Problems with Food & Eating Disorders

About problems with food and eating disorders

If you switch 'eating disorders' to 'disordered eating', suddenly it becomes something that a lot more people can relate to. We often associate eating disorders with emaciated models and skinny celebrities, but in reality problems with food extend much further than this.

It's not always obvious just by looking at someone that they have eating problems. Even an 'average sized' person could be struggling with how and what they eat. And it can also take many years before someone is ready to acknowledge that they need to do something about their food and eating problems.

Our Eating Behaviours

Our approach to eating falls across a broad spectrum:

Although the 'normal, natural eating' end of the spectrum is the most ideal, in reality this is far from the truth for many people. Our approach to food isn't helped by the messages we receive each day: on one hand we hear our society is becoming more and more obese, whilst on the other the media portrays the perfect figure as an incredibly slender celebrity or supermodel. It is hard to keep up with what we 'should' eat as it changes so often. Even if we are able to ignore the advertising from food manufacturers, there is still the ever-changing information we receive from the 'right authorities'. Eggs or no eggs? Butter or margarine? Red meat three times a week or not at all? It is an array of confusing messages.

Whilst most of us know the 'supersize' phenomenon at fast-food outlets, clothes sizes continue to decrease. Size 8 for a woman used to be considered petite, but nowadays women's clothes in Australia often go down to a size 4. In the US, they infamously go down to a size zero.

No wonder, then, that we are becoming overly conscious and aware of what we eat, how we eat and what our bodies look like.

Causes of eating disorders

Eating disorders are caused by a complex blend of psychological, biological, familial, social, cultural and political factors. It is almost impossible to untangle the interaction of all of these factors. This is why working with a therapist to uncover the underlying causes of your problems with food is so important, as going through this process alone is an extremely difficult task.

If you would like more information on the factors contributing to developing a problem with food, please provide your details below for an emailed leaflet.

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Despite the many contributing causes, what research has shown is that one of the persistent underlying risk factors of developing a problem with food is DIETING.

If you have been, or still are, someone who 'yo-yo' diets, follows the latest diet regimes, goes through periods when you are very strict with what you eat followed by overindulging, then you could be on the dangerous path of developing a longer-lasting issue with food.

Symptoms of problems with food

Just as problems with food can range from periods of binge eating and/or reduced food intake through to having a clinical eating disorder, there is also a range of symptoms.

However, some of the most common symptoms are:

• a preoccupation with food
• a preoccupation with body image
• regularly eating when not hungry
• regularly avoiding eating even when hungry
• eating in a way that feels out of control
• eating to the point of severe discomfort
• 'secret' eating
• increased anxiety around food
• avoiding social situations involving food
• gastrointestinal discomfort or problems
• changes in mood - depression, mood swings, apathy
• poor concentration
• diminished sense of self-worth

There are many more symptoms. You may already suspect you have a problem with food, or you may have been diagnosed by a healthcare professional. Either way, it is really important that you seek help.

Choosing your Therapist

I have a particular passion for working with people who have issues about food and eating. I work with great respect, care and understanding about the difficulty of overcoming a problem with food.

As well as my counselling and psychotherapy training and experience, I have also undertaken additional study:

• at the Victorian Centre of Excellence in Eating Disorders (leading provider of eating disorder training in Australia)
• a Certificate in Psychodietetics (a course in Weight Loss Psychology)
• Advanced Certificate in Nutrition (foundations of nutrition)
• CHEK Lifestyle Coach Level 1 (holistic approach to lifestyle change)

This additional study has meant I am able to combine a variety of approaches to help you overcome your problem with food.

Taking the first step

Friends and family, while trying to help, often just don't understand how difficult it is to 'stop' eating or 'start' eating. On top of that, there are advertisements and media messages about food everywhere we turn. This means that dealing with an eating disorder can feel like a hard and lonely experience.

Nevertheless, I encourage you to take the first step. We will work to free you from your problem with food at a pace that doesn't feel overwhelming to you.

My approach is to:

• understand your unique experiences of having a problem with food/eating disorder
• uncover the underlying causes of your problems with food
• work with you to promote alternative thoughts, behaviours and feelings about food and eating
• provide practical support on different food choices and eating patterns
• help you manage your emotions about food
• explore the barriers that get in the way of making changes

I am very aware that the decision to take the first step towards dealing with an eating disorder can be a scary and sometimes overwhelming one. I welcome you to make contact by calling or emailing Victoria today.