The Gate House Lodge, Beltichburne, Termonfeckin Road, Drogheda, County Louth. Telephone: 087-0555858 Email:asantetherapy@gmail.com

Copyright © 2009 - David Culver Asante Therapy Centre

"Asante an attitude of gratitude"

 Asanté Counselling & Therapy Centre
   Confidential and Professional Counselling and Psychotherapy Services in Drogheda, County Louth.
Eating disorders

Eating disorders are complex and can be life threatening conditions from which people can and do get better with appropriate treatment. They can affect anyone and can often be seen as a way of coping with unmanageable feelings. Eating disorders are characterised by severe disturbances in eating and by emotional and psychological distress for the person who suffers from them. These disorders can also have serious physical consequences to the person’s health. People experiencing an eating disorder often share many of the following features:
They are likely to have dieted

Self-esteem is low

There is a marked over-concern with body shape, weight and size and obsession with food

Thinness is seen as a magical solution to problems while weight gain is feared

The person affected is likely to have difficulty identifying and expressing their real needs

They may view their body as larger than it actually is (distorted body image)

They may have problems around control

They may have found it hard to talk about their feelings and to deal with conflict

They may be depressed and may become isolated
Although the term "eating disorder" is applied to a wide range of disturbed eating behaviours, only three conditions are listed in official classifications of eating disorders: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Atypical Eating Disorders, of which Binge Eating Disorder is the most commonly cited. Anorexia Nervosa is characterised by a significant weight loss resulting from excessive dieting. Most women and an increasing number of men are motivated by the strong desire to be thin and a fear of becoming obese. Anorexics consider themselves to be fat, no matter what their actual weight is. Bulimia Nervosa is characterised by a cycle of binge eating followed by purging to try and rid the body of unwanted calories. Binge Eating Disorder is different for all individuals. For one person a binge may range from 1000 to 10000 calories, for another, one cookie may be considered a binge. Purging methods usually involve vomiting and laxative abuse. The disordered eating can take various forms, from fasting (self starvation) to consuming vast quantities of food beyond what the body needs to satisfy its hunger (bingeing). Excessive exercising or self-induced vomiting, the use of laxatives or diuretics are used to avoid weight gain (purging).
All of these behaviours, sustained over time, will have a serious effect on both physical and emotional health. Because the behaviour of a person with an eating disorder revolves around food and eating, eating disorders are often mistakenly believed to be primarily about food. It is important to realise that the behaviour around eating is an outward sign of emotional distress. It may be the only way the person has of communicating their distress. Treatment of an eating disorder will therefore require attention to both the physical and the psychological aspects of the condition and should always include respect for and sensitivity to the overall well being of the person. The distress of a person experiencing an eating disorder, whether or not it is acknowledged,will have a considerable impact on family and friends.
At Asante we work primarily with the person rather than the problem, acknowledging the psychological and emotional distress that the person is experiencing and endeavouring to help them find relief from it. We also work towards helping them develop more realistic perceptions of themselves such as their body image. Finally we help them to express their feelings in a safe environment and to resolve the negative feelings about themselves that often maintain their eating disorder. If you believe that you or someone close to you has an eating disorder please contact your doctor or call us on 087-0555858 for a confidential chat. For further information and organisations providing support for people with eating disorders please click here to go to our links page....