Eating and Food Issues
Introduction
Do you feel that your eating habits and obsessive thoughts have been causing you to feel ashamed, hopeless and frustrated about your body? A food disorder can build a perception that begins to take control of you, causing you to spend most hours worrying about food, what you shouldn't be eating and how you'll look if you have eaten. Going through this alone can be difficult if you aren't sure how to express this innate fear or stress. By confiding in a therapist you can learn how to break this pattern for the purpose of finding happiness and a healthy sense of control.
Eating disorders are abnormal eating habits most threatening toward your health and relationships. There are different forms of eating issues such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating. This behavior shows symptoms of starvation and out of control eating patterns that tend to take over your decision making. Although a lot of people worry about their weight, those with eating disorders will take the thoughts and behaviors to an extreme. The events that contribute to the issues vary, although it often has to do with a sense of self control and emotions. If you feel that you're obsessing over your body type or food consumption and the activity is causing an imbalance within your life, you can reach out and get help from a counselor who will guide you and help you rid of these unhealthy thoughts by clarifying what you are trying to accomplish.
How Eating and Food Issues can Harm Us
Eating and food disorders are most detrimental to our health. If the behavior consists of starvation it causes extreme damage to vital organs such as the heart and brain. The function of the thyroid will begin to slow down and result in physiological symptoms such as difficulty breathing and a drop in blood pressure. Hair and nails can become brittle and you can lose calcium within the body which makes your bones more prone to breakage. In patients with severe cases the brain has the potential to shrink and result in personality changes. By not eating healthy it will change your moods and happiness, altering the way that you respond to social interactions. Our body needs a healthy eating pattern in order to function optimally. If you don't obtain the nutrients that you need in order to grow and maintain your health it can make you feel depressed, anxious or uninterested. As you work with a therapist you will get through these obsessive thoughts and eating patterns to learn how to stop them altogether. When you release frustrations you have toward yourself, others or society and learn how to take care of your body the right way – you can find a sense of balance.
Effects of Eating and Food Issues on Other Relationships
Loved ones may have a hard time understanding what's going on during this time. They suffer too as they are watching the behavior without being able to help or stop it from happening. Families, friends and spouses may start acting intrusively to prevent the issues although it is most difficult as it is an obsessive behavior. Eating issues have the potential to breakup friendships and keep you away from interests. When you don't feed your body the right way it's difficult to have fun and focus on the people around you because you are consumed in how you appear. At times, the behavior can happen after faulty communications in family or relationship dynamics. If you're currently facing a body issue or know someone who is, it's essential that you get help the right away. Body issue thoughts are obsessive and will cause you to forget about important relationships. If this has already resulted in isolation or you feel that it may be getting to that point, it's critical that you get help immediately in order to regain control of your behavior in the healthiest way possible.
How Therapy Helps
The good news is that an eating disorder is learned and it can be unlearned with the right guidance. Therapy isn't only about giving up your thoughts but finding out who you are beyond your eating patterns and body image. By working with a counselor you'll learn how to listen to your body, feelings and begin trusting yourself (even under stressful circumstances.) You'll uncover positive qualities and learn how to prevent negative self-talk, which causes you to be self-critical. You'll begin to accept who you are and enjoy life after learning how to cope with health in a way that is beneficial to you and your future. You should never be scared or resistant toward seeking help as it is your road to recovery. Making the decision to work with a trusted confidant will help you see how happy you can be by changing your state of mind and clarifying a deeper issue that is preventing you from living a strong and balanced life.
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