A common question I get as a an eating disorder specialist is:Â How do I know if I need Therapy for my Body Image or Eating Habits?
Here are 5 potential signs:
1.     Feeling unhappy or stressed about how you look
This is an early sign that your thoughts surrounding food or body may become overwhelming. It may start with feelings of insecurity and gradually increase to worry and anxiety.
2.     Changes in eating habits
You might notice that you’re changing your eating habits. This could be eating a lot more, or a lot less. You may even finding yourself in cycles of binge eating, which are periods of eating very little or even nothing, followed by periods of eating a lot more than you usually would. If this applies to you, this can be a good indicator your relationship to food may start to get out of control. These changes in eating can be very dangerous and are a good indicator that you should seek help.
3.     Obsessive thinking about looks or appearance
You may become very preoccupied with how you look. This can be noting changes in your body, frequently weighing or measuring yourself and comparing your body with others. You may also become aware of calory intake and start labelling foods as ‘healthy’ or ‘unhealthy’ and maybe avoid some foods altogether. This stage can be particularly impactful to your mental wellbeing and sense of self. You may be frequently body checking and becoming hyperfocused on your body.
4.    Avoiding Social Situations
Due to feelings of insecurity, anxiety or worry, you may start to avoid social situations out of fear how others may perceive you. Common examples are places where we feel very exposed, like the beach, pool or even parties. However, this can also affect our personal relationships and we might find ourselves avoiding intimacy with our partners or refusing to engage with others.
5.      Thoughts are becoming overwhelming
Lastly you might just find that thoughts about food and body are becoming overwhelming. It may feel like you’re thinking about it all of the time and it’s causing stress, anxiety and worry. This is typically a great indicator that you could use support.
Â
Note: Eating disorders can be very harmful and even life-threatening. If any of these signs feel familiar to you, it can be useful to seek help. If you wish to do so, you can book a free initial consultation today.
Comentarios