Eating Disorders
What are Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders (EDs) exist on a spectrum; they are generally about a person‘s relationship with food and their body. Sometimes, what a person does with food (e.g. restricting, overeating, purging, counting calories, excessive dieting) is reflective of deeper emotional issues or trauma. Most people have heard of the “big” eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. Most people with EDs don’t fit perfectly into these categories and may wonder, “am I really that sick?” Or, “is this really an eating disorder?”. The label isn’t as important as helping you heal your relationship with food, eat “normally”, and learn to accept, and maybe even like, your body.
Do I have an Eating Disorder?
Here are some questions you may answer which could help to understand if you struggle with disordered eating:
1. Do thoughts/feelings about food and weight consume your mind on a regular basis?
2. Do you weigh yourself frequently? And, does the number on the scale determine how you feel about yourself or your activities?
3. Do you count your calories, macros, grams of fat, sodium, or other nutrients?
4. Is it difficult to try new foods, eat at new restaurants, or eat what other's have cooked?
5. Do you avoid eating even though you're hungry?
6. Do you eat more than you would like to, or have trouble stopping eating when you're full?
7. Do your food preferences significantly limit your diet?
8. Do you ever feel you need to "get rid of" food after you've eaten? Or, do you feel guilty for eating?
9. Do you feel out of control when you eat?
10. Has your weight changed significantly?
*If you answered yes to some of these, you may be struggling with disordered eating.
*Questions are not diagnostic; they serve to provide information around disordered eating.
What is the best treatment for an Eating Disorder?
Treatment for eating disorders consists of addressing physical, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual areas. In order for the body to heal, the mind must heal; and vice versa. Eating disorder treatment is multifaceted and involves changing thoughts and feelings about food and the body, as well as learning to nourish and accept one's body. Eating disorders often serve as a way to cope with underlying emotional distress or trauma, therefore, treating these issues is essential. The primary treatments that have been found to be effective in treating EDs are CBT, DBT, ACT, psychodynamic therapy, family based therapies, and experiential therapies.
Are there medical issues I should be worried about?
Yes! Eating Disorders wreak havoc on a person’s body. They affect the cardiovascular system (heart), the gastrointestinal system (stomach), the neurological system (brain), and many other parts of the body.
Cardiovascular concerns: low heart rate, low/high blood pressure, and higher risk of heart failure.
Gastrointestinal concerns: stomach pain, bloating, diarrhea, esophageal tearing, nausea, vomiting, blocked intestines, bacterial infections, and constipation.
Neurological concerns: trouble sleeping, numbness/tingling in extremities, cognitive difficulties, fainting, dizziness, seizures, sleep apnea, and emotion dysregulation.
Other concerns: Brittle hair and nails, dental erosion, irregular/cessation of menses, diabetes, fatigue, restlessness, lanugo (fine hair grows on the body to keep the body warm), bone loss, hypothermia, kidney failure, and anemia.
*This is NOT an exhaustive list of associated health conditions, those these are the most common.
How could you possibly understand, or help me, with this problem? What makes you qualified?
Apart from extensive training and specialty in the area of eating disorders, Dr. Richter also has her own personal recovery journey. Her personal experiences motivated her to specialize in the treatment of eating disorders and serve as a way to truly relate to her clients in their struggles with eating disorders. Additionally, she is able to provide authentic hope that full recovery IS possible.