Facing Eating Disorders

Who has thought that food can cause disorders? Well, it does, and you need to be aware of it. As a teenager, I always used food to escape stressful and sad situations. While other people lost their appetite when they faced a problem, I ran to the fridge to eat whatever I could. I am sure many of you have suffered from this. It does not sound like a big deal, and it isn't. The big deal is ruining the relationship with food because of guilt. It is very dangerous to feel like food is ruining your life. This feeling will start a cycle of feeling guilty and stressed and then, of course, running to food for comfort, then feeling guilty and stressed again. Different people react differently to these feelings. Some will try to overcompensate with extreme dieting and exercise, some will try to throw up, and some will surrender to the guilt and get into depressive episodes.

The first step in treating your eating disorder is to face it and realize that it is not just a mood thing. If you frequently notice that you hate your relationship with food, you need to do something about it. Asking for help is not a weakness; it is the exact opposite. You are courageous if you realize that you have a problem and ask for help. Go to a psychologist and discuss your issues with them.

The first thing you need to do is to make sure to read the symptoms. Symptoms of eating disorders can be:

• Severe weight loss or weight gain.

• Obsessive thoughts about food, weight, or body shape.

• Extreme restriction of food intake.

• Binge eating or purging.

• Excessive exercise.

• Feeling guilty or ashamed about eating.

• Avoidance of social situations or activities that involve food.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you must face the fact that you have an illness that needs treatment, or your whole life will be affected. First, visit a therapist and fix your relationship with food and your body.

Remember that we are humans, and we tend to lose and gain weight. What you see in the media is a polished picture and does not convey the truth. No one is perfect, and everyone is beautiful in their way. Saying this might not be convincing because your illness clouds your judgment. But try to enforce positive thoughts slowly into your brain.

Expand your priorities and divide your "life pie." Instead of having body image take over half of the pie, add other things like family, hobbies, work, love, mental health, etc.