Living With an Eating Disorder

Living With an Eating Disorder

If you have been diagnosed with an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder, you may be relieved that you now know why you have felt or behaved a certain way. Still, you may feel overwhelmed about the treatment ahead. You may also wonder how to get the support you need and how to deal with the condition day-to-day.

If you are living with an eating disorder, there are ways to help you recover from it and manage your symptoms.

How to manage lifestyle changes

Managing stress

Stress is your body’s reaction to life changes and events, both good and bad. To help cope with stress:

  • Know that it is normal to feel stress when you are diagnosed with an eating disorder. Talk with your health care provider about what treatments may be best for you. Doing this may help to relieve some of the stress that you have at first.
  • Find out what may cause your stress and unhealthy behaviors to start (identify your triggers). Certain things, places, situations, or people may be triggers for you. Work with your loved ones, health care providers, and therapists to make a plan for dealing with those triggers.
  • Learn and practice complementary therapies like meditation, massage, yoga, acupuncture, or biofeedback. Talk with your health care provider or therapist about which therapies may work best for you.

Medicines

Your health care provider may suggest certain medicines if he or she feels that they will help to improve your condition. Antidepressants, antipsychotics, or mood stabilizing medicines may be used to treat eating disorders. Avoid using alcohol and other substances that may prevent your medicines from working properly (may interact). It is also important to:

  • Talk with your pharmacist or health care provider about all the medicines that you take, their possible side effects, and which medicines are safe to take together.
  • Make it your goal to take part in all treatment decisions (shared decision-making). Ask about possible side effects of medicines that your health care provider recommends, and tell him or her how you feel about having those side effects. It is best if shared decision-making with your health care provider is part of your total treatment plan.

Relationships

Eating disorders are very private experiences. You may feel shame and try to hide your feelings and behaviors from others. However, it is important to:

  • Talk about your disorder and share your feelings and experiences with others. This can help you feel less judged and more connected.
  • Be selective about whom you share your diagnosis with. There are many myths about eating disorders, and not everyone will understand. At the same time, it is important to build a support system with people you trust.
  • Connect with others who have an eating disorder. Your health care provider may be able to recommend support groups that are available in-person or online. Taking part in support groups gives you a chance to share your challenges, fears, and questions.
  • Stay positive and hopeful that you can change your behaviors.

How to recognize changes in your condition

If you are concerned that your symptoms are coming back or getting worse, contact your health care provider or therapist. He or she can adjust your treatment plan to help you get back on track. If you are unaware of these symptoms, but your health care provider believes that there has been a change, trust your provider to do what is best for you.

Some signs to watch for include:

  • Being too focused on your weight.
  • Dramatic weight loss or gain.
  • Feeling more anxious or depressed about your weight or body shape.
  • Skipping meals, bingeing, purging, or having other unhealthy eating habits.
  • Exercising too much.
  • Losing control over your eating, dieting, or exercise habits.
  • Eating in secret, eating excessive amounts, or both.

Where to find support

Talking to others

  • Explain that your condition is not a lifestyle choice. It is a serious mental disorder that causes severe problems with your eating habits.
  • Assure your loved ones that even though treatment may be difficult, it can work. Many people who seek treatment for eating disorders make a full recovery.
  • Learn all you can about your condition. Talk with your health care provider and therapist, and seek information from trusted books and online resources.
  • Be clear with family and friends about how they can be helpful to you. Also, set boundaries for loved ones and be clear about what is helpful and what is not helpful for you.

Finances

Not all insurance plans cover mental health care, so it is important to check with your insurance carrier. If paying for co-pays or counseling services is a problem, search for a local or county mental health care center. Public mental health care services may be offered there at a low cost or no cost when you are not able to see a private health care provider.

If you are taking medicine for your eating disorder, you may be able to get the generic form, which may be less expensive than brand-name medicine. Some makers of prescription medicines also offer help to patients who cannot afford the medicines that they need.

Follow these instructions at home:

Treatment plan

  • Follow instructions from your health care provider about eating and exercising.
  • Identify which situations, feelings, and sources of stress (stressors) are triggers for you. Follow your plan for coping with those triggers without focusing on food.
  • Resist weighing yourself or checking yourself in the mirror often.
  • Seek out programs or resources that address eating disorders.
  • Talk with an eating disorder specialist, therapist, or counselor about your eating behavior.

General instructions

  • Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
  • Educate yourself and others about your eating disorder.
  • Return to your normal activities as told by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider or therapist what activities are safe for you.
  • Get regular dental care every six months.
  • Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Questions to ask your health care provider

  • If you are taking medicines:
    • How long do I need to take medicine?
    • Are there any long-term side effects of my medicine?
    • Are there any alternatives to taking medicine?
  • Would I benefit from therapy?
  • How often should I follow up with a health care provider?

Contact a health care provider if:

  • You have sudden weight loss or gain related to your eating.
  • Your symptoms return.
  • You abuse stimulants or diet aids.
  • You have an irregular heartbeat.
  • You have a constant fear of gaining weight.
  • You take laxatives after you eat.
  • You have eating, dieting, or exercising habits that you cannot control.
  • You have irregular menstrual periods or you stop having menstrual periods, if this applies.

Get help right away if:

  • You have blood or brown flecks in your vomit. This may look like coffee grounds.
  • You have bright red or black stools.
  • You have pain or pressure in your chest.
  • You have difficulty breathing.
  • You do not urinate one or more times every eight hours.
  • You have serious thoughts about harming yourself.

If you ever feel like you may hurt yourself or others, or have thoughts about taking your own life, get help right away. You can go to your nearest emergency department or call:

  • Your local emergency services (911 in the U.S.).
  • A suicide crisis helpline, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. This is open 24 hours a day.

Summary

  • Find out what things, places, situations, or people may cause your unhealthy behaviors to start, and develop new ways to manage how you react to those triggers. Work with your therapist to make a plan to deal with these triggers.
  • Connect with others who have an eating disorder. Look for in-person therapy or online support groups where you can share your challenges, fears, and questions.
  • If you are concerned that your symptoms are coming back or getting worse, contact your health care provider or therapist. He or she can adjust your treatment to help you get back on track.
  • Explain to your loved ones that your condition is not a lifestyle choice. It is a serious mental disorder that causes severe problems with your eating habits.
  • Learn all you can about your condition. Talk with your health care provider and therapist, and seek information from trusted books and online resources.
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