About eating disorders
An eating disorder develops when you consciously, or subconsciously, use food to cope with difficult emotions and/or anxiety provoking situations. In searching for a way of feeling in control of their life people can find themselves over-controlling weight and shape. Ironically, the very thing which used to give them a sense of control can ultimately take over their life and develop into a potentially life threatening illness.
No single thing causes eating disorders; rather it is a combination of many factors resulting in someone feeling unable to cope. Difficult life events that are potential triggers for eating disorders include:
- The loss of someone close
- Work, school or university problems
- Relationship difficulties with family or friends and
- Emotional or sexual abuse
In fact, anything that can impact negatively on our self-esteem and sense of control can be the root cause of an eating disorder.
Who is at risk?
An eating disorder shows little or no regard for social or cultural differences and it is not confined to age groups or sex. Eating disorders are indiscriminate, although those most commonly affected are young females between the ages of 15 and 25. The nature or nurture debate has been applied to eating disorders and we have found that both play a part in their development. Genetic make-up has been found potentially to have an impact on whether you could develop an eating disorder; as are the attitudes of key people in our lives. If you are in a situation that involves difficult family dynamics, social pressures or high expectation of academic achievement. you may turn to eating disorders as a means of coping with the stress these provoke. Trauma can also be a potential trigger, so situations involving bereavement or family upheaval, bullying or abuse or even other illnesses can result in the development of an eating disorder.
What types of eating disorder are there?
An eating disorder diagnosis will be made by a GP, who will often refer to a list of diagnostic criteria to aid them with their diagnosis. Eating disorders are generally identified as anorexia, bulimia or eating disorders NOS (not otherwise specified). It is important to remember that someone can still have an eating disorder or body image issue and not meet the diagnostic criteria.
What if I recognise myself in these descriptions?
It is important that you seek help. Eating disorders are very isolating in their nature and are very difficult to battle alone. Left untreated they can have a seriously detrimental effect on your health.
How do I seek help?
You should approach your GP who can access the appropriate experts who provide eating disorder support in your area. Anorexia and bulimia treatments are available. If you are unsure and want to discuss your concerns please visit www.careukeatingdisorders.com to find our more and contact us.
We seek to address eating disorders by offering treatment to people across the spectrum of age, complexity and duration of illness. Rhodes Farm offers effective acute interventions to children and adolescents as young as 8 years old whilst Althea Park House and Ashleigh House offer much needed treatment for individuals who have become trapped in a cycle of remission and relapse, which results in repeated admissions to inpatient services with severe and enduring eating disorders.
Our programmes are specifically designed to help individuals with eating disorders bring about life change and not just weight change. Whilst working on the eating disorder symptoms we actively promote and support people to rediscover an identity outside of their illness.
Located in north London, Rhodes Farm was the first unit dedicated to the treatment of eating disorders in children. We treat children and adolescents aged 8 to 18 years, both male and female, in a homely and nurturing environment. Children and young people typically come to Rhodes Farm because they are not responding to treatment in the community. We are able to treat individuals detained under the Mental Health Act. If you would like to talk to us about help and support for someone you care about, please visit our eating disorders site for more information on the treatment available at Rhodes Farm and details on how to contact us.
Althea Park House and Ashleigh House
Because of our unique setting and treatment approach, we are often referred to by other specialist services as a more appropriate means of helping those people who need a medium to long term approach to help them defeat an eating disorder that has become enduring and entrenched, often over many years.
We are certainly not saying all people with eating disorders would be better treated at one of our units. There are many specialist care providers offering services that deliver an excellent range of anorexia and bulimia treatments, as well as eating disorder therapy, for the majority of cases. However, if you are stuck in the revolving door and feel that you might benefit from a different approach then your consultant, GP or nurse may be willing to explore with you the possibility of referral to Althea Park House or Ashleigh House. Should you not currently be working with a professional please contact us for an informal discussion about our service.
What if I’m already in treatment elsewhere?
For impartial advice and support, Beat, the national eating disorder charity, is an excellent resource offering invaluable help.
For more information
If you would like to learn more about the Care UK eating disorder treatment services, please visit www.careukeatingdisorders.com for more information. If you would like to talk to us aout help and support for you or someone you care for please contact us.
