Eating Disorders and other food and body image related struggles vary from person to person. Struggles can include varying degrees of the following;

• food restriction
• binging on large amounts of food
• making the body get rid of food or nullify calories
• obsessing with food or appearance
• self worth based on appearance

People experiencing disordered eating related issues can often struggle with other mental or emotional health concerns, such as;

• depression
• anxiety
• substance abuse
• self-injury

Eating disorders and other food and body image related issues are seemingly becoming more of a concern in our culture and many other cultures. There are many contributing factors to this issue such as, emotional difficulties, societal pressures, family factors, media influences, stress, trauma, life transitions, and more. Eating disorders and disordered eating not only impact the individual by producing tremendous stress in that person’s life, but often also impacts family and friends. Eating disorders and disordered eating also has the potential to harm one’s physical, mental, emotional, and social health and well being, and can be life threatening.

Despite eating disorders and disordered eating causing distress for an individual, eating behaviours such as, emotional eating, stress eating, binging/purging, food restriction, and problematic dieting can provide short term relief to individuals.  This relief or pay off can encourage repeated harmful eating/food behaviours and the development and reinforcement of disordered eating. I believe there is a way out of the trap of eating disorders and other food and body image related struggles, and I would like to help you pursue this.