Eating disorders are very real ailments that directly impact your mental and physical health. The term is used to identify a group of strong psychological conditions that impact your eating habits. It’s important to remember that eating disorders know no sex, gender, race, or ethnic identity. Every single person can struggle with these habits, and just the same, everyone can seek professional help when it is necessary.

According to Center for Change, anorexics often see their restricted caloric intake as brave and as a high achievement. They tend to prize challenges over comfort.

By contrast, bulimics view their behaviors as shameful and disgusting. In order to recover, you need to understand the connection between their beliefs about yourself and your eating disorder behaviors. People with eating disorders often view themselves with such hatred they feel deserving of the pain associated with their actions. They also need to understand that this is an illness.

Where to Start

The first step is asking yourself honest questions about your eating habits. Do you spend much of your time fixating on what you eat, how much you eat, or are you just feeling guilty about your eating habits? These are some simple questions to introduce to yourself the idea that you might be struggling with an eating disorder.

There is a lot of fear surrounding eating habits when it comes to eating disorders. This fear is often crippling and controls your habits more than actual hunger. You might deny yourself a meal because you feel undeserving or have an intense fear of gaining weight. You may also notice that you eat to cope with difficult emotions. This often comes with feelings of depression or anxiety. You may notice that your weight often fluctuates and quite dramatically. This can be due to binge eating or the feeling that you must purge yourself.

Once You Know, You Can Take Steps to Heal

If you are concerned about your mental well-being regarding eating habits, it is okay to approach the subject. Remember to be patient with yourself as you break down the possibility of needing help. Look to friends, family, or mental health professionals who may help you gain perspective and begin the road towards healing.