Lisle Eating Disorder Therapists

Naperville Eating Disorder Therapists

Eating disorders are defined as any type of psychological disorder that prevents the victim from eating normally. Eating disorders can have social ramifications for sufferers, like preventing them from enjoying social events centered around food, as well as physical ramifications, like nutrient deficiencies, severe weight loss, and the complications that arise from these issues like organ failure and hair loss. When an individual suffers from an eating disorder, he or she needs two types of treatment: medical care from a nutritionist or a primary care provider, and mental healthcare from a counselor or psychiatrist.

Types of Eating Disorders

There are many different recognized types of eating disorders. They include:

• Binge eating disorder. This is one of the most recently recognized types of eating disorder despite it being one of the most common eating disorders to affect Americans. Binge eating disorder is characterized by eating until uncomfortably full followed by feelings of shame and guilt about the consumption;
• Rumination disorder. Individuals with this disorder regurgitate food they have already eaten, then swallow it again or spit it out;
• Anorexia nervosa. Individuals who suffer from anorexia nervosa have an insatiable desire to lose weight, which can drive them to severely restrict their food intake or purge everything they’ve consumed after eating;
• Bulimia nervosa. Bulimia nervosa is similar to anorexia nervosa, but the difference is that the sufferer does not restrict his or her food intake. Rather, the individual eats normally or even more than he or she needs, then purges it to avoid gaining weight;
• Pica. When an individual is compulsively driven to eat non-food objects, he or she could be diagnosed with pica. Pica sufferers can gravitate toward any non-food object, such as pebbles, sand, paper, or soap; and
• Avoidant or restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). With this disorder, the sufferer avoids certain foods or food types due to smell, texture, taste, or temperature. Simple picky eating is not an eating disorder; ARFID is selective eating to the point of causing the patient to suffer nutrient deficiencies and lose an extreme amount of weight.

Treating the Psychological Components of an Eating Disorder

Eating disorders often accompany other mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. For many individuals, antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication are an important component of treating an eating disorder.

Additionally, many eating disorder patients respond well to cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, psychotherapy, and group psychotherapy. Psychological therapy is focused on changing how the patient manages his or her symptoms and copes with the stress that leads to destructive behaviors.

Work with an Experienced Naperville Counselor to Overcome Your Eating Disorder

An eating disorder can be emotionally and physically damaging. When you are struggling with an eating disorder, understand that help is available. Contact our team at Counseling Works today to schedule your first appointment with an experienced counselor who can help you address and overcome the psychological components of your eating disorder. Do not wait to make the appointment – the longer you suffer from an eating disorder, the longer your physical and mental health will continue to suffer.