EATING DISORDER RECOVERY
Helps with Binge Eating, Emotional Eating, Bulimia, and Orthorexia. Eating Disorders are a symptom of under- lying issues and I help shine a light on these so you can understand your behaviours and ultimately, Free yourself from them. Full recovery is possible.
Understanding Eating Disorders
I prefer to use the term Eating Distress rather than Eating Disorder as language is important and I have yet to meet anyone who is experiencing this condition as “disordered”. Eating Disorders are not just about food and weight – this is how the emotional distress and inner turmoil manifests itself. It is helpful to think of an eating disorder as a destructive coping mechanism that a person has developed over time. Although maladaptive, it can help them to feel better able to cope day-to-day and becomes their safety net.
People with Eating Distress usually experience a number of the following:
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Preoccupation with body shape, weight and size
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An obsession with food and/or exercise
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Distorted body image (view their body as larger than it actually is)
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Assume that thinness/weight loss is a magical solution to life’s problems, while weight gain is feared
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Have low self-esteem– though this may not appear to be obvious, as the condition is very sneaky and those experiencing it are often referred to as ‘high achievers’
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Depression, anxiety and mood swings
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Perfectionist tendencies
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Difficulty identifying, understanding and expressing their needs (often this can be numbed out or soothed with particular eating behaviours).
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Difficulty with change and like to feel “in- control”
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Difficulty talking about their feelings and dealing with conflict
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Shame around their behaviour
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Distorted, irrational and extreme thoughts, ‘all or nothing’ or ‘black and white’. These distorted thoughts and ideas, in turn encourage, trigger and influence the disordered behaviours.
It is important to understand that Eating Disorders “Do Not Have A Look” and they can affect anyone. People of any age, body weight, size, gender, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation experience eating disorders/ distress.
Understanding Recovery
Eating disorders are complex psychological conditions that affect every aspect of a person’s functioning and therefore, a holistic person- centered approach to recovery is required. It is crucial to look beneath the surface and start exploring the person’s sense of who they are and what is going on for them. An Eating Disorder Recovery Coach is ideally placed for this type of work.
My approach to Recovery is about Self Discovery and empowering clients to let go of self-destructive coping mechanisms and learning to experience life, free from the eating distress.
Recovery is very individual and will look slightly different for everyone. I asked my clients what it meant to them and what they gained from working together. The most common answers included:
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Free from food and body obsession
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Free from constantly berating myself
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Free from constantly over- thinking
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Discovering who I am (separate from the eating distress)
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Taking care of all aspects of my health
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Achieving balance in my life
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Learning to have real fun again
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Accepting myself as I am
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Being at peace with myself
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Respecting myself
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Increased self- esteem
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Ability to understand my needs and express them
Recovery is a process which takes time as the condition is often very deeply- rooted. I empower clients to take practical daily steps towards Full Recovery. I help simplify the process and challenge the resistance that appears as the person starts to take strides and move away from destructive, self- harming behaviours.