Eating Disorders
Control is an important factor when it comes to Eating Disorders. Eating disorders often start out as just a diet; a way to try to regain some self-esteem and control. The sufferer may feel as though their life is, or has been, out of control, and that control can somehow be rediscovered by regulating their food and weight.
The method of attempting to regain control varies according to the illness the person is suffering from. Anorexics try to regain control by denying themselves food; bulimics purge their body of food in order to re-establish some control, even if only for a temporary period of time.
It is important to understand that an eating disorder is merely a symptom of an underlying problem. Eating disorders can have many causes, but food is NOT one of them. A person's eating disorder is triggered by one or a number of (often minor) events.
One common factor amongst those with eating disorders is one of low self-esteem, even if it only manifests itself occasionally. Low self-esteem can quickly lead to a negative self-image, especially a distorted body image. With an illness such as anorexia, it is a way of coping right from the start; a way of dealing with problems when the sufferer feels as if there is no other control to be had.
Causes and Triggers
The causes or underlying issues are different for every person who has an eating
disorder. It is often some perceived traumatic event that has happened in
their life, possibly years before the eating disorder manifested. This cause
lies dormant, but awaiting to be triggered by a later event in the person's
life.
The Symptoms
The trigger leads to the start of the individual's focus on food and weight. It
often starts out as merely a diet that progressively becomes more and more
obsessive. Nobody starts out intending to become a sufferer of an eating
disorder - it is something that happens gradually over time.
What is Anorexia?
Anorexia nervosa is a condition in which the sufferer has a fear of weight gain
and becoming "fat". However, the reality is that, like all eating disorders,
anorexia is merely a mask covering other underlying problems.
Someone suffering from anorexia will often go to extreme lengths to avoid consuming food. One of the most typical behaviours is lying, which can quickly become second nature; for example, telling a parent you have already eaten dinner when really you haven't. Anorexics will also make excuses so they can eat less or even avoid meals altogether.
What is Bulimia?
Bulimia nervosa is a condition where the sufferer purges (gets rid of) calories
they have eaten by self-induced vomiting or other means. Binges are common with
bulimia, although the frequency of this varies from person to person. Indeed,
many bulimics do not binge but simply purge ordinary meals or snacks.
For Hypnotherapy Birmingham to help with Eating Disorders, call me on 0121 707 3588.