Tag: Eating Disorder: Binge-eating

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The Path to Peace: Asia’s 5+ Steps to Embracing Your Mental Health Recovery Journey

Life can be chaotic. We may find ourselves entangled in a web of emotional dysregulation, strained relationships, and internal battles. For many, this tumultuous existence feels like an inescapable cycle, leaving them questioning if genuine happiness is even possible.

However, as Asia, a woman in recovery from mental health challenges, depression, anxiety, food addiction, and domestic violence PTSD, powerfully articulates, “My life before I started my recovery journey was extremely chaotic. I had problems with just about every family member of mine. I had problems in my relationship. I was emotionally dysregulated. Life was not fun, and I had realized that something had to give and something had to change. And I guess that something had to be me.” Her journey from chaos to clarity offers a beacon of hope, demonstrating that a commitment to self-discovery and intentional action can pave the way for a more peaceful and purposeful life.

1. The Power of Educating Yourself: Illuminating Your Inner Landscape

The initial spark for change often ignites with a moment of stark realization. For Asia, this moment arrived when her personal struggles began to impact her professional life. “When I realized like I’m losing control, I might lose my job based on my lack of being able to deal with the things that I have going on in a healthy way,” she recalls. This turning point propelled her toward self-education, a foundational step that laid the groundwork for her entire recovery. She discovered Emotional Chaos and Clarity by Phillip Moffitt, a book that profoundly resonated with her experiences. “It was nothing but emotional chaos and I wanted clarity,” she explains. This act of seeking knowledge allowed her to identify and understand the intricate patterns of her emotional life, providing a roadmap for change.

Self-education in recovery goes beyond simply reading a single book. It involves actively seeking out information, resources, and perspectives that shed light on your specific challenges. This could include:

  • Reading books and articles: Explore topics related to your mental health conditions, trauma, addiction, and emotional regulation. Look for reputable sources, including academic texts, self-help guides by qualified professionals, and memoirs of individuals who have successfully navigated similar journeys.
  • Listening to podcasts and webinars: Engage with content that offers expert insights, personal stories, and practical strategies for managing your symptoms and fostering well-being.
  • Attending workshops and seminars: Participate in educational programs that provide structured learning environments and opportunities to connect with others who share similar experiences.
  • Journaling and self-reflection: Regularly documenting your thoughts, feelings, and experiences can help you identify triggers, patterns, and areas for growth. This introspective practice complements external learning by fostering a deeper understanding of your internal landscape.

By investing in self-education, you equip yourself with the knowledge and vocabulary to articulate your experiences, challenge unhelpful thought patterns, and develop a more informed approach to your recovery. It empowers you to become an active participant in your healing process, rather than a passive recipient of circumstances.

2. Navigating the Therapeutic Journey: Persistence Pays Off

While self-education provides a crucial foundation, professional guidance often proves indispensable on the path to recovery. However, as Asia’s experience highlights, finding the right therapeutic fit can be a challenging, multi-step process. “I sought out therapy and the first time felt good, but I only went once. And then years later, more things were happening to me and I found another one virtually, and I went for a while, but I didn’t really feel the most comfortable with that person. And I think that’s why people give up on recovery… My third time didn’t even work out because I felt connected, but I didn’t feel like I was getting questioned enough to get to the root of what would help me change my mind about my issues.” This candid admission underscores a common hurdle in recovery: the temptation to abandon the process when initial attempts don’t yield immediate results.

Asia’s persistence ultimately led her to a fourth therapist who proved to be a transformative force. “Now I’m on my fourth therapist and she has been one of the best things ever on my journey of mental recovery, of defeat and depression, anxiety, food addiction and PTSD from domestic violence. She connects with me. She understands me. She digs deeper. She asks me questions that forces me to really connect with how I’m feeling and figure out, you know, how to stand on my boundaries, how to be a stronger person, how to be more resilient.” This powerful endorsement emphasizes the importance of a therapist who not only provides a safe space for expression but also actively challenges and guides you toward deeper understanding and actionable change.

When seeking therapy, consider the following:

  • Be patient and persistent: It’s rare to find the perfect therapist on the first try. Don’t be discouraged if you need to try a few different professionals before finding someone who aligns with your needs and goals.
  • Communicate your needs: Be open and honest with potential therapists about what you’re looking for, your concerns, and your preferred therapeutic approach.
  • Prioritize connection and trust: A strong therapeutic alliance built on trust and mutual respect is crucial for effective treatment.
  • Look for a therapist who challenges you: While support is important, a good therapist will also gently push you to confront uncomfortable truths, explore underlying issues, and develop new coping mechanisms. They should ask insightful questions that encourage self-reflection and deeper understanding.
  • Consider different modalities: Various therapeutic approaches exist, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for trauma, and psychodynamic therapy. Researching these options and discussing them with potential therapists can help you find a suitable fit.

The commitment to finding the right therapeutic support, even when the path is winding, is an investment in your long-term well-being and a testament to your dedication to recovery.

3. Recovery is a Marathon, Not a Sprint: Embracing the Ongoing Journey

A fundamental truth of recovery, as Asia eloquently states, is that “recovery is a marathon and not a sprint. Recovery is an ongoing thing. There is no finish line to recovery because we’ve been through absolutely so much in life is so much to recover from that. It’s an everyday ongoing process of just healing those wounds.” This perspective shifts the focus from a finite destination to a continuous process of growth, healing, and self-discovery.

Embracing recovery as an ongoing journey means understanding that:

  • Setbacks are a normal part of the process: There will be days when you feel overwhelmed, experience old patterns resurfacing, or face new challenges. These are not failures but opportunities for further learning and refinement of your coping strategies.
  • Self-compassion is paramount: Be kind to yourself during difficult moments. Acknowledge your efforts and progress, even when things feel challenging.
  • Consistency is key: Regular engagement with your recovery practices, whether it’s attending therapy, practicing mindfulness, or utilizing coping skills, builds resilience over time. Asia’s commitment to weekly therapy sessions, even when she initially felt she didn’t need them, highlights the importance of consistent effort. “I know I need her every week because recovery is ongoing. I think I can handle things that sometimes I’m more overwhelming than I thought.”
  • Growth is layered: Asia beautifully describes recovery as peeling back the layers of an onion: “I’m proud and excited to be able to continue to pull back layers of myself, which I call an onion, because maybe sometimes it stinks, but you know, we still use it to spice up that food. It makes you who you are, it makes the dish what it is, and we need it, and we need to keep pulling back more and more to discover what is it gonna take for us to live our most healthy lives?” This metaphor encapsulates the idea that healing is not linear; it involves continually uncovering and addressing deeper wounds and unconscious patterns.
  • Adaptability is essential: As you progress, your needs and goals may evolve. Be open to adjusting your recovery strategies and seeking new forms of support as required.

Understanding recovery as a lifelong commitment liberates you from the pressure of perfection and allows you to appreciate the continuous unfolding of your personal growth.

4. Life Transformed: The Fruits of Intentional Recovery

The rewards of embarking on a dedicated recovery journey are profound and far-reaching. Asia’s transformation is a testament to this, as she describes a life now characterized by greater peace and purpose. “My life now compared to before I started my recovery journey is a lot more peaceful. I believe that I can handle difficulty in a way that will not destroy me.” While acknowledging that life isn’t perfect and challenges still arise, she emphasizes a newfound capacity to navigate adversity without being consumed by it.

The benefits of intentional recovery often manifest in several key areas:

  • Enhanced emotional regulation: Learning to identify, understand, and manage your emotions in healthy ways reduces emotional dysregulation and reactivity.
  • Improved relationships: As you heal internally, your relationships with others often become more positive, authentic, and fulfilling. You develop stronger boundaries and communication skills.
  • Increased self-awareness and understanding: Delving into your past and present experiences helps you understand “what happened to me and how it affected me.” This self-knowledge provides clarity and empowers you to make conscious choices. Asia notes, “My life has a better sense of purpose and understanding due to how I’ve educated myself like I am this way because I went on a recovery journey to figure out what happened to me.”
  • Greater resilience: The tools and insights gained through recovery equip you to face life’s inevitable challenges with greater strength and adaptability. You learn to “fight better and always become the winner and the conqueror of any hard situation.”
  • A sense of purpose and joy: Moving beyond the constant fight with internal demons allows you to connect with your values, pursue meaningful goals, and experience genuine happiness and peace. Asia articulates this beautifully: “I know how it feels to feel amazing and at peace and go to sleep every night, grateful and thankful, and wake up the same way the next morning.”

The transformation is not about eradicating problems but about developing the capacity to respond to them with greater wisdom and strength. It’s about shifting from being defined by your struggles to being defined by your resilience and capacity for joy.

5. Self-Compassion and Intentionality: Your Daily Commitment

At the heart of a sustainable recovery journey lies the twin pillars of self-compassion and intentionality. Asia’s advice to those facing similar challenges is direct and compassionate: “My advice would be to dive deeper into yourself. Cut the distractions that you so easily create in your life, whether it be work, relationships, kids, family, family, everyone else but you. I know so many people that focus on everything and everyone else but themselves.” This powerful statement underscores the critical need to prioritize your own well-being.

Key aspects of self-compassion and intentionality include:

  • Accepting that “it’s okay to not be okay”: This is a crucial first step. Acknowledging your struggles without judgment opens the door to healing. As Asia advises, “Be okay with the fact that you’re not okay. It’s okay to not be okay. It’s human to not be able to withstand so much trauma. That’s all right. What’s not okay, is ignoring it like it’s not there. Like it didn’t happen, like it didn’t affect you.”
  • Prioritizing self-care: This involves consciously dedicating time and energy to activities that nourish your mental, emotional, and physical health. It’s about setting boundaries, engaging in stress-reducing practices, and ensuring adequate rest.
  • Daily intentionality: Recovery is not something that just happens; it’s a choice made daily. This means actively engaging in practices that support your well-being, even when it feels difficult. “I have to be aware about it every day. I have to be intentional about my recovery. I have to be intentional about my mental health,” Asia emphasizes.
  • Shifting your identity: Recovery is about recognizing that your struggles do not define you. While you may have experienced depression, anxiety, or addiction, you are not those conditions. “Your depression is not something that should be a part of your identity. Your depression should not rule over your happiness and your joy. What has to be the winner is you genuinely being okay with yourself, with your life, and doing whatever it takes to be healthy, mentally, physically, emotionally,” Asia powerfully states. This reframe allows you to step into a more empowered and authentic version of yourself.
  • Don’t delay seeking help: For those on the fence about getting help, Asia’s message is clear: “Get off the fence because this is your life and we don’t have a lot of time. Every single day is so precious that I truly believe that every human being deserves to genuinely be happy, genuinely not have to be fighting demons daily.”

Ultimately, the journey of recovery is a profound act of self-love and courage. It demands honesty, perseverance, and a willingness to confront discomfort. However, the peace, purpose, and joy that await on the other side are immeasurable. By embracing self-education, pursuing consistent therapeutic support, understanding recovery as an ongoing process, and committing to daily self-compassion and intentionality, you too can unmask your path to lasting peace and well-being.

A Brighter Tomorrow, Today

Asia’s recovery journey is a powerful testament to the human capacity for healing and transformation. Her story underscores that while life may present immense challenges, it is within our power to cultivate a life of purpose, peace, and genuine happiness. By taking the courageous steps of self-education, seeking appropriate professional help, embracing the ongoing nature of recovery, and committing to daily self-compassion and intentionality, anyone can embark on their own path toward a brighter tomorrow. Remember, your journey is unique, but the promise of a more fulfilling life is a universal truth worth fighting for.

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Saad’s 7 Steps to Starting Your Mental Health and Wellness Recovery Journey

Saad’s powerful story of overcoming significant health challenges and transforming his life offers a beacon of hope for anyone facing similar struggles. His journey, marked by weight gain, injury, mental health issues, and job loss, led him to a profound realization: recovery is possible through a combination of inner faith, practical action, and a shift in perspective.

Saad vividly recalls his lowest point: “I completely hit the rock bottom…I started hating my body the way I looked. I hid behind those baggy clothes, always trying to cover your area of your, you know, belly avoiding mirrors. Fear of confrontation of your to yourself had very low self-esteem.” This feeling of despair and self-loathing is a common experience for many who find themselves struggling with their physical and mental well-being. However, Saad’s story underscores that this “rock bottom” can also be the catalyst for profound change.

1. Shift Your Mindset and Perspective

Saad emphasizes the crucial role of changing his mentality. He realized that his previous approach of self-punishment through extreme diets was unsustainable. Instead, he focused on understanding his body’s needs and cues. This shift in perspective is fundamental to long-term recovery. Instead of viewing lifestyle changes as restrictive punishments, consider them acts of self-care and investment in your well-being. Recognize that recovery isn’t about perfection, but about progress with self-compassion.

2. Take Practical, Sustainable Actions

Saad didn’t just rely on a change in mindset; he took concrete steps to improve various aspects of his life. He focused on nutrition, sleep, emotional health, exercise, movement, and mobility – all factors that contribute to functional metabolism and long-term health. This holistic approach is vital. Recovery isn’t just about addressing one symptom; it’s about nurturing your overall well-being through consistent, sustainable habits. Consider incorporating small, manageable changes into your daily routine, such as a short walk, a healthier meal, or a few minutes of mindfulness.

3. Listen to Your Body’s Cues

One of Saad’s key learnings was the importance of listening to his body. He moved away from rigid rules about “good” and “bad” foods and instead focused on mindful eating and understanding his body’s signals of hunger and fullness. Developing this awareness is crucial for sustainable health and well-being. Pay attention to how different foods make you feel, notice when you feel truly rested, and acknowledge any discomfort or pain signals your body might be sending.

4. Find Your “Why” and Cultivate Purpose

Saad found motivation in wanting to help his family and others. Helping his mother reverse her type 2 diabetes fueled his passion and provided a strong sense of purpose. Having a clear “why” can be a powerful driving force in your recovery journey. What motivates you to change? Is it your health, your relationships, your aspirations? Connecting with this purpose can provide the resilience needed to navigate challenges.

5. Embrace Learning and Seek Knowledge

Saad’s journey involved extensive learning about functional metabolism, clinical research, and health and wellness coaching. While you don’t need to become a certified expert, actively seeking knowledge about mental health, nutrition, and well-being can empower you to make informed decisions about your recovery. Explore Recovery.com’s Resource Library to gain a better understanding of your challenges and potential solutions.

6. Understand That Shame and Isolation Are Harmful

Saad’s powerful statement, “shame and isolation are more harmful than food,” highlights the detrimental impact of negative self-talk and social withdrawal. Shame can erode self-esteem and hinder progress, while isolation deprives you of crucial social support. Be kind to yourself, practice self-compassion, and actively seek connection with supportive individuals. Consider exploring support groups or therapy as avenues for reducing isolation and processing difficult emotions. Recovery.com can help you find treatment centers and support networks.

7. Ask for Help and Break Free from Ego

Saad emphasizes the importance of asking for help when needed. “No matter how far gone you feel, there is always a solution out there. You just have to ask for help when you need to ask. Do ask. Don’t get that ego in the middle. Don’t hold yourself back.” Overcoming the fear of vulnerability and reaching out to trusted individuals, professionals, or support systems is a sign of strength, not weakness. Just as Saad sought guidance, allow yourself to lean on others during your journey.

Saad’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience and the possibility of profound transformation. He reminds us that “you are not broken, just a bit overwhelmed by the situation and the circumstances.” By starting small, taking practical steps, listening to your body, finding your purpose, seeking knowledge, combating shame and isolation, and asking for help, you too can embark on a meaningful and sustainable recovery journey. Remember, as Saad wisely advises, “just start. You’ll be amazed by the capacities your body’s built in. You’ll be amazed on how your mind is capable of what extent it can go to achieve something.”

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Maureen’s Journey in Eating Disorder Recovery and Self-Love

The Giving Voice to Mental Health Podcast recently shared a deeply personal story of resilience with Maureen, who recounted her journey through an eating disorder that began during her time as a ballet dancer in the 1980s. Her powerful narrative offers crucial understanding and hope for individuals facing similar challenges and those who support them. Hosts Terry McGuire and Caroline Beidler guided a conversation that illuminated the isolation of struggling with an eating disorder when awareness was limited, contrasting it with the growing resources available today.

More Than Just Food: Understanding the Core of Recovery

Maureen thoughtfully described her experience not as a “battle,” but as “working through” an eating disorder. This highlights the ongoing and internal nature of recovery, extending beyond just physical health to encompass self-image, self-esteem, and, most importantly, self-love.

“I feel that I am recovering from a combination of… not understanding how to take care of myself. It’s beyond the amount of food that you put in your body, for example, it’s really about self-image and self-esteem and self-love…”

Her words emphasize that true recovery involves a fundamental shift in how one perceives and values themselves.

The Weight of External Expectations: Body Image and Triggers

As a ballet dancer in the 1980s, Maureen faced immense pressure regarding her body image. This environment became a significant trigger, highlighting how external expectations can contribute to the development of eating disorders.

“As a young person in college, I was a dancer, a ballet dancer in the 1980s and at that time, body image was a huge thing and you had to look a certain way and be a certain way in order to perform…”

This experience underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing societal and environmental factors that can fuel disordered eating.

A Long and Winding Road: The Reality of Ongoing Recovery

Maureen’s journey to self-acceptance has spanned decades, illustrating that recovery is rarely a straight path. It involves continuous effort, with challenges and negative thoughts potentially resurfacing.

“It’s taken me this much of my life to arrive at being okay with myself, you know? And even that gets challenged all the time… I’m always in recovery. I’m always working on recovery.”

Her strength lies in her ability to identify unhealthy patterns and consciously choose a healthier direction, affirming, “You’re okay. You’re good just the way you are.”

Explore eating disorder treatment options.

The Harmful Words: What Not to Say to Someone Struggling

Well-intentioned but misguided advice, such as “just eat more,” can be detrimental to someone with an eating disorder. Maureen emphasized the importance of avoiding comments about food altogether.

“Teachers didn’t really know what to do with me. They didn’t know what to say. They just kept saying, well, you have to eat more. You have to eat more. It’s not what, it’s not the right thing to say… Don’t say anything about food. Leave it alone and let me figure it out.”

Instead, she suggests expressing non-judgmental support and focusing on aspects of their life unrelated to food or body image. Suggesting alternative activities, like “Let’s go for a walk,” can be far more helpful.

Finding Support: The Power of Connection

While formal therapy wasn’t consistently available to Maureen in the early stages, she found crucial support in friends, particularly within the modern dance community, which offered a more accepting environment. This highlights the significance of supportive relationships in recovery.

“I found support in friends and interestingly in among dancer friends… I found a really wonderful, supportive community there.”

The lack of readily available professional help in the 1980s underscores the progress made in providing resources today.

A World of Options: Hope for Today and Tomorrow

Maureen reflected on the lack of treatment options available when she was struggling, a stark contrast to the resources that exist now. Today, individuals have access to information, various therapies, peer support groups, and treatment facilities.

“If it happened to me now, I wouldn’t hesitate to look around for a place to go, you know, somebody to talk to or a situation to take care of myself…”

Caroline emphasized the wealth of information available on https://recovery.com/resources/ and the importance of educating ourselves and others about eating disorders and available support.

Embracing Life: Finding Joy in Self-Acceptance

Maureen’s journey ultimately led her to a powerful realization: life is truly good when you treat yourself with kindness and embrace self-acceptance.

“Oh. ’cause life is so good when you’re, when you’re able to treat yourself well. When you’re able to love yourself and accept yourself, life is really, really great.”

This message of hope and the possibility of a more positive and vibrant life serves as an encouragement for anyone currently struggling to believe in their own potential for recovery and self-love.

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Katlyn’s 9 Steps Towards Healing from Trauma, Abuse, and an Eating Disorder

In a deeply candid and moving conversation, Katlyn, a survivor in recovery from narcissistic abuse, Complex PTSD, and anorexia, shared invaluable insights into her journey. Her words offer a beacon of hope and practical guidance for anyone grappling with the aftermath of trauma and the challenging path of recovery.

Katlyn’s experience highlights the tumultuous nature of healing, emphasizing that it’s not a linear ascent but rather a complex dance of progress and setbacks. Yet, through vulnerability and the development of crucial coping mechanisms, a more grounded and present life is possible.

1. Recognizing the Need and Finding Inner Strength

Before recovery, Katlyn described emotional instability and chaos, feeling disconnected from the present. The turning point came when she recognized her strength in escaping a harmful situation. “Once I got myself out of that situation, it was a wake up call for me that I had the strength and resilience to remove myself from the situation to even identify the abuse as it is.” This acknowledgment of inner resilience is the crucial first step towards healing.

2. Seeking Support and Building a Foundation

A cornerstone of Katlyn’s recovery was actively seeking support from trusted individuals and professionals. “To help set myself on a path to recovery, I reached out for help, first of all, to people that I trusted with my vulnerable state. Um, I then got myself into some therapy specifically for what I am going through in recovering from.” Therapy, support groups, and even nutritional guidance create a vital network for navigating the complexities of trauma recovery.

Explore treatment options for trauma and eating disorders.

3. Establishing Structure and Self-Care Rituals

Creating daily routines provided Katlyn with stability and fostered self-care. “Just kind of establishing daily rituals for myself, kind of a container and structure for my day…made me feel healthy, clean, loved, and taken care of by myself.” Consistent rituals, even small ones, offer comfort and reinforce self-compassion.

4. Processing Emotions Through Expression

Katlyn found significant benefit in expressing her emotions, whether through journaling or talking. “I think journaling was something else that I started doing daily…my main advice would be to get it out, vomit out the emotion, however you need to do that.” Externalizing feelings prevents them from becoming internalized and allows for greater self-awareness and emotional regulation.

5. Rebuilding the Self with Compassion and Connection

Recovery involves redefining one’s relationship with oneself, moving away from being defined by trauma. “Seeing me for the first time with all of the things that I’ve experienced as a beautiful, strong person versus feeling like those things are me, are defining me.” Connecting with others who have similar experiences breaks isolation and reinforces that healing is possible. Group and family therapy can provide a safe place to foster meaningful connections. Cultivating self-compassion is also key.

6. Allowing Time and Embracing the Nonlinear Journey

Katlyn emphasized the importance of patience in the healing process. “That’s something else that I learned that helped me stay in recovery is that I need time. Time changes things. It gives us new perspectives.” Trauma processing is not linear; it involves ups and downs. Accepting this reality and allowing time for healing is crucial.

7. Cultivating Present Moment Awareness and Reclaiming Joy

Finding grounding in the present and rediscovering joy are vital aspects of recovery. “Having started my recovery journey, my life now is definitely a lot more present…my life is filled with…just a lot of good freaking food.” Engaging with the present and allowing oneself to experience pleasure, even in small ways, counteracts the negative impacts of trauma.

8. Setting Boundaries and Communicating Needs

Learning to identify fear, set boundaries, and communicate needs empowers survivors. “I have had to retrain myself to defend myself and recognize when I’m having, um, an intuition of fear…I have the tools and, um, capacity to communicate that versus being stuck.” Developing these skills is essential for self-protection and building healthy relationships.

9. Embracing Change and Recognizing Inner Strength

Katlyn offered a powerful message of hope and resilience. “The advice that I would give someone who is a survivor of anything traumatic is that things will change and that you deserve to see out the change…remind yourself how strong you are, how worthy you are.” Recognizing one’s inherent strength and the impermanence of difficult times fuels the ongoing journey of recovery. Even acknowledging the desire for change is a significant and brave first step.

Katlyn’s journey underscores that healing from trauma is a multifaceted process that requires courage, support, and self-compassion. By embracing these essential steps, individuals can begin to find their footing and move towards a more grounded and hopeful future.

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The Signs a Young Adult May Have an Eating Disorder

Adolescence and early adulthood are pivotal periods for navigating life’s challenges and developing a sense of identity, particularly when it comes to mental health. During this time, external pressures can contribute to the rise of eating disorders, which have become a silent epidemic among young adults. Disorders like anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating not only impact physical health—leading to malnutrition, heart complications, and other severe conditions—but also take a profound toll on mental well-being.

Recognizing the signs early during these formative years can make the difference between a lifelong struggle and a successful recovery. Early intervention allows young adults to regain their health, rebuild self-esteem, and restore a healthy relationship with food and body image.

Listen to our podcast episode with Dana Sedlak (LCSW, CEDS-C) to learn more about eating disorders and adolescent treatment options. 

Common Types of Eating Disorders in Young Adults

Eating disorders can affect anyone, but especially young people. The average onset begins between ages 18-211, a time when individuals are particularly vulnerable to societal pressures and body image concerns. Each eating disorder is a complicated and multifaceted condition that requires specialized care.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image, leading to severe restriction of food intake1. People with anorexia often have an obsession with being thin and extreme dieting, excessive exercise, or other behaviors to avoid weight gain.

A person with anorexia nervosa can drastically lose weight, refuse to maintain a healthy weight, and fixate on calorie counting or food-related rituals. Despite the risks such as malnutrition, fatigue, and weakened immune function, the fear of gaining weight drives the person’s cycle of restrictive behaviors.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa involves cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors, or “purging,” to prevent weight gain2. During a binge, the individual can feel “out of control” while eating and consume a large amount of food in a short period of time, followed by intense guilt, shame, or distress. To counteract the binge and these negative feelings, the person purges by self-induced vomiting, excessive laxative use, or extreme exercise. 

Unlike anorexia, people with bulimia may maintain a normal or above-average weight, making the disorder less immediately visible. However, bulimia can lead to serious health complications, including electrolyte imbalances, gastrointestinal problems, dental erosion, and heart issues, making it a dangerous and harmful disorder if left untreated.

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder (BED) has recurrent binge episodes, and, unlike bulimia nervosa, individuals do not purge3. During a binge, the person may eat rapidly, eat until uncomfortably full, eat large quantities even when not hungry, and isolate themselves, then feel ashamed or guilty afterward. These intense emotions can lead to a cycle of emotional eating. 

Someone with BED does not take immediate action to counteract the calories consumed, leading to weight gain and health risks like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular issues. 

Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED)

Some eating disorders may not neatly fit into the traditional categories but still have severe health implications. Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), for example, is when individuals limit food intake due to a lack of interest in eating4 or an aversion to certain textures or tastes, rather than concerns about body image. Orthorexia nervosa, though not officially recognized as an eating disorder, involves an unhealthy obsession with eating foods deemed “pure” or “healthy,”5 which can lead to severe dietary restrictions and malnutrition.

Other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED) can also be a diagnostic category for individuals who exhibit significant eating disorder behaviors but do not meet the full criteria6 for anorexia, bulimia, or BED. OSFED can include a wide range of disordered eating patterns that still pose serious health risks, such as night eating syndrome or purging disorder. 

Physical Signs of an Eating Disorder

While weight fluctuation is perfectly normal, staying vigilant to your child’s physical and mental well-being can help you discern if the changes are healthy or warning signs of an eating disorder. 

Noticeable Weight Changes

Restrictive eating behaviors can result in weight loss, as seen in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, where food intake is drastically reduced or purging prevents weight gain. This weight loss often comes with other red flags, including fatigue and dizziness as the body becomes deprived of essential nutrients.

Conversely, rapid weight gain can indicate BED with frequent episodes of overeating. 

When talking to your child about weight loss or gain, remember that this topic is sensitive and accompanied by a host of negative feelings. Instead of focusing on their weight, you can discuss your concern about their eating habits and its impact on their health.

Physical Health Issues

Outside of weight, unhealthy eating behaviors impact all parts of the body via inadequate nutrition or harmful behaviors like vomiting. Carbohydrates serve as the brain’s main energy source7, so severely restricting food intake causes low energy levels, dizziness, and fatigue8 as well as cognitive impairment and decline.  

Symptoms such as bloating, constipation, or abdominal pain can manifest from irregular eating patterns9, starvation, or the misuse of laxatives.

For women, hormonal imbalances due to extreme weight loss or nutritional deficiency can cause amenorrhea10, or disruptions or complete cessation of their menstrual cycle. In these cases, the body prioritizes essential survival functions over the reproductive system, which has the potential for long-term harm.

Changes in Appearance

Due to a lack of essential nutrients, particularly protein and vitamins, hair and nails become brittle and dry11. Malnutrition and dehydration can also cause the skin to lose its elasticity and moisture, leading to a dry and flaky appearance.

Purging behaviors, such as vomiting, create dental problems as stomach acid erodes tooth enamel12. This can lead to tooth decay, sensitivity, discoloration, and even gum disease. Chronic vomiting can also damage the throat and mouth lining.

Behavioral Signs of an Eating Disorder

Often, someone with an eating disorder will try to hide their unhealthy eating habits. If you suspect that your child has an eating disorder, try to pick up on the subtle behavioral indicators that they may need help.

Obsession with Food and Weight

In an attempt to maintain control over their weight and emotions, they may constantly track every calorie consumed, often to an extreme degree, indicating an unhealthy relationship with food. Chronic dieting or switching between restrictive eating plans disrupt normal eating patterns, contributing to a cycle of weight loss and gain, damaging both physical health and mental stability.

By fixating on their body image, they may have a distorted view of their own size, even when underweight. You may notice frequent body checking (e.g., excessively looking in mirrors, pinching skin). 

Secretive Behavior

Rooted in deep emotional struggles related to body image and self-worth, someone with an eating disorder may isolate themselves and exhibit sneaky behavior around meals. They may stash or hide food in their room, bags, or other secret locations and consume large quantities of food privately. 

The person can lie about their eating habits, claiming to have eaten when they haven’t or significantly downplaying how much they ate. Or they may immediately leave the table after eating to purge. 

Emotional and Psychological Signs

While the most obvious signs of an eating disorder appear physically, the emotional distress behind the changes can sometimes have the most negative impact. 

Mood Swings and Irritability

When the body is fighting to function without proper fuel (food), cognition declines. Malnutrition and restrictive behaviors can affect brain chemistry13, leading to a lower tolerance for life’s ups and downs and causing sadness, frustration, or mood swings. 

Eating disorders like anorexia can lead to structural changes in the brain14 such as loss of gray matter and decreased thickness of the cerebral cortex and the outer layer of the brain. These mutations influence emotional regulation, lending to an overall negative affect.

Anxiety and Depression

It’s no coincidence the rise of anxiety and depression among young adults correlates with the onset of eating disorders15. These conditions provoke more severe disordered eating symptoms and create a complex web of co-occurring conditions necessitating specialized treatment. 

Much like anxiety and depression, someone with an eating disorder tends to have low self-esteem and withdraw from social activities, either due to fear of eating with others or from fatigue. A constant preoccupation with food, weight, and body image also creates emotional exhaustion, exacerbating the symptoms.  

Perfectionism and Control Issues

For some, controlling their eating is a way to process and cope with situations that are out of their control—usually spiraling into unhealthy and restrictive habits. Perfectionism can manifest as strict dietary rules and an extreme exercise regimen to feed the obsession of an ideal body type. And when they fall short of these unattainable standards, the person can experience intense self-criticism and guilt, perpetuating disordered eating patterns.

Eating disorders often coincide with conditions like obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and other compulsive disorders as both are driven by intrusive, distressing thoughts16. Someone with these co-occurring conditions may severely restrict their food among other behavioral rituals in an attempt to control their anxieties and thoughts. Each disorder has a unique impact on the brain and body, requiring individualized care.

Impact on Daily Life

Physical, behavioral, and emotional disruptions can blend into a symphony of destructive daily habits, worsening the eating disorder. Over time, this degrades the person’s overall well-being.

Academic Performance

Depriving the brain of proper nutrition leads to poor attention, concentration, and problem solving skills13, therefore decreasing academic performance. Students can then feel overwhelmed and frustrated by their poor performance, contributing to a cycle of restrictive behaviors and underperformance.

Beyond the physical impact of malnutrition, obsessive thoughts and anxieties can further disrupt concentration as they fixate on counting calories, planning meals, or their weight. Mood swings may also make it hard to stay present in academic settings.

Social Withdrawal

People with eating disorders tend to distance themselves from loved ones, avoiding social interactions and family gatherings to hide their food habits. They may feel ashamed of their eating disorder and concerned about judgements from worried friends and family. 

Isolation can only worsen the negative thought patterns involved in an eating disorder as a cycle of rumination grows. If you’re concerned about your child, you can try to do low stress, fun activities with them without mentioning their weight or eating habits to break this habit.

Daily Routine Disruptions

Eating disorders often interfere with healthy sleep17 due to energy and hormonal imbalances, leading to issues such as insomnia and irregular sleep patterns. This lack of sleep and food can contribute to poor concentration, irritability, and more.

Many individuals, particularly those with anorexia nervosa, orthorexia, or bulimia nervosa, compulsively or excessively exercise as a way to control weight or “burn off” calories. This overexercising can become a rigid part of their routine, often prioritized over other aspects of life, including social activities, rest, or work. 

Whether through lost hours of sleep, a preoccupation with exercise, or difficulty completing daily tasks due to fatigue, an eating disorder can take over much of their mental and physical energy.

When to Seek Professional Help

There is no such thing as a “bad” time to ask for help—whether you’re noticing the onset of eating disorder warning signs or the person needs serious medical care, professional treatment and family support can help your young adult not feel alone in their struggles.

Consulting Healthcare Providers

A healthcare professional can offer tailored insights for eating disorders and collaborate with you to create an achievable care plan. 

A pediatrician or general practitioner can be a good first point of contact. They can perform an initial physical assessment to evaluate the individual’s overall health, checking for signs of malnutrition, weight loss, or other physical symptoms associated with eating disorders (heart irregularities, electrolyte imbalances, or gastrointestinal issues). After these initial meetings, the practitioner can refer you to a specialist.

You may employ a diverse range of professionals to treat the eating disorder and any co-occurring conditions. Eating disorders are often linked to deep-seated emotional and psychological issues such as anxiety, so a psychologist can help address the mental and emotional aspects of each disorder through therapy. A registered dietitian specializing in eating disorders plays a crucial role in nutritional rehabilitation, as well. They can help restore a healthy relationship with food by creating personalized meal plans that support both physical and emotional recovery.

When necessary, eating disorder treatment centers offer intensive, multidisciplinary care based on the client’s needs. Some people with eating disorders may need a more intensive level of care to help monitor and manage their symptoms. When talking to your doctor, you can figure out which level of care best fits your needs:

  • Outpatient (OP): You’ll meet 1-2x per week with your provider and others in treatment.
  • Intensive outpatient (IOP): You’ll meet 3-5x per week for several hours at a time for more intensive care.
  • Partial hospitalization (PHP): You’ll meet 5-7 times a week for a full day.
  • Residential: You’ll live in a rehab for 28+ days and engage in treatment with a comprehensive staff and a community of peers.
  • Inpatient: You’ll live in a treatment center or hospital-like setting and have 24/7 monitoring.

Supporting a Young Adult with an Eating Disorder

Your child might be going through a confusing and complex time, and your support can set them on the path to a healthy relationship with their mind and body.

Open Communication

When talking to your young adult, it’s important that they feel safe in their space and in the conversation to be honest and vulnerable. Try to approach them with a non-judgemental tone, and calmly voice your concerns. You can say phrases like “I’ve noticed that you seem to be struggling with eating lately, and I’m concerned about your health.” This approach focuses on your feelings and observations rather than making the person feel judged or blamed.

Avoid talking about their physical appearance. Comments about their size, even if intended to be positive or neutral, can reinforce the focus on body image and exacerbate shame and guilt. 

Change takes time, and they may not be ready to acknowledge their problem immediately. Be patient and try to avoid threatening language, as this may push them away or increase their resistance to seeking help.

Let them know that you are there for them, regardless of their response to your concerns. Make it clear that your support is unwavering, and they can talk to you whenever they feel ready.

Creating a Supportive Environment

Your home can be a safe space where your young adult feels encouraged, understood, and supported in their journey toward health and well-being. In addition to having filling, nutrient dense foods, you can create a comfortable environment that encourages discussing emotions, struggles, and progress without fear of judgment.

You can be a positive role model for your child. Try to avoid dieting and weight talk, as this can reinforce disordered thinking. Shift the focus from appearance and weight to overall health and well-being, as this helps reduce the pressure they may feel to meet certain body image standards.

Recovery from an eating disorder is often a long and complex process, with setbacks and challenges along the way. Be patient and compassionate as they navigate their journey.

Resources for Further Help

These resources provide various levels of support, from immediate crisis intervention to long-term recovery assistance, and are available to individuals, families, and caregivers.

Hotlines:

  1. National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Helpline

Phone: 1-800-931-2237

Text: Text “NEDA” to 741741 for 24/7 crisis support

  1. Crisis Text Line

Text: Text “HELLO” to 741741

  1. The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+ youth)

Phone: 1-866-488-7386

Text: Text “START” to 678678

Websites:

  1. National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA): Offers comprehensive resources, including a screening tool, information on treatment options, and support forums.
  2. National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD): Offers free, peer-led support groups, mentoring programs, and educational resources for individuals and families affected by eating disorders.
  3. Eating Disorder Hope: Provides resources on eating disorder treatment, recovery tools, and educational information for individuals and families.
  4. BEAT (United Kingdom): Offers support, resources, and a helpline for individuals with eating disorders in the UK.

Support Groups:

  1. ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)
  2. Eating Disorders Anonymous (EDA)
  3. Overeaters Anonymous (OA)
  4. The Body Positive
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What Are Eating Disorders? Types, Symptoms, and Treatment

Eating disorders are illnesses defined by disturbances in eating patterns1 and food intake. They also include a preoccupation with body image, calories, and weight. People of any age, sex, gender, and background can develop an eating disorder. Someone with an eating disorder (also called ED) may avoid certain foods or restrict their diet, exercise excessively, use laxatives, or vomit after eating. 

Eating disorders are often an expression of the emotional pains in conditions like depression, trauma, and anxiety. Someone may develop an ED as a way to punish or gain control over themselves. Eating disorders can also develop due to genetic predispositions and social factors. Someone with an ED runs a higher risk of physical health complications, mental health decline, death, and suicide. 

A blend of therapy, weight restoration, and nutritional counseling can not only treat symptoms of an eating disorder, but heal its underlying causes for life-long recovery.

Listen to our podcast to learn more about eating disorder and addiction recovery from Recovery.com’s Chief of Staff, Amanda Uphoff. 

What Are The Causes of Eating Disorders?

Multiple factors can cause eating disorders1, including genetic predispositions, peer influence, mental health conditions, and bullying. Behaviors and personality dispositions can also lead to an eating disorder and affect what types of eating disorders may develop.

Types of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders take many forms, from restricting diets, purging, and a blend of both. Healing exists for each kind of eating disorder and its potential health complications.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa causes someone to restrict their food intake2, exercise compulsively, and intensely fear weight gain. Someone with anorexia will often have a distorted body image, leading them to feel constantly overweight and in a pursuit of thinness. Anorexia has a very high mortality rate compared to other mental illnesses due to the health effects of emaciation (extreme thinness) and risk for suicide.

Anorexia is more common in females2 and occurs most often in adolescence or early adulthood. Someone with anorexia often won’t recognize their low weight, which can make it difficult for them to understand the severity of their condition and agree to treatment. As they progressively lose weight, severe health complications and other symptoms can arise, including:

  • Feeling cold all the time
  • Irregular periods or no periods at all, which can lead to infertility
  • Constipation
  • Tiredness and fatigue
  • Low and irregular heart rate
  • Shallow breathing or feeling out of breath
  • Dry skin and brittle nails
  • Bone thinning
  • Organ failure
  • Heart and brain damage

Co-occurring conditions like depression and anxiety often contribute to the development of anorexia2, as does growing up overweight, having parents or blood relatives with anorexia, and being body shamed by peers or loved ones. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people with anorexia1, following death from health complications caused by undereating and excessive exercise.

Early intervention, weight restoration, and therapy can reverse the effects of anorexia and teach the coping tools needed for long-term recovery, helping patients navigate day-to-day stressors and heal their relationships with food—and themselves.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is defined as a pattern of binge eating and purging3. Binge eating involves eating large meals or many high-calorie foods in one sitting, often with the inability to stop. Purging is used to compensate for the binge and prevent weight gain. Someone may purge through self-induced vomiting, using laxatives, excessive exercise, or fasting. Binge-purging can quickly become a self-feeding cycle.

Bulimia nervosa occurs most commonly in young women1. It can develop due to brain abnormalities, social influence, and mental health conditions. Bulimia can lead to weight loss and symptoms like:

  • Irregular periods
  • Throat and mouth pain from the stomach acid in vomit
  • Tooth damage and erosion, also from stomach acid
  • Stomach pain and bloating
  • Fatigue
  • Dehydration from purging
  • Imbalanced electrolytes

Unlike anorexia, someone with bulimia may not appear underweight; they can even look overweight. That’s why clinical evaluations and examinations are important for diagnosis and treatment of bulimia. A doctor will check their patient’s vital signs, ask questions related to binge or purging behaviors, and check for inflammation in the mouth and throat to diagnose bulimia nervosa and start treatment.

Therapy can address the underlying causes of bulimia and teach skills to manage binge-eating, while weight restoration and nutritional care can improve physical health.

Binge-Eating Disorder

Someone with binge-eating disorder will binge on food, but not purge afterwards1. Binge-eating often includes a lack of control and inability to stop eating, which can cause someone to eat large meals. They may feel sick after binging and gain weight over time, potentially becoming obese. 

Binge-eating disorder can affect men and women of all ages. It can lead to extreme weight gain, shame, and secretive habits to conceal binging behaviors. Other symptoms include:

  • Eating very quickly
  • Eating despite feeling full or not hungry
  • Stomach pain due to overeating
  • Eating alone or in a secret location to hide eating habits
  • Lying about eating habits
  • Frequent dieting to try to control weight gain
  • Bloating

Therapy can help someone with binge-eating disorder learn to control binging and find comfort in other activities. Personalized eating plans and exercise regimes can also reduce weight at a safe, comfortable pace.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

ARFID causes avoidant or restrictive eating habits4. Someone with ARFID may avoid certain food groups, like carbs, or specific foods, like ice cream. They may also restrict their eating and not meet their required calorie intake. ARFID differs from other eating disorders in that body image and fear of weight gain don’t contribute to food habits; rather, someone may avoid or restrict food simply because they don’t like it.

ARFID was commonly thought of as a childhood disorder, like a more severe version of picky eating. But physicians saw adults experiencing symptoms too, and moved to shift the diagnosis to both children and adults. 

Symptoms of ARFID include:

  • Avoiding food groups or types of food suddenly and dramatically
  • Eating much less than usual
  • Eating fewer and fewer foods because they no longer sound appetizing
  • Weight loss
  • Reduced interest in food and meal times
  • Low/no appetite
  • Stomach and digestive problems

Treatment for ARFID often includes therapy to work through food avoidance and identify foods someone will enjoy eating. Weight restoration and nutritional care may be needed, but not always. 

Other Specified Eating or Feeding Disorder (OSFED) and Unspecified Feeding or Eating Disorder (UFED)

You can think of OSFED as a mix of eating disorder symptoms5 that don’t fall under anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge-eating disorder. A patient with this diagnosis may partially meet the requirement for one or more ED diagnoses. OSFED recognizes disordered behaviors and negative relationships with food as a hindrance on daily living, mental health, and physical health.

Similarly, UFED encapsulates eating disorder behaviors and symptoms that may not have a distinct classification. Some scholars and physicians debate the helpfulness of UFED and OSFED5, and instead suggest a singular term of ‘mixed eating disorders’. This term could offer more clarification for those diagnosed with it.

The symptoms of OSFED and UFED can vary widely, but typically include:

  • Restrictive diets; not eating certain foods
  • Purging behaviors (vomiting, excessive exercise, using laxatives)
  • An obsession with size and weight
  • Body dysmorphia

Therapy and possible weight restoration can help someone with OSFED or UFED heal short and long-term.

Pica

Pica is defined as eating non-food items or substances6, like mud or chalk. To diagnose, the person must be older than 2 and eating non-foods outside of cultural or societal norms. Pica can accompany disorders like schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), or trichotillomania (compulsively pulling out hair). It commonly occurs in intellectually impaired patients, children, and pregnant women. One study found 28% of pregnant women experienced pica6 during their pregnancy. 

Pica doesn’t have a direct cause6, though it’s been theorized that iron and zinc deficiencies can cause cravings for non-foods7. Pica can also be fueled by curiosity—most people may wonder about eating non-foods or want to, but they realize they shouldn’t. Intellectually impaired people and children may lack this reasoning and eat non-foods regularly. Children may also resort to non-foods to survive in neglectful or abusive environments.

Common pica ‘foods’ include:

  • Dirt and clay
  • Ice
  • Charcoal
  • Coffee grounds
  • Eggshells
  • Paper
  • Flaking paint (which can lead to lead poisoning)
  • Rocks, bricks, and cement
  • Plastic (plastic bags, containers, chunks)

Rumination

Rumination syndrome describes habitually regurgitating food8 and swallowing it or spitting it out. It usually happens 10-15 minutes after eating and can last up to two hours. Unintentional stomach and diaphragm tension can cause regurgitation. It happens without nausea and retching, but can cause stomach pain. Once someone learns how to do it, it can become habitual, like burping.

Symptoms of rumination syndrome include:

  • Weight loss
  • Malnutrition
  • Teeth erosion
  • Electrolyte imbalances
  • Abdominal pain

Rumination can co-occur with conditions like depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). It can be a symptom of an eating disorder or occur alongside one. Treatment often includes breathing exercises to relax the diaphragm, behavioral therapies, and other relaxation methods to practice after meals. Staying relaxed can prevent the over-tightening of the stomach and diaphragm that allows rumination.

Treatment for Eating Disorders

Eating disorder treatment1 often includes a blend of behavioral therapies, nutritional counseling, medically supervised weight restoration, and medications. Treatment aims to address the ED’s symptoms and underlying causes, like anxiety, stress, depression, or trauma. Therapists work in 1:1, group, and family settings to help patients heal their relationship with food, navigate co-occurring conditions, and develop a relapse prevention plan.

Behavioral Therapies for Eating Disorders

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for eating disorders1 addresses binging, purging, and restrictive behaviors. It teaches coping tools and helps patients identify and change untrue beliefs about food, their body, and self-image.

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) helps in similar ways, but focuses more on accepting thoughts and emotions and living with their potential discomfort—without restricting, binging, or purging. It centers on mindfulness, helping patients experience emotions without trying to change or limit them.

Behavioral therapies often occur alongside medications (like antidepressants or antipsychotics), medical care, and nutritional counseling.

Medical Care and Monitoring

Medical care may take place in an inpatient or outpatient setting, depending on each patient’s presentation and how underweight they may be. Weight restoration aims to safely restore weight until patients reach a healthy base weight. It focuses on physical health and safety, but restoring weight can also restore cognitive functioning.

Weight restoration9 can be done via feeding tube, nutritional supplements, and meal monitoring to ensure patients eat full meals. Other medical services may include heart monitoring, medications, and potential life-saving measures in the case of heart failure or other organ failures.

In an inpatient setting, patients receive 24/7 care and monitoring. This may be necessary for severely underweight patients and/or those who refuse to eat due to an eating disorder. Nurses and clinical staff monitor vital signs and track weight. In an outpatient setting, care and monitoring may be available, but not 24/7. This can fit the needs of someone at a stable weight, but needing ongoing therapeutic care and monitoring.

Nutritional Counseling

In nutritional counseling, a certified nutrition counselor assesses current eating habits10 and identifies dietary changes. They help create meal plans, educate on the importance and effects of good nutrition, and help patients with eating disorders change how they view food. For example, they may explain the benefits of feared food groups and “fear foods” to lower the fear and negative associations someone may have.

Nutritional counseling can disprove untrue beliefs or fears about food and help patients feel more comfortable eating new/more foods, complementing behavioral therapies and  weight restoration.

What to Expect When Seeking Treatment

What happens when you seek treatment for an eating disorder? It varies for everyone, but you can expect your appointments with therapists and medical providers to follow general structures.

Medical Providers

You’ll typically meet with your primary care physician (PCP) first to start the treatment process, then see specialists at their referral. In this initial appointment, you and your doctor will discuss what you’ve been experiencing and struggling with. Based on your discussion, you can ask questions like:

  • Do my symptoms meet the diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder?
  • What treatment do you recommend?
  • What level of care do you recommend for my symptoms and their effect on my life?
  • What can I do to take care of myself at home?
  • Will I be put on medication? Which one, and what are its side effects?

Your doctor will likely provide physical evaluations, checking your mouth, throat, stomach, and your heart rate, among other vital signs. These evaluations can reveal and confirm health concerns, potentially leading to additional lab testing or other functional tests. Your doctor will use the results of their evaluations to determine the best next steps for you.

At the end of your appointment, you’ll likely leave with referrals to specialists, therapists, or a plan to start intensive care in an inpatient or outpatient setting. In severe cases, a PCP may send you directly to an emergency room.

Therapists

Your first therapy session for eating disorder recovery often covers your history with eating disorders and general information about yourself. You’ll talk about what brought you into treatment, and depending on how much time you have, you may take assessments to help your therapist better understand your mental state and personality. Future sessions cover current and past issues more in depth, focusing on the thoughts and beliefs behind eating disorders, identifying triggers, and learning coping tools.

Overall, think of your first session as your therapist getting to know you, and you feeling comfortable with them. If you don’t find the right therapist on your first try, that’s okay. You’re encouraged to connect with new therapists if your current one doesn’t feel like the right fit. 

Lifestyle Strategies and Habits to Manage Eating Disorders

Lifestyle changes and new habits can help manage eating disorders. Remember to seek professional treatment as your first step in recovery, using new habits and lifestyle changes to complement your recovery and form your relapse prevention plan. 

Prioritize Good Sleep

Good sleep can help your mind and body work their best. This benefits your recovery and well-being as a whole. Try these tips to improve how long you sleep and your sleep quality:

  1. Create a nighttime routine that you enjoy and look forward to—purposefully wind down and prepare for sleep the same way each night to train your brain.
  2. Make sure your bedroom is a calm space focused on sleep. Don’t use it to work, eat, or scroll social media.
  3. Dim your lights an hour or longer before bed to trigger your natural circadian rhythm and make you feel sleepier.
  4. Get sunlight in the morning and evening, ideally the sunrise and sunset. You could take morning and evening walks, or sit outside on your porch to view and feel the sun. This can regulate your circadian rhythm.

Practice Stress-Reduction Strategies

Effective stress reduction strategies can vary person-to-person. You can identify what works for you in therapy, or you may already know from past experience. Keep one or two methods in mind to use as-needed, or work some of these examples into your weekly schedule: 

  • Drawing
  • Meditation
  • Talking to a friend or loved one
  • Journaling
  • Baking or cooking
  • Knitting, crocheting, or sewing
  • Taking a walk
  • Spending time in nature

Build and Connect With Support

Connect often with your support network as you undergo treatment, walk your recovery path, and live in long-term recovery. Your support network could include family, friends, and people at your work or place of worship. Keep them up-to-date on your treatment journey and how they can support you.

Friends and family can offer their support and keep you accountable. For example, they may catch or point out potential behaviors you’ve reverted back to, or new habits that could lead to an ED recurrence. 

Find Eating Disorder Treatment

Treatment for all types of eating disorders is an essential start in recovery. A personalized blend of therapy, nutritional counseling, and medical care can restore physical health and heal underlying causes and conditions. You can hear a first-account story of eating disorder recovery by listening to the episode with Amanda Uphoff on Recovery.com’s podcast.

To find eating disorder treatment, you can browse our list of treatment providers and compare services, pricing, and reviews to find the best center for your or a loved one’s needs. 

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What Is Binge Eating?

Binge eating involves recurring episodes of eating large amounts of food in a short amount of time. Recognizing the signs of binge eating is important because it has physical, mental, and societal effects. 

Your mental and physical health can deteriorate from binging episodes. Those who struggle with binge eating often experience intense guilt, shame, and distress, which can negatively impact self-esteem and well-being. Usually there’s a deeper root cause, like something emotionally-driven, behind your binging episodes. And eating large amounts of food can lead to significant weight gain and related health problems.

Caring about your health, and taking steps to improve it, is essential for your well-being. Prioritizing your health can empower you to lead a fulfilling life and positively impact your loved ones and communities.

Defining Binge Eating

The DSM-51 defines binge eating disorder (BED) as “eating, in a discrete amount of time (e.g., within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than what most people would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances.”

Often, those with BED feel a lack of control when they’re binging. And sometimes, they’ll eat alone because they’re embarrassed or disgusted by how much they eat.

BED occurs frequently. Overeating to the point of feeling uncomfortably full may be distinct from BED, as the episodes do not occur as often. If these episodes are followed by purging behaviors such as self-induced vomiting or excessive laxative use, you may be diagnosed with Bulimia Nervosa.

Symptoms and Signs of Binge Eating

Common behavioral indicators of BED include:

  • Eating faster than normal during an episode
  • Eating until uncomfortably full
  • Eating a large amount of food, even when you’re not hungry
  • Feeling ashamed of your binge eating, and often hiding it from others
  • Often choosing to eat high-calorie foods that are rich in fats and sugars
  • Hoarding food

Emotional signs of BED include:

  • Feeling a loss of control over your eating
  • Emotional distress
  • Emotional numbing
  • Obsession with weight/body image

Causes and Risk Factors

While no one thing leads to binge eating disorder, various influences can trigger its onset. That’s why looking at this disorder with a multifaceted approach is so important.

Biological Factors

While you may think these eating patterns are something you can easily stop on your own, BED mirrors the neurobiology of substance use disorder3. Palatable foods, along with drugs and alcohol, can change your brain. 

Eating sugary and fatty foods increases endogenous opioid activity in the brain, and over time this binging cycle can alter the opioid system, just like with substance addiction. Additionally, activating the dopamine system can temporarily relieve stress, and eating these foods can do just that. However, this can lead to food, or substance, addiction which can also change your brain chemistry.

The gut-brain axis is the bidirectional communication between the gastrointestinal system and the brain4. Emerging research suggests that gut microbiota composition and function may influence food cravings, mood, and eating behaviors, potentially contributing to binge eating tendencies.

Emotional Triggers

Emotional triggers can play a role in BED, too. Those with binge eating disorder often reach for food when they’re feeling uncomfortable emotions like stress, loneliness, and sadness. This happens because you think you’re craving food, when in reality you’re lacking something emotional, like security, control, warmth, excitement, or love. Unfortunately, food does not compensate for these non-negotiable emotional needs.

Socio-cultural Influences

Socio-cultural influences play a significant role in shaping body image ideals, dieting behaviors, and the development of binge eating tendencies. Some key socio-cultural factors that contribute to this include:

  • Media: Thin, idealized bodies we see in the media contribute to unrealistic beauty standards.
  • Peers: Peer pressure, comparisons, and social acceptance can contribute to body dissatisfaction and a desire to conform to certain appearance standards.
  • Diet culture: This culture claims thinness equals health and moral superiority. It emphasizes strict dieting, weight loss, and the pursuit of an “ideal” body shape.
  • Accessibility to food: Limited access to affordable, nutritious foods may lead to reliance on cheap, energy-dense foods, which can contribute to weight gain and disordered eating patterns.
  • Cultural and gender expectations: Cultural ideals and gender expectations can influence body image and eating behaviors differently across societies. For example, certain cultures may value larger body sizes as a symbol of beauty and fertility, while others may prioritize thinness.
socio cultural influences for binge eating disorder

Consequences of Binge Eating

Binge eating can have significant physical health implications, particularly when it leads to obesity and related medical conditions. It can result in:

  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Gastrointestinal problems
  • Sleep apnea
  • Joint problems
  • Respiratory issues

Aside from physical health, BED can take a toll on you emotionally. There is a relationship between binge eating and anxiety and depression because binging is often used as an escape from these complicated feelings. You may also experience low self-esteem and guilt because of your eating habits.

Binge eating can impact your overall quality of life. It can strain relationships because your embarrassment could lead you to isolate yourself or avoid social situations that involve food. It could also impact your work or hobbies because of the fatigue, reduced concentration, and emotional distress that comes with BED.

Addressing binge eating through treatment and support can help you improve your relationships, social life, and overall quality of life. Therapy, support groups, and developing positive coping mechanisms can promote a healthier relationship with food, enhance self-esteem, and facilitate meaningful connections with others.

Diagnosis and Treatment

According to the DSM-51, BED is diagnosed by  

  • According to the DSM-51, BED is diagnosed by 
  • Eating a larger than normal amount of food in a discrete period of time
  • A lack of control during these binging periods 
  • 3 or more of the following:
  • Eating more rapidly than normal
  • Eating until feeling uncomfortably full
  • Eating large amounts of food when not hungry
  • Eating alone because of embarrassment when binging around others
  • Feeling shame and depressed after binging
  • Marked distress about the binging
  • Episodes occurring 1+ times per week for 3+ months
  • The binge eating not being followed by purging behaviors

If you think that you or someone you know may have BED, it is important to seek help from a healthcare professional. A proper diagnosis can guide the creation of your treatment plan, and early intervention can significantly improve outcomes and quality of life.

Therapy for BED

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for binge eating disorder (BED)4. It addresses the underlying thoughts, emotions, and behaviors associated with binge eating. CBT aims to challenge and modify unhelpful thoughts and beliefs, and it helps you develop alternative coping strategies. It’s also beneficial for co-occurring disorders like anxiety or depression because CBT is a widely recognized treatment for many mental health disorders5. 

Interpersonal therapy (IPT) is another evidence-based approach used for BED treatment. IPT focuses on addressing interpersonal issues and improving relationships to reduce binge eating behaviors. This could look like learning to cope with emotions like stress, sadness, or anger in healthier ways, in turn relying less on food as a way to deal with them.

Strategies for Coping with Binge Eating

While professional treatment is the most important component for recovery, building a healthy relationship with food and practicing mindful eating can help you along your journey.

This can look like paying attention to your body’s hunger and fullness cues, mindful eating where you slow down eating and pay attention to the food sensations, stocking your kitchen with nutritious foods, and striving for a flexible, non-restrictive approach to eating.

If your BED is triggered by stress, developing effective stress management techniques can help you navigate a trigger before the binge starts. This could be deep breathing exercises, getting adequate sleep, exercising, and positive self-talk. 

Finally, seek support from friends, family, or support groups. Sharing your feelings and experiences with trusted individuals can provide comfort and perspective. And engaging in social activities and maintaining healthy relationships can also help reduce stress levels and manage your BED.

Prevention and Long-Term Management

Building a healthy relationship with food and your body is the best way to prevent BED. You can adopt balanced eating patterns that include a variety of nutrient-rich foods. There are no “good” and “bad” foods, all food is fuel. So allow yourself to have those treats without feeling guilty. Being unrestrictive can help you sustain a healthy diet.

BED develops not just because of your eating habits but also from your emotional well-being and coping strategies. Keeping yourself mentally healthy is just as important as being physically healthy. Find positive ways to cope with stress, boredom, or difficult emotions that do not involve turning to food. You can exercise, practice mindfulness, engage in creative outlets, or spend time with loved ones.

Ongoing self-care and self-compassion will be key in your journey. Set boundaries, validate your emotions, and create goals. Growth and being the best version of yourself doesn’t come from being your harshest critic. It comes from being your biggest supporter and talking to yourself like a best friend.

You have the potential to be the happiest and healthiest version of yourself. See where professional help and positive lifestyle changes can take you by browsing our list of eating disorder treatment options. 

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2023 Oscar Nominated Movies That Include Addiction

Films and TV shows tend to shape how culture views a certain subject (or profession). Recently, the idea of therapists, mental health, and addiction in pop culture became more mainstream. However, some films and shows do more harm than good—overdramatizing addiction and mental health, or just poorly representing it.

Others capture the rawness, truth and importance of addiction and mental health. 

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed 

Winning an Oscar for best documentary, All the Beauty and the Bloodshed recounts photographer Nan Goldin’s experience with addiction. She depicts her addiction to prescription painkiller OxyContin, and her frustration with the Sackler family.  

America’s Opioid Crisis

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed shows that Nan’s addiction began after an injury. Doctors prescribed a common medication at the time, OxyContin – which is highly addictive if taken incorrectly1. It contains oxycodone, which causes a high similar to heroin. 

Nan, like many others, became addicted to OxyContin after a perhaps thoughtless pain management plan. Nan formed P.A.I.N.2, Prescription Addiction Intervention Now, to “speak for the 250,000 bodies that no longer can.”

The Sackler family, owners of Purdue Pharma, received backlash for pushing OxyContin prescriptions when they perhaps weren’t needed. Nan worked to get museums and other Sackler-supported institutions to publicly separate from the family. 

America’s opioid crisis may have begun with overprescription of pain meds3, but it’s since grown for new reasons, like cheap, accessible products. Fentanyl, too, plays a large role in the 1,500 opioid-related deaths per week.

Treatment Options for Opioid Addiction

Many rehabs treat opioid addiction. In a residential setting, you’ll likely go through a medically supervised detox first, then begin therapeutic treatment. 

Therapies for opioid addiction could range from talk therapies to contingency management plans, which offer rewards for each step you complete in treatment. Talk therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) will help you work through the thoughts and emotions causing your behaviors. Then, you’ll learn new ways to process and manage what you feel.

You’ll learn coping tools for the future, relapse prevention strategies, and typically engage in an aftercare program to keep you well supported. 

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed explored prescription medication addiction. Other nominated movies this year blazed new trails, like The Whale.

The Whale Explores Grief And Binge-Eating

The Oscars nominated Brendan Fraser for Best Lead Actor. The Whale depicts Charlie’s (Fraser) journey through binge eating, grief, and depression. His coping mechanism began after the death of his partner. 

The story highlights the power of grief and the hold of eating disorders, and how they can function as a coping tool. Different characters in the film try to help Charlie, but as it often is, his grief is persistent. 

What Is Binge Eating Disorder?

Binge eating is eating without control4—it might feel impossible to stop. Sometimes, after binging, a purge happens; this is the pattern of bulimia nervosa5. You might purge through throwing up, taking laxatives, excessive exercise, or starving yourself. It’s meant to “undo” the binge. Not every binge eater purges, though. 

Binge eating might be your coping tool, especially if you’re dealing with something as powerful as grief.

Grief And Depression

Depression is a stage of grief6, as proposed by Kübler-Ross. In The Whale, Charlie mourns the loss of his partner, who died by suicide. Depression became a strong stage in his mourning. 

If you or someone you know is considering suicide or self-harm, you can call or text the number 988.

The film suggests binge eating became Charlie’s own way of committing suicide.

Getting Help for Grief And Depression

There’s help for the millions of others like Charlie. Grief and depression can weigh heavily—sometimes unbearably so. But you do have options to heal. 

Complicated grief therapy (CGT)7, for example, can help with grief and all its stages. Using loss- and restoration-focused care, “the therapist works to facilitate the progress of grief to help the client come to terms with the death.” 

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help with depression and grief7. Using CBT, your therapist can help you modify your thoughts and change your behaviors. For grief, CBT could help you process your loss in a more productive way.

To Leslie And Blonde

Both To Leslie and Blonde highlight drug and alcohol addiction. They were also both nominated for Best Leading Actress in the 2023 Oscars. Ana de Armas played Marilyn Monroe in Blonde, and Andrea Riseborough played Leslie in To Leslie.

To Leslie depicts a mother’s struggle with addiction, spurred on by a seemingly-ideal lottery win. Leslie reaches new lows and eventually seeks help for her daughter’s sake and herself. 

Blonde retells the life story of Marilyn Monroe, who tragically and famously died after an overdose. 

Drug And Alcohol Addiction: Not Just for The Famous

Movies like Blonde make addiction seem almost ritzy—something only people with deep pockets can do. Then, To Leslie goes and proves that wrong. So which is true? 

It’s both. 

Addiction doesn’t discriminate. In each movie, despite the contrasts in leading women, their reasons for substance abuse were similar. The case remains true for many today. Stressors, mental illnesses, or trauma can start a habit you can’t stop on your own. 

Stories like Leslie’s and Monroe’s can help the larger public see this through a cleaner lens. Addiction wasn’t a moral failing of either woman. It was how they coped. 

But there’s more than one way to find that same sense of control. Treatment can help you see that.

Treatment Options for Drug And Alcohol Use

Many rehabs treat drug and alcohol addiction. Here, you’d have constant monitoring, individualized care, and a structured treatment schedule. Most residential rehabs also offer on-site detox. 

Depending on your situation, you might find an intensive outpatient program (IOP) or partial hospitalization program (PHP) more suitable. Each of these programs provides effective treatment, and you get to go home at night. IOP is less intensive, usually lasting 3-5 hours a day, while PHP could go for 5-8. 

In these treatment settings, you’ll learn relapse prevention skills and work on the thoughts behind your behaviors. Rehabs typically offer a variety of therapies to meet your needs. 

You can browse our list of rehabs to see reviews, pricing, and insurance information, and more.

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Understanding Eating Disorders and What to Look For in Treatment

black and white image; woman measure waistline

Many misperceive eating disorders as a lifestyle choice. You might even believe some of these stereotypes yourself—that you’re vain, self-absorbed, weak, or lazy because of the way you think about food. This simply isn’t true.

We all have an emotional reaction to eating food; specific dishes can elicit feelings or memories. We describe certain cuisines as “comfort food.” For some people, food can turn into a “drug” of choice—one they turn to cope with depression, anxiety, or a desire to escape. But the belief that people who struggle with these conditions chose to live this way is dangerous. In reality, research continues to show that conditions like anorexia and bulimia are serious mental health conditions1 that require professional care from experienced counselors.

No matter where you’re at in the recovery journey, it’s important to recognize that your emotional response to eating and your experience with food will be entirely different from anyone else’s. No two stories will ever be completely identical. Eating disorders aren’t a choice; they’re a mental illness often linked with biological disorders outside of your control.

tabula rasa retreat eating disorder treatment
Holistic treatments at Tabula Rasa Retreat in Portugal include mindfulness meditation, bodywork, breathwork, kundalini yoga, healing sound therapy, and light therapy.

Types of Eating Disorders

You might have obsessive thoughts about food or reach for a certain type of meal when you’re feeling sad or unsure of something. For some, unhealthy eating behaviors are focused more on weight and body image than the feelings associated with eating. People most often seek treatment for three types of eating disorders: bulimia, anorexia and binge-eating disorder.

Signs of Bulimia

If you suffer from bulimia, you likely experience recurrent, uncontrollable episodes wherein you eat large amounts of food without being able to stop. As a response to those feelings, you might react by trying to “purge” your body of the food. Whether by vomiting, laxatives, obsessive exercise or fasting, these reactions can be extremely harmful or even deadly.

Signs of Anorexia

Control is often central to anorexia; you might be withholding food from yourself, or only eating in very small portions. Intense feelings of self-consciousness or poor body image could be convincing you that you shouldn’t be eating. Anorexia has one of highest mortality rates among mental illnesses.2 By withholding nutrients from your body, your bones and muscles may start to break down, leading to multiorgan failure. That’s why sufferers of this disorder need the highest quality treatment and care possible.

Signs of Binge-Eating Disorder

Everyone has a different trigger, but if something inside you forces you to eat uncontrollably without stopping, you may be experiencing a binge-eating disorder. Hallmark signs of binge-eating disorder include eating alone due to feeling embarrassed by the amount of food you’re eating, and feeling disgusted with yourself or very guilty after a binge-eating episode. Unlike bulimia, you do not counter the binge with purging.

dara thailand eating disorder treatment
DARA Thailand offers recovery-friendly, balanced meals prepared by trained chefs who utilize the vibrancy of Thailand’s bountiful, fresh, local produce.

What to Look For in an Eating Disorder Treatment Center

Mapping out a successful treatment plan starts with getting to know you, unpacking the feelings you experience around food and creating healthy habits in place of your current eating regimen. While there’s no single correct approach to eating disorder treatment, full recovery is possible and within reach. Because there are so many different ways to treat eating disorders and the co-occurring mental illnesses associated with anorexia, binge-eating or bulimia, it’s important to find a program that resonates with you.

Options for Care

  • Psychotherapy
  • Nutritional counseling
  • Lifestyle coaching
  • Talk therapy
  • Biochemical restoration
  • Reflexology
  • Fitness training
  • On-site nutritionist
  • Family therapy
  • Meal preparation education
  • Support group meetings
  • Acupuncture

There are several other factors to consider when seeking treatment, which we’ll look at below.

A Treatment Center Specializing in Eating Disorder Treatment

Although drug and alcohol addiction and other mental health disorders often share the same treatment approach, it’s important to find a treatment facility that specializes in eating disorder treatment. This seems obvious, but some treatment centers will say they treat eating disorders when you may actually be a better fit elsewhere. Because unlike drugs or alcohol, which you can abstain from, you need to eat. Your recovery looks different and you need support in that, rather than being one of the few who struggle with eating disorders at a particular center (though this applies less so to treatment providers who only take a few clients at a time).

An On-Site Dietician

Nutrition is an important intervention in eating disorder treatment.3 According to the American Dietetic Association, “Medical Nutrition Therapy provided by a registered dietitian trained in the area of eating disorders plays a significant role in the treatment and management of eating disorders.”

Accredited dieticians can assess your nutritional deficiencies, create a customized meal plan for your stay and equip you with maintenance skills like grocery shopping, cooking and meal planning for a successful recovery. Beyond considerations for your physical health, eating disorder-specialized dietitians also understand the roles of emotions, psychological conditions and family dynamics in your eating behaviors.

paracelsus recovery eating disorder treatment
Paracelsus Recovery Switzerland staffs nutritional experts, spiritual counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists, tailoring care to one client at a time.

Family Programming

Newer treatment methods recognize the importance of the family system in eating disorders4—both as a cause and as part of the solution. And as research shows, this approach is having a positive impact on treatment. According to Thomas Insel, an American psychiatrist, neuroscientist and former director of the National Institute of Mental Health,

“Outcomes appear much better if parents are empowered and included, rather than excluded, from the treatment. In fact, a carefully controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a family-based treatment approach found 50 percent of participants continued to experience full remission one year after the end of therapy.”

Family plays a role in all mental health and addiction cases, and eating disorders are no exception. For the best chances of success, look for a center that involves family members in your treatment.

Holistic Treatment Approach

Many luxury rehabs offer a wide variety of wellness modalities that encourage all-encompassing spiritual, mental and physical healing. For example, Tabula Rasa Retreat’s holistic program options include mindfulness meditation, bodywork, breathwork, kundalini yoga, healing sound therapy, and light therapy—all of which is available on an extended aftercare basis for those who choose to stay on at the resort after completing their treatment program.

Program Options at Luxury Eating Disorder Rehabs

With an incredible staff-to-client ratio to ensure you get the individualized treatment you deserve and high-end activities like yoga, animal therapy and outdoor excursions, luxury eating disorder recovery centers provide unparalleled, comprehensive healing.

Here are some examples of the program options you’ll find at top-tier rehabs, and how they can make a difference in your recovery:

Professionally Prepared Meals

At many luxury treatment centers, your diet is well attended to by chefs who consult with your clinical team to create a meal plan that meets your nutritional needs and personal preferences. If food is typically a problem for you, thoughtfully planned, delicious, nourishing meals make eating healthily that much easier. DARA Rehab in Thailand ensures this by staffing trained chefs who utilize the vibrancy of Thailand’s bountiful, fresh, local produce to create excellent food for all their guests. Carefully prepared meals will help you find a healthy balance again.

Tailored Treatment

Most luxury care programs offer completely personalized and tailored treatment designed specifically to help guide you towards recovery. Paracelcus Recovery is an outstanding example of this, with programming fully customized to serve one client at a time. With dedicated therapists, nutritional experts, spiritual counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists on staff, you’ll have peace of mind that each of your exact needs can be met with an expert level of care.

Overcoming an Eating Disorder Starts With Finding the Right Rehab

Admitting you or someone you love is suffering from a dangerous eating disorder can be one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make. But recognizing the outward signs doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be equipped to recover on your own. Finding the right treatment facilities and care programs is an integral part of the fight against eating disorders.

To learn more about available programs from top centers worldwide, discover rehab centers specializing in eating disorders here.

Frequently Asked Questions About Eating Disorder Treatment

What should I look for in a rehab center for eating disorder treatment?

When looking for an eating disorder treatment center, consider factors like the expertise of the treatment team, the availability of evidence-based therapies, the focus on holistic healing, and the comfort and quality of accommodations.

What types of treatment are available for eating disorders?

Treatment for eating disorders may include a combination of individual and group therapy, CBT, family therapy, nutritional counseling, and medication. Additionally, some luxury rehab centers may offer holistic treatments like art therapy, yoga, and meditation to promote overall wellness. Treatment plans are typically customized to meet the individual’s unique needs and may change as progress is made.

How long does eating disorder treatment typically last?

The length of eating disorder treatment varies depending on your individual needs and the severity of the disorder. Programs can last for several months to a year or more.