Eating Disorders

What are eating disorders?

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that affect your eating behaviors, thoughts about food, and relationship with your body. They can interfere with your physical health, emotional well-being, and daily functioning.

Eating disorders can affect people of all ages, genders, and body sizes. Without appropriate treatment, they may lead to serious medical complications.

What are the different types of eating disorders?

Common eating disorders include:

• Anorexia nervosa: Restricting food intake, often accompanied by an intense fear of weight gain or disturbances in body image.
• Bulimia nervosa: Episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors, such as self-induced vomiting, fasting, or excessive exercise.
• Binge eating disorder: Repeated episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food while experiencing a loss of control.
• Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): Restricting food intake because of sensory sensitivities, fear of unpleasant consequences, or limited interest in eating.

Other eating disorders may involve harmful eating behaviors that don't fit neatly into these categories.

What are the symptoms of an eating disorder?

Eating disorder symptoms vary depending on the condition, but may include:

• Frequently skipping meals or restricting food
• Feeling guilty or ashamed after eating
• Binge eating or feeling unable to control eating
• Excessive concern about weight or body shape
• Exercising compulsively
• Avoiding meals with others
• Significant changes in eating habits
• Fatigue, dizziness, or difficulty concentrating
• Anxiety or depression related to food or body image

You don't have to be underweight to have an eating disorder or experience serious complications.

How are eating disorders diagnosed?

Tammie provides comprehensive psychiatric evaluations at Mindful Mental Health to assess your eating behaviors, emotional well-being, medical history, and symptoms.

She also evaluates potential co-occurring mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Because eating disorders can affect physical health, additional medical evaluations or referrals may be necessary.

How are eating disorders treated?

Eating disorder treatment depends on your diagnosis, symptoms, and individual needs. Your care plan may include:

• Individual psychotherapy
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Medication management when appropriate
• Coping skills development
• Stress management
• Family therapy
• Coordination with medical and nutritional specialists

Tammie works with you to address underlying emotional concerns and develop healthier coping strategies. When specialized eating disorder treatment or a higher level of care is necessary, she can recommend appropriate resources.

Recovery takes time, but professional support can help you build a healthier relationship with food and improve your overall well-being.

Schedule an in-person or telehealth appointment at Mindful Mental Health by phone or online today.