Eating Disorders

Treating eating disorders in children, teens and adults

Eating disorders are an unfortunate part many people's lives these days. The more society pushes certain body images, the more people may become depressed about the way they look. Eating disorders are considered a mental illness, so treatment should start with therapy.

Knowing the Different Eating Disorders

Many people don't know the difference between eating disorders and tend to call them by the wrong name. Bulimia is an eating disorder where the person binge eats and then purges the food. This is difficult to diagnose, as those who do it will hide both the food they are eating and the fact that they are throwing it up.

Anorexia is an eating disorder where someone has such a negative opinion of themselves that they want to disappear from society altogether. They will eat only as much as they need to in order to survive. They literally have to force themselves to eat, as they believe that anything they ingest will make them fat. There is also a disorder that is between the two called anorexia bulimia. This disorder involves someone who is bulimic, but will sometimes go through bouts of eating nothing at all.

Who to Turn to for Help

Eating disorders are especially troubling in youth. Eating disorders in children are rarer than eating disorders in teens, but as children become more aware of their bodies at younger ages, they can be more prone to mental illness. All eating disorders need to be treated a trained psychologist. By seeing someone who specializes in eating disorders, you can every tool you need to help you get better. The treatment also has to go beyond what they can do in their office. Getting further help and support from friends and family will be integral to ensuring that you don't repeat the same behaviors and mistakes which got you sick in the first place. Help is available; you just have to reach for it.