Navigating Eating Disorder Recovery: When To Get Help

Our interaction with food is multifaceted. For some individuals, consuming food is merely a means to absorb the necessary nutrients for a healthier and more joyful existence. Yet for others, it may represent a negative aspect or serve as an emotional crutch to navigate distressing feelings. People from the latter group frequently grapple with the function of food in their lives, dealing with eating disorders and concurrent conditions that complicate life. Nevertheless, it's crucial to understand that your eating disorder needn't dominate your life. With appropriate assistance, you can rectify your relationship with food and manage the foundational symptoms of your disorder.

If you suspect that you're grappling with an eating disorder and are considering how to initiate your recovery journey, here is a comprehensive guide on eating disorders and your potential subsequent steps.

Eating Disorder Recovery is Possible: Learn More About How Online Therapy Can Help

Fostering Consciousness About Your Eating Disorder

The inaugural step in the process of recovering from an eating disorder is to cultivate an understanding that you are indeed suffering from one. That being said, there's many types of eating disorders available. If you're unaware of the symptoms to watch out for, you might not acknowledge that you're experiencing an eating disorder. So, what do eating disorders resemble? Let's explore a few of the most prevalent eating disorders that you might be battling with.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder typified by an excessive fixation on weight reduction, leading those affected by the disorder to indulge in hazardous practices intended to suppress their weight. Indicators of anorexia nervosa include:

• Intense dread of weight gain or phobia of "becoming overweight"
• Restricting daily caloric intake, often consuming minimal amounts
• Compulsive exercising
• Inducing vomiting or employing laxatives to maintain a desired weight
• In women, menstruation absence
• Weak hair and nails
• Calcium depletion affecting bone robustness
• Dry, yellowish skin
• Anemia and muscle degradation
• Constipation
• Reduced body temperature
• Depression
• Exhaustion
• Decreased blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate

Bulimia Nervosa

While those with bulimia may exhibit some of the symptoms found in anorexia nervosa, the key distinction between the two is that individuals with bulimia nervosa are not always underweight. Rather, a person's weight may fluctuate, spanning from underweight to overweight. Nevertheless, this eating disorder can affect people just as intensely. Symptoms of bulimia nervosa include:

• Overeating large quantities of food, then inducing vomiting or utilizing a laxative to eliminate the ingested calories
• Persistent sore throat and inflammation
• Enlarged salivary glands
• Swollen cheeks and facial puffiness
• Tooth decay and tooth loss
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Intestinal complications
• Kidney issues
• Dehydration

Binge Eating Disorder

Unlike individuals with bulimia nervosa, who attempt to purge the food they've overeaten, those with binge eating disorder continually overeat without making efforts to discard the food. This form of eating disorder can often lead to multiple health issues triggered by severe weight gain, such as diabetes and hypertension. Symptoms of binge eating disorder include:

Consuming food at a rapid pace, often more than usual

Eating vast amounts of food until it causes physical discomfort

Consuming copious amounts of food even when not feeling hungry

Concealing eating habits due to shame and embarrassment

Experiencing guilt after engaging in binge-eating behavior

In addition to these symptoms, binge eating disorder must fulfill certain criteria. Binge eating disorder can only be diagnosed if the affected individual frequently indulges in binge eating behavior at least one day a week for three months. They must also exhibit at least three of the aforementioned symptoms and feel a lack of control over their eating habits.

While there might be other eating disorders, these are the primary three that could be underlying what you might be experiencing. Nonetheless, identifying one of your symptoms is merely one phase in the recovery journey. What additional actions should you take when you are preparing to embark on recovery from an eating disorder?

Navigating Eating Disorder Recovery: The Recovery Journey

The National Eating Disorders Association delineates the recovery phases from an eating disorder into five distinct segments. These encompass:

The Precontemplation Phase

In this phase, individuals have not yet acknowledged their eating disorder. Even when family and friends highlight their concerning behavior and symptoms, they frequently respond by persisting in denial about their eating disorder or the necessity to seek recovery. This phase can often be the most challenging as the individual first needs to recognize their disorder before initiating treatment.

The Contemplation Phase

During this phase, individuals start to recognize their problem and may initiate efforts to decipher how to address it. Throughout the contemplation phase, individuals can remain very apprehensive about seeking recovery. They need ample support to assist them as they strive to progress.

The Preparation Phase

Once an individual has acknowledged their issue, they commence the search for the required resources to overcome it. This may include seeking suitable counseling services, acquiring effective coping strategies to handle symptoms, and devising an action plan that facilitates their forward movement with fewer obstacles.

The Action Phase

Equipped with the correct knowledge and tools, individuals can start taking measures to recover from their eating disorders and manage their symptoms. They will have formulated a robust plan with the support of a therapist and nutritionist and can commence utilizing all the tools and processes they have learned. Recovery can be demanding, but supportive aid at this stage makes it more manageable.

The Maintenance Phase

By this stage, those with an eating disorder will have been executing their plan for a minimum of six months. They've learned to appropriately apply all the tools they've acquired and begin to attain more success independently. They will still require support as they navigate this fresh lifestyle. Furthermore, those in recovery should understand that relapse remains a possibility. If you revert to old habits, bear in mind that it doesn't diminish your worthiness of recovery or transformation. It merely indicates your human nature. You can always recommence your recovery journey, irrespective of past setbacks.

There's also a sixth phase referred to as the termination and relapse prevention phase. Some individuals might think they're no longer susceptible to relapse and managing their eating disorder. While this may be accurate, it's crucial that they fully comprehend all aspects of their treatment plan and demonstrate their ability to control their eating disorder autonomously. Remember, it's acceptable to seek help if there's a fear or risk of relapse.

Eating disorders can often co-occur with other mental health disorders, such as depression or anxiety. Upon entering treatment, you may also devise a treatment plan along with coping strategies to manage these conditions. This plan will typically involve therapy; in certain cases, medication may assist in treating and managing mood disorder symptoms. If your eating disorder has led to significant health issues, hospitalization may be required to aid your recovery from these complications before proceeding with your treatment.

Therapy can be a beneficial resource at any recovery stage. Besides providing support when you may feel low or negative about your body, therapy can aid in continuing to learn valuable coping strategies to handle the challenges you're confronting. Most individuals have access to nearby counseling centers where they can seek the assistance of a therapist experienced in treating their specific conditions. If local help isn't readily available, consider using an online resource like ReachLink.

Reach Out For Support Regarding Eating Disorders

ReachLink is an online therapy platform designed to render counseling more affordable and accessible for all. Whether you're struggling to find a suitable therapist, don't have enough time for commuting, or are seeking a more straightforward way to start, ReachLink can link you with a certified counselor who matches your needs.

Online therapy can be advantageous for individuals seeking assistance with a wide range of issues, including eating disorders. Those suffering from these conditions may be experiencing significant stress, and online therapy in a comfortable environment might be the difference between successful recovery and relapse.

Eating disorders can affect both mental and physical health. The more prolonged they stay undetected and untreated, the greater the potential harm they can inflict. If you suspect that you're grappling with an eating disorder and wish to embark on the recovery journey, utilize the above information to better understand your eating disorder and how you can initiate the healing process. While recovery can be challenging, it's achievable for everyone. Remember, if you aim to alter your relationship with food, you have the capacity to accomplish it.

Eating Disorder Recovery is Possible: Learn More About How Online Therapy Can Help