Thinking About Eating Disorders

Allow me to tell you the story of a friend of mine.

A young teenage girl we know recently suffered through the death of her mother and consequently had to be faced with being raised by her father in whom she was petrified of. Did I mention she was to be in charge of raising her 6 younger brothers and sisters.

She was always thin, but now weighs 90 pounds. She doesn’t think she has a problem and her father doesn’t think she has a problem. There are many questions in this situation, the major one being does she have an eating disorder. If she does have an eating disorder, what type is it….anorexia, bulimia?

It’s clear she needs help, others have tried, however her father prevents any intervention. The question becomes, what is causing the eating disorder? That’s why I assembled this collection of articles and ebooks on eating disorders. Hopefully, you…the reader, might see yourself or someone you care about in the articles to come. Perhaps you might see that you are experiencing the symptoms discussed for anorexia or bulimia. Maybe you binge eat.

In a society that is increasingly placing standards of beauty upon the youths of our population, people are at more of a risk than ever when it comes to developing an eating disorder. The celebrities in television and the media display stick-thin figures which can create a high standard of beauty that can lead to many problems with an individual’s self esteem. When coupled with the fact that an obesity epidemic is overtaking much of the modern world, it’s important to have a full understanding of the eating disorders which are prevalent in society today in order to be able to catch the warning signs when an individual you know is afflicted.

This truly is a life and death discussion. Admitting you might have an eating disorder of some type is the first step in finding a solution to your problem. I pray that you might listen to the voice inside your head as you read the following material.

 

Finding Eating Disorder Support Groups

For those suffering from an eating disorder, one of the best ways to stay on the recovery track is by taking part in an eating disorder support group. Support groups are an excellent resource from anyone whose life has been affected by an eating disorder. Eating disorders put in touch people who may have been suffering in silence. Creating a strong sense of community can often be crucial to successful recovery. Support groups act as powerful tools of recovery for eating disorder victims and their families. If you are interested in joining a support group, here are some ideas and resources for finding a support group near you.

First, here is a short list of some of the most well known resources for finding an eating disorder near you. Many of these organizations maintain websites and online databases that allow you to check resources and locations that are near you. Perhaps the most recognized resource for eating disorder patients, health professionals, and many others is the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). The NEDA operates in the United States and Canada; their website lists several resources around North America, including support groups around the country. Another good resource is the Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center. They operate in the United States, and are a wonderful and informative resource for eating disorder patients and health professionals. For individuals suffering from bulimia or binge eating disorder, Overeaters Anonymous (OA) is an organization that reaches out to those who suffer from these eating disorders. They are active in the USA and Canada. There are also several Internet based eating disorder organizations that can provide you with relevant information regarding treatment options and support groups. Some of these Internet resources include Something Fishy Treatment Finder and Pale Reflections Eating Disorder Community Treatment Finder. You can do a simple web search to find these active sites online. There are also active online chat rooms that can serve as a lifeline for eating disorder patients. These include Something Fishy community boards and Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD). Simply read the community board guidelines, register a username and password, and proceed to the chat rooms or bulletin boards.

There are also several local options that may be available in your area. To find local eating disorder support networks, contact your local clinic or speak to a local eating disorder professional. They will be able to refer you to resources in your area. You can also check with your family doctor, your local hospital or medical center to find eating disorder support groups. If there is a local college or university in your area, contact the counseling center to find an eating disorder support group or any other resources that may be available. There are also several eating disorder telephone help lines that can prove to be invaluable resources for locating local eating disorder support groups.

Many people are not aware that there are also support groups form family members of individuals with eating disorders. To find one of these, check with your local medical center, or one of the major eating disorder resource organizations that was previously mentioned.

Written by: Scott Parat