In the early stages of a serious eating disorder, the disorder can be misinterpreted as normal or simply self-conscious or mildly exaggerated efforts to lose weight. These underestimated disorders are actually triggered by very complex medleys of emotional disturbances. Affected people can become so preoccupied with their appearance and so intensely driven by emotion that it can develop into complicated conditions if the dysfunctions are not proactively addressed by means of therapeutic intervention.
Fads and fantasies
Eating disorders are not the same as health diets, passing phases, whims, fads or trends, but they may be mistaken or dismissed as such in the beginning. Eating disorders are deeply rooted disorders with symptoms of severe mental disquiet and physical decline. It has the potential to last until terminal health collapse, unless the person is referred to a rehabilitation centre for treatment.
Knock on effects
Sufferers of eating disorders frequently apply regurgitation or purgation to get rid of ingested food. These actions cause loss of vital minerals, enzymes and digestive flora. It incites intestinal inflammation, colon damage, extended organ damage and dehydration. The dehydration causes constipation that can panic the person into inducing further ejection methods, thus propagating more harm.
The learning curve
Eating disorders can be set in motion by a range of emotional and physical stimulants, sometimes not clearly related to it. It can be work or career stress, recent traumatic events, relationship problems, social discord, media promotions, emulation of famous idols, physical discomfort, self-medication, or drug use disorder. It is often due to the influence of unresolved traumatic events from long ago.
We can help
As a dynamic facility with vast experience, we have effective, proven therapeutic techniques in place for treatment of eating disorders.
Defeating eating disorders
Eating disorders are primarily caused by anxiety and manifest as intense, delusional perceptions about body mass and physical appearance. The affected persons suppress weight by enforcing unhealthy eating and digestive routines. They turn to starvation, exercise, appetite suppressants, purgation and regurgitation to restrain body weight. It results in malnutrition and additional mental complications.
The anxiety of sufferers may be driven by low self-esteem, sensitivity to failure, poor self-image and a need to be attractive or accepted by others. They tend to link popularity and success to a leaner body image. They continue the physical punishment long after they had obtained optimal body mass, as they are unable to stop the emotional impetus of their behaviour.
Eating disorders can force victims into isolation and cause fatigue, insomnia, irritability, guilt, shame, anger and depression. It can inspire them to become secretive and to offer deceitful excuses for their condition and the things they do.
Physical results include emaciation, limb deformities, dental and facial trauma, hair loss, esophageal damage, amenorrhea, pancreatitis, skeletal deterioration, organ failure and cardiac arrest.
Social signs include shying away from eating in front of other people and insisting on low fat and low carbohydrate meals. Victims may be influenced by the appearances of famous personalities and try to emulate these role models.
The most prominent eating disorders are known as anorexia and bulimia. The two ailments differ in some aspects, but have the same outcome. In essence, the persons starve themselves. They can forcibly rid their bodies of any ingested food by means of laxatives, diuretics and induced vomiting. They also try to invoke slimming with appetite suppressors and excessive exercise. Anorexia and bulimia are becoming more prevalent and result in a high incidence of death.
Available remedies include nutritional guidance, prescription medication and psychological therapy. Of these, combinations of cognitive, behavioural and dietary rehabilitation therapies have been firmly established as the most effective remedies for the emotional imbalances that underpin eating disorders.
Call us about eating disorders
Phone the number on this page for personal, in-depth and confidential advice from a suitably qualified advisor. As a dynamic rehab facility, we deal with behaviour disorders daily and employ sophisticated cognitive and behavioural therapies to uncover and treat the emotional distentions that trigger eating disorders.
Treatment is designed to reassert control over eating habits and weight restraining behaviours and to normalise physical activity, as well as restore a healthy self-image and sound interpersonal relationships.
Information presented on public platforms is aimed at a broad audience. Persons suffering from eating disorders must obtain personal advice for their specific conditions from a suitably qualified health professional.