Eating disorders

This refers to being unhappy with the way you use food. You may feel out of control when you eat and have developed particular rules or behaviours around eating that help you to feel more in control. These may be inconvenient or damaging to your health. You may feel unhappy about how your eating pattern affects your body and your life, but feel unable to do anything to change your behaviour.

This may not just relate to food, often exercise or other harmful addictive behaviours can also be used to try and cope. Often eating and behaviour patterns are emotionally connected and triggered by trauma. Eating or not eating is sometimes used to help deal with painful situations, manage feelings or to feel in control. A therapist can help you explore how you are using food and look at alternative ways of managing your emotions.