Branches Counseling Eating Disorders
Comprehensive Individual, Adolescent, Couples, and Family Therapy
Overeating related to tension, poor nutritional habits and food fads are relatively common eating problems for youngsters. In addition, two psychiatric eating disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia, are on the increase among teenage girls and young women and often run in families. In the United States, as many as 10 in 100 young women suffer from an eating disorder. These two eating disorders also occur in boys, but much less often. Both are characterized by a preoccupation with food and a distortion of body image.
Parents frequently ask how to identify symptoms of anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Unfortunately, many teenagers successfully hide these serious and sometimes fatal disorders from their families for many months or years.
Parents should be on the lookout for various symptoms and warning signs of anorexia nervosa and bulimia: A teenager with anorexia nervosa is typically a perfectionist and a high achiever in school. At the same time, she suffers from low self-esteem, irrationally believing she is fat regardless of how thin she becomes. Desperately needing a feeling of mastery over her life, the teenager with anorexia nervosa experiences a sense of control only when she says no to the normal food demands of her body. In a relentless pursuit to be thin, the girl starves herself. This often reaches the point of serious damage to the body, and in a small number of cases may lead to death.
The symptoms of bulimia are usually different from those of anorexia nervosa. The patient binges on huge quantities of high-caloric food, and purges the body of dreaded calories by self-induced vomiting and often by using laxatives. These binges may alternate with severe diets, resulting in dramatic weight fluctuations. Teenagers may try to hide the signs of throwing up by running water while spending long periods of time in the bathroom. The purging of bulimia presents a serious threat to the patient's physical health, including dehydration, hormonal
imbalance, the depletion of important minerals, and damage to vital organs. With comprehensive treatment, most teenagers can be relieved of the symptoms or helped to control eating disorders.
Treatment for eating disorders usually requires a team approach; including individual therapy, family therapy, working with a primary care physician, working with a nutritionist, and medication. Many adolescents also suffer from other problems; including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. It is important to recognize and get appropriate treatment for these problems as well. Research shows that early identification and treatment leads to more favorable outcomes.
Branches Counseling, PLLC: Victoria Winebarger, MSW, LMSW, CAAC, CAADC; Beth Bunn, MSW, LMSW, LCSW, LCAC
16801 Newburgh Rd. Suite 109, Livonia, Michigan, 48154: (734) 377-4134
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Although these symptoms usually manifest at an early age, this is not always the case. If you are a parent of a child suffering, or an adult who finds yourself fighting this battle alone. Our staff can help.
No one has to suffer through this alone.
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