Eating Disorders

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. – Psalm 55:22

When the cares of this world become too much to handle, we sometimes turn to things that are unhealthy in attempts to deal with pain, confusion, fear, and other difficult emotions. When it comes to eating disorders, there are many causes. Maybe you dealt with a lot of bullying over your image, or feel over-pressured by social ideals of beauty. Maybe you use food for comfort, or to make you feel more in control of your environment. Whatever your story, Christian counseling for eating disorders is here to lead you on a path of wholeness and recovery.

40% of people have either personally experienced an eating disorder or know someone who has.

How Can Christian Counseling Help?

Christian counseling can help you overcome challenges that keep you from living a healthy, fully-connected life. By encouraging and using faith, prayer, and biblical guidance along with proven treatment methods, you are given a well-rounded approach to healing. This approach offers something secular groups don’t, because, in addition to offering healing of the mind and body, we guide you towards spiritual growth and wellness through Christ. At Spokane Christian Counseling, our eating disorder therapists are here to do everything possible to help you achieve whole-person health.

Goals of Christian counseling for eating disorders include:

• Establishing a healthy body weight.
• Discovering the cause of your eating disorder and addressing those issues.
• Understanding the impact the eating disorder has on your life.
• Building self-esteem and healthy body image.

Treatment for Eating Disorders in Adolescence

Did you know that 95% of those with an eating disorder are between the ages of 12 and 25?During teen years, the social pressures and other contributing factors that often lead to eating disorders are peaking. If you suspect that your teen has an eating disorder, get help right away. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of all mental health issues but are usually treatable when detected early. At Spokane Christian Counseling, our child and teen counselors will help your teen grow in confidence, love, and faith in Christ so they can move on to build a successful, healthy future. Click Here for more information on Christian counseling for children and teens.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:7

One of the sad ironies about life with an eating disorder is people often form these disorders because of a need for control over some aspect of their life or emotions, but in the end, they find themselves ruled by the eating disorder. The purpose of Christian counseling for eating disorders is to help you find real control over your life through reliable counseling methods and faith in Christ for healing and redemption.

Up to 30 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder in the U.S.

Do I Have an Eating Disorder?

For many, the first step to recovery is understanding that you have a problem. Some don’t realize how harmful their behavior is until they suffer serious complications. Others know the dangers but are unable to stop on their own. The effects of eating disorders can be severe, taking the lives of many each year, which is why our counselors at Spokane Christian Counseling are so dedicated to helping people recover. To help you determine whether or not you suffer from an eating disorder, ask yourself these questions:

• Do you often make yourself sick because you feel uncomfortable after eating?
• Do you worry you have lost control over how much you eat?
• Have you lost more than 15 pounds in the last three months?
• Do you see yourself as overweight when others say you are too thin?
• Would you say that food controls your life?

Eating Disorder Statistics

Figure 1 Stats taken from www.anred.com (Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders) and healthyteenproject.com

Types of Eating Disorders We Treat and Their Symptoms

If it is determined that you do have an eating disorder, your counselor will offer guidance and support surrounding the specific disorder you have. Learning about your condition is an important part of eating disorder recovery because it provides necessary insight and also comfort in knowing there are real tools available for recovery.

Anorexia Nervosa

If you measure your self-worth in pounds and go to extreme measures to stay thin, then you might suffer from anorexia. You might even notice that no matter how often people tell you that you’re thin, you still feel overweight. People with anorexia have an overwhelming fear of being overweight, so they do things like restrict food intake, take diuretics or laxatives, and exercise excessively – even when they are dangerously thin. For others, restricting food is a way to feel in control over something, usually because they have endured things in life that made them feel powerless or controlled by others.

Symptoms of Anorexia include:

• Extreme weight loss
• Fatigue, dizziness, or fainting
• Hair loss or breakage
• Low blood pressure
• Irregular heart rhythm
• Severely reducing calorie intake by fasting, dieting, and excessive exercise
• Preoccupation with food
• Frequent denial of feeling hungry
• Irritability and depression

Bulimia Nervosa

If you attempt to control your weight by consuming large amounts of food then inducing vomiting, then you probably struggle with bulimia. Sadly, people often battle bulimia for years before getting help and are often very successful at hiding their condition because there are few outward signs of bulimia until serious damage is done. If you or a loved one is bulimic, please don’t continue to harm your mind, body, and spirit. Christian counseling for eating disorders offers the compassionate support you need.

Symptoms of Bulimia include:

• Lifestyle rituals involving binging and purging
• Swelling in the cheeks and jaw
• Calluses on the back of hands and knuckles
• Stained or discolored teeth
• Irregular bowel movements
• Self-esteem overly dependent on body image
• Frequent trips to the bathroom after meals
• Excessive, strict exercise routine
• Feeling out of control during binging sessions
• Depression

Binge Eating Disorder

If you consume large amounts of food in a short period of time, feel your eating habits are out of control and suffer from chronic obesity, you might have binge eating disorder. Binge eating can lead to serious health problems, and unfortunately, the shame can make it hard to ask for help. At Spokane Christian Counseling, we offer a safe, judgement-free place for you to overcome the hidden pain that caused you to use food as comfort and a shield against the pain you carry.

Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder include:

• Eating large amounts of food in a specific time-frame (usually 2 hours)
• Eating in secret due to feelings of shame
• Feeling your eating behaviors are out of control
• Frequently eating until you’re uncomfortably full or when you’re not hungry
• Feeling depressed, ashamed, and disgusted with your eating behaviors
• Frequent dieting, typically without much weight loss
• Weight gain and chronic obesity

Our eating disorder counselors at Spokane Christian Counseling are experienced in helping people overcome all kinds of eating disorders. Whatever your personal experience might be, we are here to guide you to a full recovery.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. – Psalm 139:14

Through Christian counseling for eating disorders, our hope is to help you connect with the love and grace of Christ so you can find real wholeness and peace along with new perspectives for building a healthy, faith-filled life.

Only one-third of individuals struggling with anorexia nervosa in the United States get treatment.

How are Eating Disorders Treated?

Because of the shame and fear associated with eating disorders, many never get the help they need – often resulting in serious health issues or death. If you or someone you know struggles with anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder, reach out for help as soon as possible. Christian eating disorder therapy offers lasting solutions through evidence-based therapies and bible-based tools for whole-person wellness. The most common eating disorder treatments our counselors use includes:

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy – CBT is one of the most widely-used eating disorder treatments. This method helps you become more aware of your inner thoughts and emotions and how they fuel your behaviors. By learning how to redirect harmful self-talk and perceptions, you can work to build healthy habits over time.
• Family Therapy – Christian counseling for families offers support that will help your loved ones better understand what you go through, so everyone gets what is needed to help you along your recovery.
• Counseling for Depression –  Nearly half of all people with an eating disorder suffer from depression. For some, depression caused the disorder. For others, depression started as a later result. Whatever the case is for you, depression counseling might be a critical part of your recovery.

Christian eating disorder counselors are trained in the various treatments for eating disorders. Your Christian counselor will work with you to create a plan that suits your unique story and needs for recovery.

If you’re ready to heal, we are here to help. Contact us today to schedule your risk-free initial session.

To learn more about Spokane Christian counseling for eating disorders or to schedule an appointment, give us a call at (509) 209-8961 or contact us online.