When confronted with stress or trauma, individuals attempt to develop coping mechanisms to deal with what they are facing. Unfortunately, these coping mechanism can often become dangerous in themselves. For example, it’s common for individuals confronted by social stress or lacking control in their everyday life to develop disordered eating. What begins as a way to relieve or mask the issues they are facing becomes a dangerous practice affecting an individual’s physical and mental health. One of the most significant misconceptions is the notion that disordered eating has to do with food. That’s not the case. Rather, there are underlying emotional problems. Sante Center for Healing has an experienced and compassionate team of mental health professionals who can help individuals understand how disordered eating arises and how best to treat and then recover from them. We can guide you through how to help someone with disordered eating.
Don’t Demand That Someone Follow Your Diet
Therapists at many disordered eating treatment centers recognize that people who obsess about food have emotional difficulties. They’re in desperate need of control. For some, food intake is the only thing they feel they can influence. Therefore, some obsess over calorie counting.
Others try to stuff negative attitudes down with food. The highlight of their day is eating something to excess. Right afterward, they suffer from shame. Purging, in this case, may put them in control over counteracting shame.
As you can see, these situations have little to do with needing information on healthy diets.
How to Help Someone with Disordered Eating
Begin by noticing the warning signs. There’s the smell of vomit, the excessive amounts of diuretics, or the baggy clothes that seem out of place. Hear what your loved one’s saying. They might criticize their weight, worry about body image, or regularly check their appearance in mirrors.
Educate yourself about treatment options. Almost all people with disordered eating need professional help. This isn’t something that most can turn around themselves. Most importantly, they need to spend some time away from stressors.
Healing Centers Could Be Instrumental in Helping Your Loved One Overcome the Condition
Therapists at a healing center know how to help someone with disordered eating recover. Interventions might include:
- Individual counseling that focuses on the underlying reasons for seeking control through food consumption
- Trauma therapy allows your loved one to heal from adverse memories and experiences
- Family therapy, which helps those closest to your loved one understand how to support recovery
- Psychotherapy, which assists with psychiatric conditions such as anxiety, depression, or schizophrenia
- Holistic therapies such as yoga that promote relaxation and stress relief
A residential clinical stay is usually the right choice. Your loved one has an opportunity to immerse themselves in the therapeutic atmosphere. Similarly, they receive nutritional counseling that provides a foundation for a healthy lifestyle. Intensive talk therapy sessions assist with healing at your loved one’s pace.
What Happens If You Say Nothing?
It’s easy to pretend not to notice what’s going on. However, this could be a potentially deadly decision. Disordered eating can be a life-threatening condition. Most importantly, you might be the only person who’ll ever approach your loved one about the issue.
Nobody else may feel comfortable with speaking up. Besides that, you might be the only one your loved one listens to. Then again, adding your voice to others could be what propels someone to seek professional help. Although it might feel uncomfortable, speaking up is the right thing to do.
If you need assistance, connect with Santé Center for Healing. Caring therapists there can help you learn how to help someone with disordered eating, so reach out to us today by calling 866.238.3154 now.
