In today’s society, men and women alike can feel pressured to conform to impossible standards of beauty that have been set forth by the media. Each year, more and more people find themselves facing an eating disorder in an attempt to achieve the unattainable ideals that have so much presence in film, TV and the fashion industry. If you feel you may have an eating disorder, it’s never too late to get help from a qualified therapist. Ben Wolf can provide eating disorder therapy to St. Paul residents who are in need of guidance and counseling to get their bodies and minds back to a healthy place.
What is an Eating Disorder?
When you think of an eating disorder, you likely picture someone with anorexia nervosa or bulimia. Anorexia nervosa is a condition where an individual, in an attempt to lose weight, ceases eating altogether and exercises constantly. The idea of food becomes repugnant and the individual becomes phobic about consuming any calories at all. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by a number of compulsive behaviors tied to food and exercise. Individuals with symptoms of anorexia nervosa should seek medical treatment immediately from a physician as well as a psychotherapist, as the condition can be fatal.
Bulimia, on the other hand, is an eating disorder that causes an individual to consume mass quantities of food, or “binge,” and then force himself or herself to vomit (or “purge”) in order to rid the body of all the food that was eaten. Bulimics often force themselves to vomit after every meal and also tend to use laxatives to keep their bodies free of any food. As you can imagine, bulimia is an extremely serious eating disorder that can lead to esophageal tears, cardiovascular problems, and death.
While anorexia nervosa and bulimia are the two most serious forms of an eating disorder, the reality is that disordered eating can come in many forms, some disguised as diet trends. Anytime an individual deliberately alters their eating habits in an extreme or potentially dangerous way in order to restrict calories, this can be considered an eating disorder, and can lead to a variety of physical and psychological issues that can be damaging in the long term.
Seeking Treatment for Eating Disorders
If you feel you may have an eating disorder that is getting in the way of leading a happy, healthy life, making an initial appointment with a psychotherapist is a positive first step on the road to recovery. Ben Wolf is here for St. Paul residents who are struggling with an eating disorder. Dr. Wolf will help get to the root cause of the disorder and help the patient heal from the emotional wounds that are the source of the disordered eating behaviors. With time, you may no longer feel the lack of control and self-esteem that often leads to disordered eating in the first place.
Ben Wolf is a St. Paul psychotherapist with years of experience with eating disorder therapy. With a counseling plan in place, you can return to the life you enjoyed before the eating disorder took over. Call 612-643-1920 for an initial consultation, and let Ben Wolf help you learn to love yourself exactly the way you are, so you can discover the beauty within!
