There are many people who are struggling with eating disorders in the world. This is more common than many realize as eating disorders are said to affect approximately 9% of the population. If you’re having a tough time with anorexia, bulimia, obesity, or binge-eating, then you should know that help is available. You never have to face an issue like this alone.
Below, you’ll find information about how you can work to overcome issues with eating disorders. Having people on your side will be important when dealing with serious problems like this. Many people have had their lives turned upside-down by these issues. You can start to walk down a healthier path if you know how to approach things.
Turn to Friends and Family Members for Support
When you’re dealing with an eating disorder, you’re often going to feel isolated. Sometimes eating disorders cause people to think terrible things, and you might be dealing with a lot of self-loathing right now. This is only going to make it harder to stay healthy. Being alone can potentially make it easier for an eating disorder to spiral out of control.
The worst thing that you could do would be to try to deal with an eating disorder alone. This will likely cause you to become more depressed and your disorder will continue to worsen. Sometimes it feels tough to reach out because you might feel embarrassed or ashamed in certain ways. You can’t allow yourself to feel this way when you need help.
Your family and friends love you very much and will be there for you during your time of need. Many of them might even be able to relate to the thoughts that you’re having. If you’re able to talk to people about the things that are making you feel like you need to eat or stop eating, then you might be able to feel a bit better. For many, having a strong support system will be a crucial part of managing an eating disorder.
There will be days where you’ll feel like you won’t have the willpower to make good choices. When you’re feeling weak, it’s possible for the people that you love to help to pick you up. If you’re able to do so, then it would be very helpful to talk to your supportive friends and family members about what you’re experiencing. It could help you to turn the corner and start making good decisions to seek treatment.
Speak to Your Doctor About What You’re Going Through
No matter what type of eating disorder you’re dealing with, it’s going to be important to talk to your doctor about it. Your doctor might notice that you’re having problems with an eating disorder even if you don’t speak about it directly. However, it’s going to be much easier to come up with a good treatment plan if you’re able to be open and honest with your doctor. This might not feel simple at first, but you can do your best to try to open up.
Eating disorders can be very dangerous because they will put your physical health and mental health in a bad place. Speaking to your doctor about how you’re feeling will give you the chance to come up with a plan to improve things over time. When you try to hide your eating disorder from others, that’s when things become more dangerous. Be open to speaking about how you feel and try not to beat yourself up for having the feelings that you do.
Your doctor is going to understand because this is something that many people deal with. The situation in your life might be unique to you, but many people are struggling in similar ways. A doctor can come up with a treatment plan that will put your well-being first. Often, this will include physical treatments while also focusing on the mental health aspect.
Many people have eating disorders because of mental health struggles. Depression can cause someone to want to stop eating, and it can also cause them to want to eat more. Treating issues such as depression and anxiety can help you to better manage your physical condition. Your doctor might suggest therapy, but treatment options could also include medications.
Online Therapy Can Help You
For many, being able to manage negative thoughts, cravings, and other problems will be tough. If you struggle with eating disorder-related issues each day, then you might need a professional that you can turn to. You can always contact the experts at BetterHelp to get assistance. This is a convenient platform for online therapy where you’ll be matched with a therapist that understands the problems that you have.
You’ll be able to work on improving your mental health while also understand how to better cope with negative thoughts. There are many different therapy techniques that help people to live with eating disorders. Being able to manage the condition while keeping your mental health in a positive place will make a difference. You’ll be able to reach out to speak to a therapist whenever you feel like you’re having a particularly tough day, too.
Knowing that you have someone on your side might help you to feel more secure. Most people have days where they will struggle more than others. If you ever feel the need, an online therapist will always be ready to speak to you. You don’t have to worry about leaving the house, and there are even many different therapy options to choose from.
You can choose to speak to a therapist using video chat, but you can also just talk on the phone if you would prefer that. Some people even like just texting back and forth. Just having someone on your side to support you during a time of need will help. You’ll be able to work on various issues and you’ll start to feel much stronger.
Don’t hesitate to reach out if you think that online therapy would help you. It’s a very affordable way to help you to manage your eating disorder. When paired with a treatment plan from your doctor, it’ll surely help you to feel better.
