Staff Counselling

Staff Counselling

Eating Disorders

An eating disorder involves preoccupied and obsessive patterns of thinking and behaving around food, size and weight

There are several recognised eating disorders which can be described as follows:

Anorexia

Anorexic people starve themselves with the aim of losing weight to a point which others would consider to be too thin, although the person is unlikely to perceive themselves as too thin.

Some people need hospitalisation and it can even be fatal. People diagnosed as anorexics are typically in their teens or twenties and most are women, although around 10% are men. Anorexia is characterised by:

·  distorted perceptions of own weight, size and shape

·  behaviours which results in a marked weight loss

·  secrecy around eating

·  a morbid fear of gaining weight or becoming fat

·  excessive exercising

·  starving

·  cessation of periods in women.

Bulimia

Bulimic people may well maintain their normal weight. Bulimia is characterised by:

·  compulsive bouts of overeating followed by purging

·  distorted perception of own weight, size and shape

·  secrecy around eating

·  feelings of being out of control

·  self-induced vomiting

·  misuse of laxatives, diuretics or other medication

·  episodes of fasting

·  excessive exercising

·  a morbid fear of gaining weight or becoming fat.

Compulsive eating

·  recurrent episodes of binge eating and consequent feeling of being out of control

·  distress about binge eating and the attempts to control it

·  while bingeing a person might eat more quickly than usual; eat until uncomfortably overfull; eat large amounts when not hungry; eat alone in secret; feel disgusted and guilty with self

Significant Food deprivation

·  weight-loss accomplished primarily through extreme dieting, fasting or excessive exercise

Non-specific

related difficulties with food include:

·  anorexic behaviour though still menstruating

·  anorexic behaviour where, despite significant weight loss, current weight is still normal

·  someone of normal weight inducing vomiting or purging after small amounts of food

·  chewing and spitting out food rather than swallowing

·  ruminating

If you are troubled by your eating, then you could talk it over with one of our counsellors.

01245 434225 (ednet 40225) email: