6 Tips To Successfully Recover From An Eating Disorder
If you suffer from an eating disorder, you are not alone. Approximately 30 million people in the United States have some sort of eating disorder, according to the National Eating Disorder Association. An eating disorder can damage many organs in your body and make you severely depressed. Do not lose hope though. If you make a true effort, it is possible to beat this mental disorder. Here are six effective tips to successfully recover from an eating disorder:
Get a Medical Evaluation
An eating disorder may be a mental disease, but it can lead to severe physical issues. If you suffer from anorexia, you are at an increased risk of bone loss, heart attacks and thinning hair, according to Everyday Health. Bulimia can lead to intestinal problems, irregular heartbeats and tooth decay. You should make an appointment with your physician as soon as possible to find out if you have any of these issues. Your doctor will give you a full medical evaluation and determine if you require hospitalization or not.
Focus on Eating Nutritious Foods
When you have an eating disorder, you tend to focus on what you should not eat, which is not good for your physical or mental well-being. If you feed your body nutritious foods, you will have more energy and avoid unnecessary weight gain. Great examples of wholesome foods include almonds, chicken, fish, quiona, fruits and vegetables.
Talk to a Therapist
An eating disorder is very difficult to beat on your own, so you will likely require professional help. If you talk to a therapist, they can help you determine the root cause of your eating disorder and overcome feelings of shame. Your therapist will also teach you how to challenge negative thoughts and identify your triggers. It is important that you feel completely comfortable with your therapist so that you are not afraid to tell them anything. Your therapist can help you determine how often you should come to therapy sessions.
Consider Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient treatment is necessary for some individuals with eating disorders. If you are very depressed or suicidal or have severe medical issues from your eating disorder, you may be a candidate for inpatient treatment, according to the National Eating Disorder Association. When you are in an eating disorder treatment facility, you will be carefully monitored by professionals around the clock. You will likely go to individual and group therapy sessions, receive nutritional counseling and get help for any medical issues. You will also be around others who suffer from eating disorders, which may help you feel less alone.
Join an Eating Disorder Support Group
Even if you successfully completed treatment, it may be very beneficial to join an eating disorder support group. During these support group meetings, you will get to express you feelings with people who truly understand what you are going through. You will receive a lot of support and may even form lifelong friendships.
Surround Yourself with Supportive People
It is crucial to have a good support system. If you are around people who love you and want the best for you, you will be motivated to stay healthy. It is also a good idea to cut people out of your life who say negative things about you and hurt your self-esteem. Negative people like this will only increase your anxiety and trigger eating disorder habits.
Recovering from an eating disorder will certainly take a lot of hard work, but it can be done. If you truly want to recover and stick with your treatment plan, you can beat this eating disorder and live a fulfilling life again. For more information, you may want to contact a local treatment facility like Center for Change eating disorder treatment center.
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