An eating disorder often involves a person having an abnormal or unhealthy relationship with food. This can often result in negative effects on a person’s physical and mental health and require ongoing treatment from an eating disorder psychologist.
The most well-known conditions for which people need eating disorder treatment are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Both involve an excessive desire to be thinner. Anorexia often involves dramatic food reduction and intake to the point of starvation, whilst bulimia involves a cycle of binge-eating and vomiting. A binge eating disorder is characterised by more frequent consumption of larger portions than normal and unhealthy behaviours associated with the fear of putting on weight.
Some of the signs of having an eating disorder include: Excessive use or abuse of laxatives or diet pills, over-exercising, extreme food restriction, over-eating, expressing dissatisfaction and fixation on one’s weight or body shape and self-induced vomiting after eating.
Mind@Work psychologists are experienced in treating eating disorders and will assist with an understanding of the disorder whilst providing you with the skills to manage the issue and recover.
For appointments call Mind@Work Psychology on 03 9440 9886 or email info@mindatworkpsychology.com.au. We are located in Bellfield on the outskirts of Ivanhoe, Preston and Heidelberg.
There are many factors that may cause an eating disorder. These may include:
- Biological factors – some people have a genetic predisposition to developing an eating disorder.
- Environmental factors – food or body image issues can occur during a stressful time of life, such as pregnancy, puberty, relationship difficulties, loss or trauma.
- Personality factors – people with eating disorders can often have low self-esteem, are highly sensitive or may have perfectionistic type personalities.
- Social factors – negative role models in the environment and the media can cause people to feel irrationally dissatisfied with their bodies.
- Trauma – People with histories of traumas such as sexual abuse are more likely to develop eating disorders and require eating disorder counselling.