Understanding Eating Disorders And How They Have Been Treated With Great Success Over Recent Years

By Author: Tony Novissimo
Total Articles: 17
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Eating disorders are mainly characterised by two things, namely terrible overeating which is then followed by a fanatical ‘cleansing’ of the body, or a shocking self-starvation. Yet sufferers of eating disorders can be helped successfully and the sooner this is done the better!

An individual’s drinking and eating habits are controlled by many factors. For example, your eating patterns are determined not only by your appetite, but also by things like your family or friends' ways of doing things, the availability of food, and even cultural customs. Of course, your desire to eat or not to eat also plays a role.

Excessive dieting to look like an international model (or the nimble Barbie doll) unfortunately also means you are going to be much slimmer than what is considered healthy - and yet everywhere in today's society, it is being touted as the great ideal. With clothing fashions, sales campaigns for special foods and whatnot, the unwarranted message for females, in general, is that it is acceptable (almost recommended) to be ultra-skinny, but in reality, this can not be further from the truth.

The two ...
... main types of eating disorders are known as anorexia nervosa (or anorexia) and bulimia nervosa (or bulimia). These eating disorders are often a result of this obsessive desire to give in to social pressure and slavishly follow the latest fashion trends. The fact that such environments have become the breeding ground for eating disorders, does not surprise an eating disorders therapist at all.

However, the root cause of eating disorders remains an open question but the one thing that experts do know is that it involves a serious imbalance in normal eating behaviour, which (if left untreated) can have tremendous detrimental consequences.

Unhealthy self-starvation or massive overeating is often accompanied by feelings of anxiety or extreme anxiety about one's weight or body shape, and experts in the field of eating disorders have been trying for years to determine why and how initial voluntary behaviour, such as eating more or less food than usual, simply get out of hand and degenerate into an eating disorder in some people.

Studies have shown that even the basic biological aspects of prolonged starvation, appetite control or overeating are extremely complicated. Yet, it is seriously hoped that over time, all research will lead to effective cures for eating disorders.

Bulimia and Anorexia Nervosa often develop during the teenage years, or sometimes in the adult years of some sufferers. According to some eating disorder therapists, it could also occur as early as childhood or perhaps much later in adulthood and is often associated with other psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Many psychologists believe that anorexia is not a disease, but a symptom of a deep-seated emotional problem that has a lot to do with family relationships. It can be used as a tool to manipulate concerned parents, for example.

The first possible indication of the disease is usually that the individual starts to eat less and less. An anorexia sufferer will often alternate intentional starvation with gluttonous eating storms. This is followed by self-induced vomiting. Eating (over-eating) usually also takes place in secret and the food usually has little nutritional value.

In addition, people suffering from eating disorders can develop physical problems such as severe heart disease or kidney failure, which can result in death. It is therefore of the utmost importance that eating disorders be recognised as genuine and treatable diseases, and that individuals who suffer from eating disorders, be treated as soon as possible in an appropriate manner and preferably by a qualified and experienced eating disorders therapist.

In conclusion, it is important to know that eating disorders can usually be treated successfully by an eating disorders therapist or a qualified psychiatrist - even if it could sometimes be a long and painful journey. The sooner eating disorders are diagnosed and treated, the better the outcome could be for the patient.

About Us

For nearly two decades, Tony Novissimo has been practising as a qualified psychotherapist and counsellor in the UK. After founding the London Therapy Foundation in 2010, he went on to become the director of Low-Cost Counselling London. Novissimo Counselling in Warwickshire and Richmond-Upon-Thames is his practice from where he provides private and confidential counselling and psychotherapy sessions to treat various conditions including depression, anxiety, addictions, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anger management and many more. Sessions can either be delivered in person, online or telephonically. Having a session with Novissimo Counselling will give you a new take on life and allow you time and space to reflect and recover. The aim is to work towards recovery and during the sessions. Novissimo Counselling is an excellent resource to help you understand your condition and the implications it has for you, to place it within the context of your life and relationships and to help you develop appropriate strategies for dealing with it. For more information, visit their website at https://www.novissimocounselling.co.uk.