WHAT ARE EATING DISORDERS?
Eating disorders are mental health conditions marked by an obsession with food or body shape. They can impact people of all ages, genders, orientations, races, and socioeconomic statuses. Eating disorders are more common than you may think. Approximately 28.8 million people will suffer from some form of an eating disorder throughout their life.
Forms of eating disorders include:
Anorexia Nervosa
Pica
Bulimia Nervosa
Rumination Disorder
Binge Eating Disorder
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder
WHAT is the national eating disorder association?
NEDA is a non-profit that supports individuals and families affected by eating disorders. It serves as a catalyst for prevention, treatment, and access to quality care. Their main hope and goal is to eventually create a world without eating disorders. At the moment they provide as much help and information as they can to those suffering from eating disorders.
They also offer:
Free helplines
Information to help prevent eating disorders
Walks
Information on how eating disorders can affect anyone
Body acceptance week
Help to find proper treatment
Back to school guide for students, parents, and teachers
Information on how social media affects eating disorders
Screening tool
Tools to help fight against relapse
EATING DISORDER SCREENING TOOL
NEDA supplies a screening tool for people 13 or older that allows them to see where they stand in needing to seek professional help for disordered eating. The screening tool asks very personal and open ended questions which encourage people to realize what they are doing and how their disordered eating may be impacting them.
EATING DISORDER TREATMENT AND RECOVERY
Many people believe that recovery for eating disorders simply requires admitting to it and getting help. However, according to NEDA recovery, it’s actually a life long development and is often easier with a sound support system. Eating disorder researchers have yet to develop a set of criteria to accurately define what factors are necessary.
Why do relapses occur during eating disorder recovery?
One of the main reasons recovery is a life long development is because life is always changing. Changes can sometimes be seen as sudden and/or stressful, and often disordered eating is a reaction to this as a way to cope.
Some examples of events that can cause relapse are:
Going off to college
Moving to a new town or away from home
Starting a new job
Financial challenges
Infertility or getting pregnant
Birth of a child
Marriage or divorce
Death of a loved one
Diagnosis of a chronic disease
Menopause
COMMON WARNING SIGNS OF RELAPSE
Just as all eating disorders are slightly different, so are all relapses. Still, many have a similar set of signs that can help identify potential problems:
Avoiding meals and events involving food
Making efforts to eat alone
A return to obsessing about food and weight
Overwhelming feelings of shame and guilt after eating
Concealing information from loved ones and your treatment team
Resuming repeatedly checking appearance in the mirror and weighing outside of treatment
Justifying small slips and lapses, saying that it’s no big deal or it’s not that bad
Becoming irritable when the subject of food or eating disorders is brought up
An increase in stress with no way to manage it
Increasing anxiety, perfectionism, and depression
Sleep disturbances
Isolation from friends and loved ones
the NEDA WALK in denver, co
NEDA Walks are inspirational, community-building events. They are an opportunity for passionate walkers to raise money to fund eating disorders education, prevention, and support, as well as advocacy and research initiatives. The largest eating disorders awareness events in the nation, NEDA Walks are a celebration of hope and strength. They are filled with body-positive activities, motivational guest speakers, and a short walk to symbolize unity in the fight against eating disorders.
NEDA Walks create a safe and supportive space where no one will feel alone in their battle. It seems as though everybody knows somebody who’s been affected by an eating disorder - so everybody is invited to walk with us! Together, we’ll stand up to stigma and send the message that recovery is possible.
WHY participate in THE NEDA WALK?
With over 30 million people suffering from eating disorders, many families have begun to feel hopeless. The NEDA walk brings in funds, restores hope, and changes conversation surrounding eating disorders.
Raise awareness of Eating disorders
Eating disorders are widely misunderstood illnesses, and old stereotypes and myths often prevent people from seeking help. Help fight stigma and shine a light on eating disorders as a serious public health issue.
Raise critical funds for Eating Disorder research and treatment
By participating in the NEDA Walk, you’ll be raising funds that support vital programs, advocacy efforts, and research initiatives.
Join the community to fight against eating disorders
Join our community of passionate walk warriors who are dedicated to winning the fight against eating disorders. Together, we’ll walk stride in stride toward hope and recovery.
The NEDA walk is all about raising awareness, and funds for further research, as well as providing resources to expand access to care.
WellMinded Counseling is a part of this effort and we encourage anyone who may be struggling to reach out for support and therapy.
BEGIN WORKING WITH An eating disorder therapist in broomfield, co
Recovering from an eating disorder is possible, and you don’t have to do it on your own. Working with a therapist will provide you with support as you begin treatment to improve your body image and self-worth.
If you’re ready to begin eating disorder counseling in Broomfield, CO or online therapy in Colorado, we encourage you to take the following steps:
Contact our counseling office to learn more about our services
Get set up with a eating disorder therapist on our team
Gain freedom from disordered eating
OTHER COUNSELING SERVICES OFFERED AT WELL MINDED COUNSELING CENTER
Our therapists work with clients of all ages and are able to address a wide variety of mental health concerns. WellMinded Counseling offers the following counseling services: