Treating a Disorder

Due to the nature of eating disorders, it may be necessary for a number of individuals or a team of professionals to assist the sufferer.  Some of the individuals that may be required to provide a thorough assessment of the sufferer include; Doctor, Primary Care Physician, Counsellor and Dietician. Once they have completed their analysis they can then determine which of the following issues warrant further attention:

1. Physiology: The body could have been greatly affected by the processes it has been put through (vomiting, diareria) or by starvation. Therefore it must be checked out to see if there is any damage that needs repairing.  

2. Emotions: Many sufferers have a disorder to control powerful and overbearing negative feelings and emotions, such as anger, depression and shame.  They must therefore learn new and alternative coping strategies for such feelings.

3. Twisted Thoughts: The majority of sufferers have deformed views of their own appearance and place a greater amount on appearance determining who they are as a person. These damaging cognitive beliefs must be addressed and altered.

4. Self Awareness: Eating disorders are unhealthy and highly illogical ways of obtaining rational goals. The sufferer must attempt to discover the underlying causes for their disorder, such as the needs for love and acceptance. The sufferer must then also acknowledge and understand that they have adopted detrimental methods to meet these goals.

5. Social Context: The society and environment that the sufferer is living in can have very harmful effects on them and contribute to their disorder. The media, bullying and experiences can lead to the disorder controlling their lives. Therefore it is crucial that they discover how to place all of that into context and handle it all in a more assertive manner and protect themselves in healthier ways.

6. Responsibility: Cease blaming anyone or passing the buck for the disorder. The sufferer should stop viewing themselves as the victim. It is their life and they must learn to take responsibility for their actions.

If the individual that suffers from an eating disorder is reached and open to help then there is a 75% chance that they will recover. However if they are not ready or willing to help themselves then they will continue to suffer, regardless what help if offered to them.