I am a week late as National Eating Disorders Awareness Week was last week!  However, I think we need to be aware of the dangers and seriousness of eating disorders all year long.Eating Disorders are a serious mental illness which can be fatal. Eating disorders are not passing phases or fads. The sooner someone is able to receive treatment for an Eating Disorder the better the chances for recovery will be.  Eating Disorders are persistent and ongoing patterns of unhealthy eating or dieting behaviors which cause severe health and emotional problems for those suffering with the disorders.

There are three basic categories of Eating Disorders; Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder.  There are also some subcategories of these disorders.

An individual who suffers with Anorexia will restrict food intake and refuse to maintain a normal body weight.  These individuals are terrified of gaining weight and spend most of their time thinking about how to avoid calorie intake.

Individuals who suffer with Bulimia have binge eating episodes during which the individual eats an excessive amount of food in a short amount of time.  This is then followed by trying to compensate for the high number of calories consumed by purging.  Purging can be by vomiting, laxatives, compulsive exercise, enemas, or diuretics.

An individual with an eating disorder has social difficulty with peers, partners, and family because this individual is in a serious relationship with ED (their eating disorder).  This individual may think about eating or not eating up to 90% of the time making them unavailable to others in their life.

Treatment for eating disorders is available through outpatient therapy, intensive outpatient programs, and residential programs.  Treatment will focus on reestablishing health and identifying the root causes of the eating disorder. Effective treatment will also involve the family who has been effected by the eating disorder.  Coexisting disorders may include anxiety and depression.
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If you know someone suffering help them to get help.

​​Melissa Muller is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in St. Augustine, FL.  Melissa works with families, adolescents, couples and individuals.  Melissa has specializations in treating adolescents, eating disorders, trauma, and sexual addictions. In addition she enjoys working with the LGBT community.  She often works with families in the crisis of divorce to make the transition as healthy as possible for both the children and the adults in the family.

Call or Contact Me for your appointment today (904) 770-7587