Therapy for Eating Disorders — Heal Your Relationship with Food and Body
An eating disorder is a serious mental health condition characterized by disturbances in eating behaviors and thoughts related to food, weight, and body image. These disorders can significantly impact a person's physical health, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life
Healing is not about the perfect recovery; it's about taking one small step at a time, being kind to yourself, and celebrating each victory along the way
You may experience symptoms & sensations like...
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Thoughts of food feel intrusive
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Calorie counting
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Feeling disconnected from oneself or reality
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Food is used to make you feel good or worse
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Shame/guilt/ anxiety if you ate certain foods
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Feeling out of control
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Using food as a mechanism to be in control
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Time restricted eating
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Underweight/ Overweight
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Body feels foreign
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A lot of time being spend with food (checking labels and planing how many calories you can eat, etc.)
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Compensation mechanism, when you ate too much/too less
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Too much sport/ exercise
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Distorted perception of body weight or shape
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Extreme dissatisfaction with body image
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Perfectionism, rigid thinking, or a need for control
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Anxiety or depression, often co-occurring with the eating disorder
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Feelings of worthlessness or low self-esteem
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Further down the page you find more specific information/symptom patterns
What do expect in a therapy session...
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When I work with an eating disorder I like to combine different approaches to support you in the best possible way.
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Through my own personal experience with an eating disorder I experienced first hand what helped and what didn't
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The tools that I work with:
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Talk therapy approaches
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Key components:
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Restructuring negative thoughts about food and body image
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Building healthier eating habits
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Developing coping strategies for triggers that lead to unhealthy behaviors
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Mindfulness: Becoming more aware of emotional and physical sensations during meals
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Distress tolerance: Developing healthier ways to cope with overwhelming emotions rather than turning to disordered eating behaviors
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Emotional regulation: Learning to manage and process difficult emotions without resorting to harmful behaviors
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Body based therapy approaches (Somatic Experiencing (SE), Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercise (TRE), Yoga, etc.)
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Key components:
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Creating a connection between body and mind
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understanding and feeling tension/relaxation patterns
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Learning the cues and signals of our bodies
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Psychoeducation
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To understand the relationship and the biology of what is happening in our bodies when we under- or over nourish it
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Additionally to that I like to create a group of people that support you- but only if and who feels right to you
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friends/family
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bodyworkers that you see in person
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doctors, to check how your vitals are
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nutritionists
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An eating disorder can become a very " restricting friend" and with my approach we owner that relationship and move from an unhealthy relationship towards a health one with food
How you feel after therapy ...
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Relief and Empowerment
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Many people feel a sense of relief as they begin to break free from the rigidity of their eating disorder. Regaining control over their relationship with food and their body can be empowering.
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There’s often a sense of pride and accomplishment from achieving goals like eating fear foods or improving self-image.
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Improved Emotional Well-being
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A more balanced mindset around food/ yourself can lead to greater mental peace and emotional stability, less anxiety/ emotional distress/ depression
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Renewed Sense of Purpose and Identity
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Some individuals feel a new sense of self that isn’t tied to their eating disorder, finding meaning in areas of life they previously neglected.
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Increased confidence in making choices, setting boundaries, and valuing oneself can emerge.
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Increased Self-Awareness
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Therapy can lead to a deeper understanding of the underlying emotional and psychological factors that contributed to the eating disorder. This self-awareness often brings a sense of clarity.
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Better Relationships
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Recovery can also positively affect relationships, as you may start to reconnect with family, friends, and social activities that were once avoided due to the eating disorder.
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There is often a sense of support and connection that grows through the therapeutic process.
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Ongoing Recovery:
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Healing is a Journey: Even after formal therapy ends, recovery from an eating disorder is often an ongoing process. Many individuals need continued support, whether through follow-up therapy, support groups, or self-care routines.
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Setbacks are Normal: It's important to acknowledge that setbacks or relapses can occur, but they don't mean failure. Instead, they are part of the recovery process, providing opportunities to reflect, learn, and strengthen coping strategies.
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Different types of Eating Disorders
Anorexia Nervosa
Involves severe restriction of food intake, often leading to dangerously low body weight. Individuals with anorexia may have an intense fear of gaining weight, a distorted body image, and may engage in behaviors such as excessive exercise or purging.
Bulimia Nervosa
Characterized by episodes of binge eating, followed by behaviors to compensate for overeating such as self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise, or misuse of laxatives or diuretics. People with bulimia may also have feelings of guilt or shame related to their eating behaviors.
Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
Involves recurrent episodes of uncontrollable binge eating without the use of compensatory behaviors. Individuals with BED may eat large quantities of food rapidly, feel a loss of control during binge episodes, and experience feelings of distress or guilt afterward.
Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)
Formerly known as Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS), OSFED includes eating disorders that do not meet the full criteria for anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder but still cause significant distress or impairment. For example:
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Night eating disorder: excessive food intake at night
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Orthorexia: is an unhealthy obsession with eating foods that one considers "pure" or "healthy.
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
Involves restrictive eating or avoidance of certain foods or eating situations, often due to sensory issues, fear of choking or vomiting, or concerns about the consequences of eating.
To Consider
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Eating disorders can develop from a combination of genetic, biological, psychological, environmental, and social factors. If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, it is important to seek professional help. Eating disorders can have serious health consequences and are best treated with the guidance of healthcare professionals.
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It's important to remember that everyone's experience with therapy is unique, and it may take time to find the right combination of treatments that work best for each individual.
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Fear and Anxiety
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Letting go of disordered behaviors can feel frightening, as the eating disorder often served as a coping mechanism for dealing with difficult emotions or life circumstances.
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There might be anxiety about weight changes or fear of losing control, especially early in recovery.
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Ambivalence
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It's common to feel ambivalent or conflicted about recovery. Some may miss aspects of the eating disorder, such as the sense of control it provided, even if they know it was harmful.
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The path to recovery is not linear, and setbacks can trigger frustration or doubts about the process.
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Emotional Vulnerability
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As therapy encourages confronting uncomfortable emotions (like guilt, shame, or low self-esteem), some may feel raw or emotionally vulnerable during and after sessions.
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Facing past traumas or difficult life experiences tied to the disorder can stir up complex emotions.
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Body Image Struggles
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Even after therapy, it can take time for a fully positive or neutral body image to develop. Ongoing struggles with accepting one's body may persist, though they tend to become more manageable.
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The process of redefining body image can feel challenging as the individual moves away from societal or internalized ideals of perfection.
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Exhaustion
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Therapy, particularly for eating disorders, is hard work. It involves constant effort to challenge ingrained thoughts and behaviors, which can be emotionally and physically tiring.
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There may be periods of fatigue or burnout as the recovery journey demands ongoing focus.
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To Consider during Recovery Process
Specific Symptoms
Anorexia Nervosa
- Restrictive Eating
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Intrusive thoughts about food
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Calorie counting
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Extreme weight loss or not making expected developmental weight gains
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Thin appearance
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Abnormal blood counts
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Fatigue
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Insomnia
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Dizziness or fainting
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Intolerance to cold
Bulimia Nervosa
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Recurrent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food in one sitting
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Feeling a lack of control during binge-eating episodes
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Forcing oneself to vomit or exercising excessively to prevent weight gain
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Using laxatives, diuretics, or enemas after eating
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Fasting or restricting calories between binge episodes
Binge-Eating Disorder
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Eating unusually large amounts of food in a specific amount of time, such as over a 2-hour period
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Feeling that your eating behavior is out of control
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Eating even when you're full or not hungry
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Eating rapidly during binge episodes
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
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Avoidance or restriction of food intake, leading to weight loss or failure to achieve expected weight gain
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Nutritional deficiencies
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Bluish discoloration of the fingers
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Hair that thins, breaks, or falls out
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Soft, downy hair covering the body (lanugo)
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Absence of menstruation
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Constipation and abdominal pain
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Dry or yellowish skin
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Irregular heart rhythms
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Low blood pressure
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Dehydration
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Swelling of arms or legs
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Using dietary supplements or herbal products for weight loss
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Damaged teeth and gums
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Swollen salivary glands in the cheeks (due to vomiting)
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Sores in the throat and mouth
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Severe dehydration
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Electrolyte imbalance, which can lead to heart attack
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Eating until you're uncomfortably full
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Frequently eating alone or in secret
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Feeling depressed, disgusted, ashamed, guilty, or upset about your eating
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Frequently dieting, possibly without weight loss
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Dependence on supplements or tube feeding
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Significant interference with psychosocial functioning
The First Steps to Supporting You in Your Healing Journey from an Eating Disorder
What You Can Do at Home to Support Yourself
1. Create a Supportive Environment
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Eliminate diet talk: Avoid discussions about dieting, body shape, or weight loss, which can reinforce negative beliefs and behaviors.
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Promote balanced eating: Encourage regular meals and snacks without labeling foods as "good" or "bad."
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Non-judgmental support: Listen and provide emotional support without focusing on appearance or food.
2. Practice Mindful Eating
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Focus on the present: Encourage slowing down during meals, paying attention to the taste, texture, and enjoyment of food.
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Tune into hunger and fullness cues: Help the person become more attuned to their body’s signals of hunger and satiety, which are often disrupted by disordered eating.
3. Develop a Structured Routine
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Regular meals and snacks: Set consistent times for meals and snacks to help normalize eating patterns and prevent binging or restricting.
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Balanced meals: Ensure that meals contain a mix of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats to provide adequate nutrition and satiety.
4. Encourage Positive Body Image
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Promote body neutrality: Rather than focusing on appearance, emphasize what the body can do and how it functions.
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Limit exposure to triggering media: Encourage a break from social media, diet culture, or any sources that promote unrealistic body ideals.
5. Focus on Self-Care and Stress Management
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Engage in non-food-related activities: Encourage hobbies, creative outlets, or physical activities that foster a sense of achievement or relaxation without focusing on weight or appearance.
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Build emotional coping skills: Help the person identify other ways to manage stress, anxiety, or difficult emotions, such as journaling, mindfulness exercises, or talking to a trusted friend.
6. Foster Open Communication
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Stay connected: Encourage ongoing conversations about how they’re feeling, challenges they may face, and any triggers they’ve encountered.
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Validate emotions: Acknowledge and validate the person’s feelings without jumping to "fix" them. Showing empathy and understanding can go a long way.
7. Set Realistic Goals
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Small, achievable steps: Break down recovery into manageable steps, whether it’s eating a fear food or sitting through a meal without engaging in disordered behaviors.
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Celebrate progress: Recognize and celebrate small victories, reinforcing positive changes over time.
And remember:
It is one step at a time. Healing is not linear. There are easier and harder days and we take all those days together. You are not alone!