Things You Should Know About Eating Disorders

If you have ever known a person that has experienced an eating disorder, you may know how serious they can be. There are a few different specific types when it comes to eating disorders, and there are aspects you should keep in mind if you want to learn more about them. Here’s a list of details you should know about eating disorders.

Eating Disorders Can Affect Anyone

It may seem like eating disorders can only affect women or young girls, but this isn’t the case. Anyone can experience one, even men or boys. When someone has an eating disorder, they may have a flawed sense of reality. For example, they might feel like they have to limit the foods they eat, intake very little, or ingest too much. 

In fact, an individual may be expressing symptoms of an eating disorder and be able to hide it well from their friends and family. They might maintain a healthy weight and see little impact to their routine overall. 

To find out more about eating disorders, check out https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/eating-disorders. This site has plenty of information about how this type of disorder may affect your body and mind. 

There Are Signs to Look For

While there are symptoms for each disorder, there are also some signs that you may want to watch out for, in yourself and those around you that could indicate that a person is experiencing an eating disorder. 

• Issues with hair and skin
• Being unable to stay warm
• Being unable to sleep
• Looking in the mirror for hours
• Refusing to eat meals with others
• Only eating the same things
• Saying or feeling like you’re overweight, regardless of your weight

You Can’t Turn Off an Eating Disorder

When a person has an eating disorder, they aren’t able to simply turn it off. In some cases, it may seem like they can just start eating more foods or avoiding fewer types of foods, but this probably not possible. Their perception about food and eating may be unrealistic, which means they might need mental health care support or medical support to be able to eat foods in the healthiest way possible. 

Treatment is Available

There is treatment available for all eating disorders. If you have one of these disorders or someone you care about does, the first place that they should get checked out is likely their doctor’s office. This can provide information on whether they have a physical health condition. If they do, you should be treated for any physical ailment first. 

Then it may be pertinent to visit with a therapist. A counselor should be able to help you understand your relationship with food and what facets must be addressed. They can also aid you in learning how to think differently in certain situations. Moreover, you can discuss triggers or events that might have led to you developing an eating disorder, where you may be able to better understand your feelings and work through them. 

A professional will be able to prescribe medicines that can alleviate some of your symptoms as well. 

Conclusion 

Anyone can experience an eating disorder, and it is a condition that must be treated when it is noted. Otherwise, it could lead to health problems, or in the most severe cases, death. Be aware that there are multiple treatment options available, so if you have an eating disorder or know someone that does, do what you can to get the necessary help to change this.

The article is developed in partnership with BetterHelp.