The Mind Body Practice Issues

Are you preoccupied by food?
Do you make excuses to abstain from food around other people?
Are you excessively concerned about your weight or appearance?

Eating disorders are becoming more prevalent and this is no surprise nowadays, we are continuously being bombarded with images of perfect looking people and this cannot help but have an effect on our relationship to our own body.

Restricting our food intake is a way of remaining in control in a world where sometimes we can feel powerless and out of control. Eating disorders are normally associated with young girls, however it can affect men and woman at any age. An over preoccupation with food and diet can be the first signs of an eating disorder, excessive eating, fasting, excessive exercising, laxative abuse and calorie counting are all features. In addition to affecting a person’s mental health, eating disorders can also have serious physical health implications, e.g; menstrual irregularities; low blood pressure; abnormal bowel function (constipation or diarrhoea); irregular heart rhythms; dehydration; stunted growth (in teenagers).

Counselling can benefit you by; helping you gain understanding around the causes of your eating disorder, including what are the triggers to your behaviour; improving your self image and your negative feelings towards food; helping you gain psychological strength and teaching coping mechanisms for the future.

List of eating disorders:

• Bulimia
• Binge eating
• Excessive Dieting
• Overeating/Obesity
• Vomiting/laxatives
• Excessive exercise
• Obsessive preoccupation with food