Disordered Eating

Disordered eating can leave you feeling overwhelmed and disconnected from yourself and others

You want to change but feel scared and aren’t sure how. You try to eat normally but are afraid of gaining weight. Or maybe you want to stop the cycle of binging and shame. There are days when you are completely fine, but then stress drives you towards unhealthy vices. Perhaps you engage in dieting fads or skip meals often. Maybe you find yourself overeating after a stressful day and then feeling guilty for days to come. Either way, you don’t know where to start, but you know you need a change. If this sounds like you, you could be struggling with disordered eating.

Disordered eating can impact your thoughts and attitudes toward your physical appearance

You’re dissatisfied with your appearance, feel uncomfortable in your body, and are constantly preoccupied with your weight. Maybe you find yourself body-checking or critiquing yourself as you compare yourself to others. Thoughts related to food and weight consume your mind. Rather than focusing on your responsibilities, such as school or work, you are overwhelmed by thoughts about food. You can’t stop thinking about the foods you want to eat. Or you’re obsessively shaming yourself about the food you’ve eaten.

Struggling with disordered eating can feel isolating and lonely. When you aren’t feeling great about your appearance, you tend to isolate yourself from others or withdraw from social activities to avoid confrontation. Thoughts about your food and your appearance are preventing you from being fully present, engaging in fulfilling relationships, and enjoying daily life.

No matter what you try, you find yourself stuck in a cycle of unhealthy behaviors. You notice this has been negatively impacting other areas of your life including:

• Physical health
• Relationships with friends and family
• Finances (buying diet products or binge food)
• Academic or professional performance
• Mental Health (low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, mood swings)

You’ve tried to conquer your disordered eating

No matter what you try, you still hate your body. You notice flaws that make you feel inadequate. You’ve attempted to change your body and appearance to feel better. New outfits, makeup, different diet, but nothing has worked. You’ve tried finding the “right” diet. You tried only eating low-calorie foods and deeming certain foods as “off limits.” But you end up right back where you started.

Perhaps eating less has given you a sense of control and power, yet you still find yourself dreaming about what you’ll eat next. Maybe you successfully avoid certain foods for a while, only to relapse with a vengeance. You’ve tried to change your eating patterns to feel more comfortable in yourself, yet nothing seems to work long-term.

You can find a way out of the shame. And you don’t have to do it alone

You may feel apprehensive about getting help. What if the therapist doesn’t understand why this is so difficult for you? Will the therapist judge you if you’re honest? You may wonder how you can be honest with a therapist when you’re struggling to be honest with yourself.

Choosing to enlist help for disordered eating is a huge step towards overall healing and self-love. Remember that therapy is a nonjudgmental place for you to confront the issues you’ve been avoiding. Your disordered eating therapist is here to understand your daily struggles.

Disordered Eating Therapy and Eating Disorder Treatment in New Jersey

You might be wondering: are disordered eating and eating disorders the same? The main difference between disordered eating and eating disorders comes down to the severity of the symptoms. You can read more about that in our blog on Disordered Eating.

The severity of your symptoms doesn’t have to stop you from seeking help. Eating disorder therapists in New Jersey are trained to help with both disordered eating and eating disorders.

There is help available for disordered eating with an eating disorder therapist in Metuchen, New Jersey. Disordered eating treatment and eating disorder therapy having a safe space with a compassionate eating disorder counselor in New Jersey. In addition to a safe space, treatment for eating issues includes a unique plan for each individual. Our approach to disordered eating focuses on restoring the health of the body and mind by:

• Understanding your physical and emotional symptoms
• Addressing underlying causes
• Creating a new, healthy eating routine
• Exploring family dynamics
• Changing disordered thinking and behavior
• Developing problem-solving skills and coping strategies

Disordered Eating Treatment in New Jersey

Treatment approaches may vary depending on your individual needs. Some forms of therapy can include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Family-based Treatment

There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Therefore, an individualized plan with an eating disorder therapist in New Jersey can ensure the best possible outcome for treatment. As you develop healthy eating habits and thought patterns, you can find the confidence and life skills to cope with all that each day has to offer. Your New Jersey eating disorder therapist is here to guide you.

Begin working with an Eating Disorder Therapist in New Jersey

You don’t have to suffer from disordered eating forever. You’re here because you want to start feeling better. The good news is that therapy for disordered eating is easy to access in New Jersey. Here are the steps to getting started:

1. Read our FAQs about therapy.
2. Fill out a request form on our contact page to schedule a therapy appointment.
3. One of our compassionate team members will contact you within 1 business day (excluding holidays) for a phone consultation. The initial phone consultation is complimentary and helps us learn more about how we can help.
4. During the initial phone consultation, our compassionate team member will ask about what you’ve been struggling with, or what you hope to achieve in therapy. We will share information about each of our therapists, including their specialties and availability.
5. If we’re a good fit for your needs, we match you with one of our in person or online New Jersey therapists. If either of us feel we are not the right fit, we can provide the names of other providers who may be able to help.

At Mindful Connections, we help clients move from feeling “not enough” to grounded, confident, and excited for life.

Disordered Eating Treatment for Teens in New Jersey

Teens are some of the most susceptible when it comes to developing eating disorders. Studies show that, on average, girls start to express concerns about their weight or shape by age 6. In fact, 40-60% of girls ages 6-12 are concerned about their weight or about becoming “too fat”¹. Boys aren’t shielded from these concerns either, due to messages from social media and pop culture.

Beyond biological factors, teens and young adults struggle with body image due to:

• Social influences including:
  • Bullying
  • Weight stigma
  • Socially-defined body ideals
• Psychological issues including:
  • Low self-esteem
  • Perfectionism
  • Mental health issues like anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorders
• History of sexual abuse or other trauma
• Challenges in relationships with family or friends, and more.

If your teen is struggling with body image and disordered eating, you’re likely concerned and don’t know where to turn. We’re here to help. New Jersey body image therapy with a compassionate eating disorder therapist in New Jersey is available for your teen or young adult.

If you and your family are ready to make a change, Contact Us By Filling Out A Request Form today.

¹Smolak, L. (2012). Body Image Development.