When Should I Seek An Eating Disorder Therapist Near Me?

Modern media often pressures individuals to conform their bodies to a certain aesthetic. It seems that everywhere you look, someone is touting the promise that you can “Lose weight fast!” or “Get beach body ready!” For some, those headlines imply that their body is not good enough or that they must change their appearance to conform to society’s expectations. The often unrealistic beauty expectations portrayed in our society are one factor, among others, that drives people to engage in disordered eating. This article will examine eating disorders, and help you decide when to seek assistance from a professional.  

What is an eating disorder?

Eating disorders, like many other conditions, are often distilled into their most common forms. Many people are aware of anorexia and bulimia, two common eating disorders, but fewer are aware of more subtle types of disordered eating. Let’s take a look at some of the common types of eating disorders and some types that may not be as well-known. 

Anorexia

Anorexia nervosa can be dangerous and debilitating for someone’s health because this disorder drives someone to keep their weight as low as possible. By the time other people notice some of the hallmark symptoms of anorexia— such as low or no food intake and excessive exercising— likely the person experiencing these symptoms has already been struggling to consume food for some time. 

Contrary to popular misconceptions, anyone— including men, teenage boys, and adult women—can experience anorexia at any time for any reason. People usually develop anorexia as a result of a distorted body image. They often believe they are severely overweight even if, in reality, they are below a body weight that would be considered healthy. 

There is also a very close link between anorexia and anxiety, so when someone becomes excessively anxious about their body image, they may become obsessed with their worries and take extreme steps to reduce their anxiety, such as drastically lowering their food intake.

Some other symptoms of anorexia include:

• Regularly skipping meals because you believe you need to do so
• Excessive exercise
• Excessive dieting
• Distorted and/or inaccurate perception of your weight and body image
• Extreme anxiety about your size and weight
• Excessive concern about calories
• Obsessive calorie counting and/or research about the “fat factor” of the food you eat
• Extreme fear that people perceive you as fat or ugly
• Taking diet pills or other medicines that are designed to help you lose weight

Bulimia

Bulimia nervosa, similar to anorexia, is often caused by a distorted body image. Those with the condition don’t restrict their eating in the same way as those with anorexia. They often exhibit the opposite behavior, engaging in periods of binge eating wherein they consume a large amount of food within one sitting. However, people with bulimia still desire to restrict calories and achieve this end by engaging in purging behaviors after a binge eating episode. 

Purge behaviors commonly include forced vomiting or the use of laxatives to prevent calorie absorption within the intestines. Those with bulimia can face significant health consequences due to the harmful effects of repeated vomiting or laxative use. There are also some with bulimia who fast excessively between binging episodes or exercise excessively to reduce the impact of the calories they have consumed. 

Other symptoms of bulimia include: 

• A normal or above-average body weight
• Specific eating habits or rituals
• Anxiety or depression 
• Tiredness and lethargy 
• An increase in risky behaviors, such as alcohol or drug use. 

Binge eating

When someone is living with a binge-eating disorder, they may compulsively overeat and feel overwhelmed with guilt and shame when they do. Charity organization Beat Eating Disorders has partnered with medical professionals to develop fact-driven awareness campaigns that can help people spot the signs of eating disorders and seek treatment when they need it. Their resources on binge eating disorders include the following information:

“Binge eating disorder (BED) is a serious mental illness where people eat very large quantities of food without feeling like they’re in control of what they’re doing. It can affect anyone of any age, gender, ethnicity or background, and evidence suggests it is more common than other eating disorders.

People with binge eating disorder eat large quantities of food over a short period of time (called binge eating). Unlike people with bulimia, they don’t usually follow this by getting rid of the food through, for example, vomiting, though sometimes they might fast between binges. BED is not about choosing to eat large portions, nor are people who suffer from it just “overindulging” – far from being enjoyable, binges are very distressing, often involving a much larger amount of food than someone would want to eat.

Other common symptoms of binge eating disorder can include:

• Eating excessive amounts
• Eating faster than normal
• Eating until you feel uncomfortably full
• Eating when you’re not hungry
• Feeling shame or guilt about your eating habits

When should I seek an eating disorder therapist?

All mental health conditions can have a detrimental impact on your mental health, but eating disorders are uniquely dangerous because they can damage your physical health as well. 

People who live with eating disorders often mask their symptoms until their condition is quite advanced, so if you or someone you love is experiencing noticeable eating disorder symptoms, it is quite likely that they are struggling and need help urgently. No matter how advanced your symptoms are, it’s never too late to seek help. Still, if you can get help early in the onset of your symptoms, it can improve your path to recovery and prevent you from developing more serious and detrimental symptoms in the future.

Accessing help through online therapy

One of the simplest ways to access help for eating disorders is through online therapy. An online therapist can help you or someone you love evaluate their concerns related to eating and initiate therapy if signs of an eating disorder are present. Many people find online therapy a more convenient and flexible option than traditional therapy, which may be helpful if you’re seeking help quickly. Furthermore, online therapy may be cheaper than in-person options and may increase the number of professionals from which you can choose. 

Evidence suggests that online therapy is just as effective as in-person alternatives in most cases. Online therapists use the same evidence-based techniques as traditional therapists and have the same robust training and credentialing. While not all psychotherapeutic approaches are adaptable to online therapy, most are. However, when it comes to eating disorders, medical intervention is also sometimes required, which may necessitate an in-person visit to a medical provider. While a visit to a medical professional may be required, there are several effective online options for eating disorders therapy that your therapist may initiate with you. 

Takeaway

Eating disorders are serious conditions and should not be taken lightly. It is never too late or too early to reach out to a mental health professional if you’re concerned that you or a loved one may be showing signs of disordered eating. For maximum convenience, it may be worthwhile to reach out to an online therapist for help. Eating disorders often require a visit to a medical professional, but the psychotherapeutic components of treatment typically adapts well to online therapy.