Eating Disorders: It's Okay Not To Be Okay

As it is rightly said that “the mind and body are not separate and what affects one affects the other”. But why do we keep forgetting that our mental health is as important as our physical health. In fact, it is more important and needs much more care. If our mind is healthy and our thoughts are positive then no illness can stay in our body for long. “Eating disorders” Anyone heard of it before? Some of you might say ‘yes, we have’, while the rest might be thinking if it even is a thing. Yes, it is. Eating disorders are a category of psychological disorders which are characterized by irregular eating habits and severe distress or concern about body, weight and shape. These disorders not only take a toll on your physical health but also damage your mental health and well being. Individuals suffering from eating disorders tend to have difficulty in accepting and feeling good about themselves. They tend to think of themselves as “fat” or “ugly” because of their body shape and/or size. Such people tend to conclude that they are unacceptable and undesirable and as a result they feel insecure and inadequate about their bodies. They are considered as serious life threatening disorders if not treated. Although eating disorders can affect people of any gender at any life stage, they are most often reported in adolescents and young women. In fact, up to 13% of youth may experience at least one eating disorder by the age of 20. Eating disorders can also be caused due to an individual's obsession with food. Eating disorders are mainly of 3 major types-:

1.Anorexia nervosa- People with anorexia nervosa are characterized by excessive weight loss and distorted body image. People suffering from anorexia nervosa limit their diet and calorie intake and always see themselves as fat even after excessive weight loss. Some common sign and symptoms of anorexia nervosa are :

· being considerably underweight compared with people of similar age and height

· very restricted eating patterns

· an intense fear of gaining weight or persistent behaviours to avoid gaining weight, despite being underweight.

2.Bulimia nervosa- Bulimia nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by a cycle of bingeing and compensatory behaviours such as self-induced vomiting designed to undo or compensate for the effects of binge eating. Common symptoms of bulimia nervosa are:

· Evidence of purging behaviours, including frequent trips to the bathroom after meals, signs and/or smells of vomiting, presence of wrappers or packages of laxatives or diuretics.

· Has calluses on the back of the hands and knuckles from self- induced vomiting

· Dental problems, such as enamel erosion, cavities, discoloration of teeth from vomiting, and tooth sensitivity .

3.Binge eating-characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food . The person involved has a feeling of loss of control during the binge which is then involved by a feeling of shame and guilt afterwards. Some common signs and symptoms of binge eating are-

· Secret recurring episodes of binge eating.

· Steals or hoards food in strange places.

· Creates lifestyle schedules or rituals to make time for binge sessions.

The road to recovery from an eating disorder starts with admitting you have a problem. This admission can be tough. Overcoming an eating disorder is about more than giving up unhealthy eating behaviours. It’s also about learning new ways to cope with emotional pain and rediscovering who you are beyond your eating habits, weight, and body image. True recovery from an eating disorder involves learning to:

Listen to your feelings.

Listen to your body.

Accept yourself.

Love yourself.

A Person suffering from eating disorders should always take some medical help. As the medical professionals will not only help them overcome the eating disorder but also help the person to become more confident and also address the root causes of the problem which are- anxiety, stress, fear etc.

Some self help care tips to overcome this problem are-:

Tip 1: Learn healthier ways to cope with emotional pain.

Tip 2: Develop a balanced relationship with food.

Tip 3: Learn to accept and love yourself as you are

Tip 4: Avoid relapse.

Written By: Manvi Chaku