Approximately 1.25 million people in the UK have an eating disorder, while one in ten of the population suffers from anorexia. Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are very serious conditions, which can have a devastating impact on your physical and mental health.
It is unfortunate some people, concerned about their weight, body shape and appearance, may develop an unhealthy relationship with food. Many may worry about being too thin or gaining weight, convinced it makes them unattractive or undesirable. This can be a source of great pain and sadness, which could consume their life. Leading some to alter their eating habits, to a possibly unhealthy level.
If you are suffering from an eating disorder, you may reduce how much you eat, or have a large amount in one sitting. An eating disorder can manifest itself through interrupted eating behaviour, amongst other symptoms.
It is also commonplace for people afflicted with bulimia or anorexia to try and keep their weight down by releasing food from their system, by various means. Extending from exercising to excess, to taking pills or inducing vomiting, which can have a negative effect on their wellbeing.
However, help is available, by choosing to enter rehab in a residential centre in your area. The perfect site to battle an eating disorder, where expert medical staff; doctors, nurses and nutritionists, as well as therapists, dietitians and counsellors, provide the utmost care and support.
CQC certified residential rehab centres have the knowledge and resources to treat a cross-section of eating disorders. Ranging from anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa to Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) among others.
Rehab centres offer a wide range of therapies to aid in your recovery. Staff can help you find the right treatment, to resolve your individual eating disorder. They can help you identify the specific characteristics of your condition, so you can benefit from the most superlative rehab programme to meet your needs.
By attending regular counselling and therapy sessions during your stay, you can engage in numerous activities, to broaden your knowledge, while examining other areas like nutrition, diet and exercise.
But, for many, the most fundamental aspect of treating an eating disorder is to consider any deep-seated emotional or psychological issues, which could be at the very root of your difficulties. During your therapy sessions, you can speak with a qualified counsellor about any problems you may have, both presently and in the past, which may be contributing to your eating disorder.
Once you have taken the step forward to enter a residential rehab centre, to treat your eating disorder, you will attend regular therapy sessions, either individually or as part of a group. Providing you a safe outlet to talk about your difficult relationship with food.
Is there something deep inside, from your past, or perhaps a present-day problem, which may be serving as a trigger? You may not have even spoken about it before, but many have described counselling sessions at rehab to be the catalyst to discussing those feelings, which has proved to be a turning point.
It is becoming customary to use modern day therapy techniques such as CBT or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, when treating eating disorders. A process utilised to identify and dispel any negative thoughts or emotions which may affect a person’s mood, confidence or self-esteem, distorting their relationship with food adding to their health and dietary issues.
It is also not uncommon to recognise and treat what are often called ‘co-occurring’ conditions like alcohol and drug abuse. Encompassing a medical detox and counselling, as part of a full rehab programme.
All in all, discussing your problems with a counsellor can prove invaluable, when it comes to resolving any eating disorder which could be destroying your life. But it is never too late to get help.