight lately as a result of compulsive overeating.

   Psychological factors

   1. Analyze the feelings associated with control. People with anorexia use their habits to maintain control over themselves - they make them feel stronger. People with bulimia feel helpless and unable to control themselves. People who are prone to compulsive overeating also have no control over what they eat.

      • If a person feels that his life is out of control, anorexia helps him regain a sense of order and assert himself through the ability to starve.
      • Think about how you feel about the feeling of control and whether you are satisfied with your condition. Are you seeking to gain more control over your life, or do you want to get rid of it? Do you think you are in control of your life, or do you try to do so by controlling your food?

   2. Think about the feeling of shame. A person may feel shame about their eating behavior, especially if they experience bouts of binge eating. A person can overeat and induce vomiting while no one is looking, or throw food off the plate while no one is watching. This behavior is an attempt to hide the traces of their eating behavior, but at the core is shame for what a person is willing to do to maintain their habits.

      • If you feel ashamed about your eating behavior, this may be a symptom of an eating disorder.

   3. Analyze your feelings towards your body. People who don't like their bodies are more prone to eating disorders. Not loving your body means feeling fat, ugly, unwanted, or ashamed of certain features of your body (such as scars). These feelings may come from seeing celebrity pictures or interacting with beautiful people every day.

      • A person may decide that the only way to accept their body is to lose weight. You can think like this: "When I lose weight, I will feel happy."
      • Reflect on your ideas about your own weight and whether you like your body. Ask yourself if you think losing weight is the only way to love your body.

   4. Think about the excuses you make for others. Do you hide your habits? If they ask you why you don't eat, do you lie? What do you say when people ask you about changes in your weight? If you make up excuses for your habits, chances are you have an eating disorder.

      • Perhaps the distortion of reality is the only way for you to keep your eating habits and hide them from others. Are you making excuses for how you eat? Do you avoid meeting in cafes or coffee shops?

   5. Take a look at yourself. You don't need to look at yourself in a mirror to do this - just think about how you perceive your body. You may think that you are overweight, when in fact your body mass index is below normal. Then think about how you feel about your body: how much you like the shape and possibilities of your body, how you perceive your body (positively or negatively). Thoughts and behavior also influence how you develop your body image - for example, you may decide that you are overweight, so you should isolate yourself from others.

      • Think about how you perceive your body and whether your assessment is objective. Ask yourself how you feel about your shortcomings and whether you agree that shortcomings are normal.

   physical manifestations

   1. Know what risks are associated with anorexia. Anorexia has a significant effect on the body. If you notice changes in the functioning of the body, this may be due to anorexia. Fasting can not only lead to dangerous weight loss, but also cause negative consequences such as:

      • constipation or bloating
      • damage to teeth or gums
      • dry yellow skin
      • brittle nails
      • headaches
      • dizziness and loss of consciousness
      • change in bone density
      • growth of a layer of fine hair all over the body and face
      • memory problems and mental retardation
      • depression, mood swings

   2. Find out what effect bulimia has on the body. People with bulimia often show the physical effects of the disease, especially those who induce vomiting. If you vomit after eating, you may experience the following symptoms:

      • abdominal pain or bloating
      • weight gain
      • swelling of the hands or feet
      • chronically sore throat or hoarse voice
      • damage to blood vessels in the eyes
      • weakness and dizziness
      • mouth ulcers
      • swelling of the cheeks (due to vomiting)
      • tooth decay due to acid in vomit
      • lack of menstruation
      • digestive problems, including constipation, ulcers, acid reflux

   3. Know what the consequences of binge eating can be. Primarily overeating leads to obesity, but there are other health risks. To better understand what threatens you with compulsive overeating, you should make an appointment with a doctor and take blood tests. Common side effects of overeating include:

      • type 2 diabetes
      • elevated blood cholesterol
      • high blood pressure
      • joint and muscle pain
      • digestive problems
      • temporary cessation of breathing during sleep (apnea)
      • heart problems
      • some types of cancer

   Help from experts

   1. Seek help from a doctor. An eating disorder can harm your body, so you should get tested and consult a doctor to better understand your condition. See your doctor regularly during treatment.