How to Diagnose and Treat Compulsive Eating Disorder

 

Most of us surely know what it means to eat until we feel really uncomfortable. It is a fairly accepted behavior on certain dates, such as  Thanksgiving or Christmas. However, what happens when this behavior is often repeated? According to the professionals from The Meadowglade, a Rehabilitation Center specializing in Mental Health andEating Disorders, the consequences can be really serious, causing physical health problems such as obesity, diabetes, increased cholesterol ... And also psychological and emotional alterations such as insecurity, feelings of guilt and shame, sadness, insomnia, depression, social isolation, among others.

Compulsive eating disorder involves a decline in quality and satisfaction with one's life, as well as problems adapting socially. Obesity is another consequence of people who eat compulsively.

How do you know if you are a compulsive eater?

It is very common to meet people who are not aware of their real problems. Eating compulsively is apparently accepted in our society. That makes it even more difficult to discern what is normal behavior from what is problem behavior.

What's more, advertising encourages us to eat to "be happier." So it is easy to come to believe that our relationship with food is fine, without realizing that we really have a serious problem.

Another reason why it is difficult to identify whether or not someone is a compulsive eater is because they have been able to learn these patterns of behavior from their closest environment, and they have no examples of what a healthy relationship with food entails.

The Meadowglade specializes in the treatment of eating disorders. We also help you work through the underlying needs and issues that are at the root of the eating disorder. Our treatments help the whole person, not just the symptoms of the disorder.

How can I identify if I am a compulsive eater?

Here the specialists from The Meadowglade show you some signs that can give you the answer.

·         Hunger appears in the form of urgency and you must satisfy yourself at that very moment.

·         You eat even without hunger and feeling full.

·         When you are bored, tired, you just… eat.

·         You eat exaggerated amounts of food.

·         Feeling lack of control over the amount of food and the way you eat.

·         After the act of eating, feelings of guilt, regret, sadness, shame appear ...

·         You seek to eat alone or in secret.

·         Lack of consciousness during the act of eating.

·         Intense concern for the body, weight and image.

·         You eat faster than most people do.

·         Going on a diet repeatedly.