Eating Disorders are complicated mental health situations that engulf people emotionally, mentally, physically and socially. They revolve around a person’s relationship with food, eating habits and themselves. Estimates indicate that more than fifty lakhs of people are affected by an eating disorder in India. In this excerpt, we will discuss the treatment for eating disorders and how counselling psychologists in India help treat them.

Young women between the age of 12 to 20 are more likely to cultivate an eating disorder. However, anyone can develop one, nonetheless of one’s age or one’s gender. There is no single or sole reason why an individual will build difficulty with eating. There could be a spectrum of factors involved, including social, environmental, genetic, psychological and biological etc.

 Are Eating Disorders Fatal?

Well, eating disorders are significant and can be fatal. Still, they are treatable, and people can make a full recovery as nothing happened. The journey may be lengthy, but it is logical to get help. Now we will look at the varied types of eating disorders. In addition, let’s look at how famous psychotherapists in India can help.

Food plays a crucial role in our everyday lives. Our relationship with food changes from time to time. Having excessive cravings, losing your appetite or overeating, could be anything. Hence, eating disorders are very vague. However, they can be detrimental to physical and emotional health and can even be life-threatening.

When someone has a problem with eating in general, they’re likely to be struggling with distorted thinking. The most challenging part is that the patient may not see what other people can see in the mirror or even hear voices. However, this will depend on the kind of eating disorder they are struggling and panicking with. Following are some of the most common and well-known eating disorders.

1. Anorexia nervosa causes an individual to feel the urge to lose weight, despite being considered underweight. This hope can lead to the person restricting their eating or even exercising excessively.
2. Bulimia can cause a person to fall into the vicious cycle of overeating, that is, binge-eating and clearing typically through vomiting, over-exercising or using laxatives.

3. Binge-eating disorder is when people overeat regularly. Sometimes it is often described as compulsive eating. This happens when a person may rely on food for emotional support or try to run away from things or use it to mask painful feelings. It is something that affects both men and women; binge-eating disorder is more common in adults.

1. The extreme change in behaviour or personality
2. Withdrawing from social situations or hobbies they previously enjoyed
3. Avoiding eating or feeling uncomfortable eating in public or making excuses
4. Continually commenting on their weight
5. Constantly weighing themselves repeatedly
6. Only eating a specific type of foods
7. The tendency to skip meals

If you suspect even one of the changes, as listed above, it can be tough to know what to do to help a friend or a family member. However, do not forget to offer support, or you can approach a psychologist in Chennai. Be very gentle in your approach, assure them, and let them know that you’re there to listen if they want to talk about it. Food is a way to cope with emotions. The mere act of repetition of this coping mechanism can become a dangerous habitual behavioural pattern and an impulsive addiction.

Recovery thereby means changing one’s eating behaviours and habits which can be a nightmare for the one suffering from it. While this can feel depressing and daunting, recovery aims to fight the fear and regain a healthy relationship with food and get them back on track.

Whether the problem is recent or dealing with it for a long while, you deserve all the necessary support and trust me, recovery is possible. If you are tense about anything or if anything remotely bothers you, find someone to talk to. You can find someone you confide in, whether it is a friend, family member or even a good psychologist in India. Remember, you are not alone.

Also, if you’re still not ready to visit a medical specialist or the ones who care for you, counselling is always an alternative. This gives you the freedom to talk about yourself, your features and the highest ambition in a private and non-judgemental setting. However, meet a psychiatrist doctor if your counselling psychologist believes it is necessary.

Always remember that treatment for an eating disorder is available, and recovery is possible. It will usually consist of monitoring physical health and taking concrete steps to comprehend the potential psychological causes, impacts, and consequences since the treatment will depend on an individual to individual basis.

Some standard options include:

1. cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
2. family therapy
3. interpersonal therapy (IPT)
4. medication