Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are typically self-diagnosable; however, the person may not be aware of their situation due to the body distortion that frequently coexists. Seeking the help of a medical professional to diagnose an eating disorder and begin treatment can literally save your life.

Ask yourself the following questions if you suspect you might have an eating disorder:

• Do you obsess over your food intake, macronutrients, food composition, and portion sizes?
• Do you often fast to control your weight?
• Do you over-exercise to balance “calories in, calories out?”
• Do you vomit or use laxatives after eating large meals?
• Do you frequently feel tired and unable to concentrate?
• Are you irritable, anxious, or depressed?
• Do you find yourself eating large quantities of various foods in one sitting?
• Do your emotions control when and how much you eat?

Disordered eating is slightly different from a “true” eating disorder. With disordered eating, you obsess over each meal’s timing, portion sizes, calories, and macronutrients. You may track every bite and each exercise. This is taking your health journey to the extreme, but the behavior should be addressed if it interferes with your daily activities and relationships.

“So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27 NLT)

God created you in His image to rule over the earth. We know that God called His creations good. Not only did He proclaim that your body is good, but He also breathed life into it! Unlike the birds in the air or the animals scurrying over the ground, human beings consist of God’s breath. No wonder He wants us to treat our bodies with respect.

There is specific accountability with knowing that God gave us this body as a temporary vessel until Jesus comes back and we are given new spiritual bodies. But no matter what your experience is with eating disorders, Jesus offers grace and mercy.

By applying Jesus’ teachings to your psychology treatment, you can ensure that you:

• will identify the beginning of the eating disorder and begin recovery
• begin to build confidence and higher self-esteem
• lower your risk of health issues by turning away from eating disorder behaviors
• reach a healthy body weight and BMI
• repair personal relationships
• learn new techniques to reframe negative thoughts and behaviors
• grow closer to God and His Son, Jesus Christ
• build your Christian faith and expand it into every area of your life

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” (Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT) You can start a new life today. Call us today to discuss how Christian counseling for eating disorders can help you recover.

At Texas Christian Counseling, we treat disordered eating symptoms as well as conditions considered clinical eating disorders. The following are eating disorders that we often see in our practice:

• Anorexia Nervosa – Anorexia may be the most well-known eating disorder characterized by an underweight appearance and a distorted body image. The client with anorexia has an irrational fear of gaining weight and will avoid food or eat tiny bites to keep the scale down. As they continue to lose weight, the mind refuses to show the reality of their weight loss, so they may not realize that their health is in jeopardy. They might combine starvation and excessive exercise to maintain a below-average weight.
• Bulimia – Bulimia is similar to anorexia in that the client tries to maintain a below-average weight by using the same methods of starvation (fasting) and over-exercise. The exception is that the bulimic will generally eat if they must (such as a social event or family dinner), maybe even binge-eat, but will quickly employ purging methods to rid their body of the excess calories. Purging can also include vomiting, laxatives, or enemas. This leaves the body depleted of essential nutrients and minerals. Eventually, the body shows symptoms from the purging, such as gastrointestinal issues, esophagus problems, tooth enamel erosion, and cuts on the fingers and hands (from forced vomiting).
• Binge-Eating – Unlike the underweight appearance seen with anorexics, and the underweight to moderate weight appearance in bulimics, clients with binge-eating disorder are often overweight. With binge-eating, the person consumes hundreds or thousands of calories over a two-hour period several times a week. Since this behavior is not socially acceptable and leaves the person feeling guilty, embarrassed, and ashamed, they typically eat in secret. A binge-eater may eat after everyone has gone to bed or alone in the car. Often, they are unaware of how much food they have eaten until after the binge. This can lead to physical ailments, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart attack.
• Emotional/Stress Eating – Although stress eating is not considered a clinical eating disorder, we often see it with our clients, especially those who exhibit binge-eating behaviors. Stress and anxiety can lead people to seek comfort and temporary relief. The act of eating releases hormones that regulate happiness and comfort. Unfortunately, this is a momentary sensation, and eventually, when the anxiety hits another high, the person will stress eat again.

If you have been diagnosed with one of these eating disorders or suspect you might have developed an eating disorder, reach out to us today. We provide clients with results-oriented treatments and the opportunity to grow spiritually for well-rounded recovery in all areas.

At Texas Christian Counseling, we personalize the eating disorder treatment methods to each client. We offer individual counseling, family counseling, and group counseling for eating disorders to provide encouragement and support in the best method for you.

Our sessions are confidential and in a safe environment if you choose an in-person appointment. We also have an online option if you feel more comfortable using digital tools.

Depending on your specific condition, your counselor may recommend:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Talk Therapy
• Family or Group Counseling

You will probably be asked to keep a nutrition record and how you feel and your thoughts revolving around your meals. Your counselor may give “homework” assignments for you to work on throughout the week and share your results at the next session. You will get better at making healthier decisions and enacting positive behaviors the more often you do them.

The Next Steps

More than 10,000 people with eating disorders succumb to the deadly disease every year. You do not have to go down that path. Reach out to us today to schedule an appointment with one of the licensed counselors at Texas Christian Counseling about your eating disorder concerns.

Contact us today if you are unsure if you have a diagnosable eating disorder or have tried counseling in the past. At Texas Christian Counseling, we use proven techniques and faith-based methods to rewire and reframe your thoughts, emotions, impulses, and behaviors. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Schedule an appointment today!