Do you struggle with an eating disorder? Overcoming an eating disorder is not an easy journey but it is important that you remember that you are NEVER alone.There have been millions of former patients who successfully recovered from an eating disorder and with proper help, you can too. If you or someone you know is currently trying to overcome an eating disorder, you may be looking at some physical, emotional, and mental support so that you can help deal with the issue head on.
Defining an Eating Disorder
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), eating disorders are serious and can sometimes even be a fatal illness. Eating disorders cause severe disturbances to a person’s eating behavior. There are different types of eating disorders including: Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa, and Binge-eating disorder. In a statistics released by the same government agency, up to 8% of the US population suffers from an eating disorder at one point or another. There is hope for those who anyone who is suffering from this illness and the good news it is treatable. There have been many sufferers who were able to overcome this difficulty and have since rebuilt their health including Heidi Powell (wife of Chris Powell) from Extreme Weight Loss.
Understanding Eating Disorder Recovery
It is important to remember that you own eating disorder recovery is your own journey for an overall healthier lifestyle. Please take note that there are different meanings for recovery. For some patients recovery means, being able to conquer the physical symptoms of their illness (e.g. binging on food, vomiting, purging, or excessive exercising). For other patients, recovery can also mean the end of their feelings of guilt, fear, hate, or worry involving food intake. Medical professionals share that full recovery means when you were able to experience a complete sense of peace and contentment when it involves food.
Eating Disorders Can Be Treated
One of the most important things that you need to remember is that eating disorders can be treated. Your symptoms may not simply disappear overnight and may come back from time to time but living a healthier lifestyle is certainly possible. It takes time and commitment to undo any harm that has been done to your body and mind, as well as, learn how to live a healthier life. Additionally, you may also need to deal with other illnesses that are directly related to eating disorders. These commonly include anxiety disorder, depression, and substance abuse. Symptoms of eating disorder can endanger your life even especially when they go untreated for a long time. It is important that you learn to recognize the signs and symptoms early so that you can get immediate help.
Overcome Eating Disorder
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It may be scary and embarrassing to seek aid for an eating disorder, but this first step will help you get further on your road to recovery. You can gain support from a family member, a trusted friend, school counselor, religious leader, or work colleagues. There are also some patients who find it more comfortable to speak directly to medical professionals like your family doctor or a nutritionist.
Work With A Specialist
One of the best ways to recover from an eating disorder is to work with someone who is experienced and have the right knowledge in working with bulimia, anorexia, or binge eating. Ask your primary doctor for referrals or you can check out local hospitals/medical centers. A specialist will also know who to address your health condition, remember, eating disorders may have deadly consequences if they aren’t treated. It is crucial that you get a full medical evaluation, so you can get on the right track and reverse any potential damage that you have done to your body.
You will also work with your specialists for a long-term treatment plan. Your medical specialist may team up with other professionals like a psychologist, a social worker, a nutritionist, and your family doctor. An eating disorder is a dangerous condition; however, you can overcome it with hard work, commitment, and a complete change of lifestyle.
