Treatment for Eating Disorders in Seattle, WA—Counseling and Therapy
Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background. They are often hidden due to shame and isolation but can have deadly consequences.
If you are struggling with an eating disorder, it’s crucial to seek help. Call Thriveworks Seattle at (206) 203-9770 to schedule a session with a provider who can address your needs.
Understanding Eating Disorders
Eating disorders include bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, diabulimia, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. They are not just phases but are progressive and potentially deadly conditions. Early intervention can improve outcomes significantly.
Causes of Eating Disorders
The development of eating disorders can be attributed to a combination of environmental and biological factors:
- Environmental Causes: Family or childhood trauma, peer pressures, and a culture fixated on thinness and certain body types.
- Biological Causes: Nutritional deficiencies, genetics, and irregular hormone functions.
Symptoms and Signs of Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are characterized by severe anxiety about body size and weight, unhealthy eating patterns, and often co-occurring psychological disorders such as depression or anxiety. The DSM-5 outlines specific diagnostics for recognizing various eating disorders, including bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa.
Anorexia Nervosa Diagnostics:
- Disdain for one’s body shape or weight
- Restricting food to achieve a significantly low body weight
- Intense fear of gaining weight or being fat
- Sabotaging healthy weight maintenance
- Inaccurate perception of body shape and weight
Health problems caused by anorexia may include abnormal heartbeat, infertility, risk of heart failure and disease, menstrual cycle disruptions, osteoporosis, kidney damage, low white blood cell counts, low heart rate, low blood pressure, endocrine disruptions, anemia, and death.
Bulimia Nervosa Diagnostics:
- Repeated binge eating defined by:
- Consuming more food in a specific time period than others
- Losing control over food intake
- Attempting to offset binge eating through vomiting, extreme fasting, laxative and diuretic misuse, and extreme exercising
- Self-perception dominated by body weight and shape
Health problems caused by bulimia may include ulcers, electrolyte imbalance, kidney damage, constipation, gastric rupture, gastroesophageal reflux disease, tooth decay, and heart failure.
Scheduling an Appointment at Thriveworks Seattle for Eating Disorders
If you are experiencing the effects of an eating disorder, Thriveworks Seattle is here to help. Call today to start your journey toward recovery at (206) 203-9770.
