Eating Disorders

Sunday 30 April 2017



Eating disorders are the branch that overarches anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder.

There is nothing that is a clear cause of an eating disorder, which can make things harder for friends and family to understand. Eating disorders are serious and people with this disorder need support and care to get the right help and get well again.

Symptoms to look for if you are concerned someone has an eating disorder include:
  • ·      Isolation from others.
  • ·      Secret eating and purging through laxatives or vomiting.
  • ·      Spending long amounts of time on the toilet, specifically after meals.
  • ·      Strenuous exercise routine, even when injured or unwell.
  • ·      Severe weight changes.

·       

These are just some of the signs someone has an eating disorder. If you suspect a loved one has an eating disorder, let them know that you are worried and that you care about them.
Encourage them to see their doctor or school counsellor, but don’t force them to (unless they are significantly underweight and their health it at risk).  
Treatment Options

Therapy: therapy can address the emotional needs of your thinking, behaviours, relationships and environment. You will be speaking with a trained specialist and they can help you get through this time.

Medication: Although there is no medication that can directly treat an eating disorder, there are medications that can help with related issues.

You can find other treatment options here.






Where you can find help:

•   Healthline: 0800 611 116. (Available 24 hours, 7 days a week and free to callers throughout New Zealand, including from a mobile phone).
•   Lifeline 0800 543 35
•   Samaritans – 0800 726 666 (for callers from the Lower North Island, Christchurch and West Coast) or 04 473 9739 (for callers from all other regions)
•   Ministry of Health. Online self-test
•   Big White Wall. Free for Auckland DHB residents. A UK-based professionally facilitated peer support community of people who are experiencing common mental health problems.
•   UK Mental Health Foundation. Free audio podcasts that can help you relax and improve your sense of wellbeing.

Thank you to ‘The Mental Health Foundation’ for their support on this post.

If you would like to donate to The Mental Health Foundation click here.





16 comments

  1. Great post! It's important to raise awareness about these things.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for sharing this information. It's good that people are aware of eating disorders and how to spot the ones who might need help.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It's so important to raise awareness for issue like this!
    Emma x

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is useful information...it needs to be talked about more

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It definitely does need to be talked about more!

      Delete
  5. What a great post! Supportive and helpful! Thank you for sharing and helping raise awareness about eating disorders.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did find this one a little trickier to write because the other blog posts I have written on mental health I have had personal experiences with although I haven't with eating disorders so I was worried about how helpful it would be!

      Delete
  6. Awareness is so important especially for a disease that is so difficult to treat

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great that you make people aware of this by giving a list of signs!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It totally is and often people don't even know what to look for.

      Delete
  8. It is so great that there are so many resources for people with eating disorders. More and more kids are looking at models and not eating right to get skinny.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree, there needs to be a more diverse range of body types that are seen as 'ideal'.

      Delete