I’m struggling with difficulties around food
If you think you are experiencing difficulties with food you can speak to Mindline Somerset for advice and support. Please get in touch with our team locally on 01823 276892 or freephone 0800 138 1692
Our partner SWEDA also operates a dedicated eating disorder helpline that is open every Sunday from 11am until 2pm and every Tuesday from 8pm until 11pm. Please call them on 0300 3305464 for advice if you or a loved one has been affected by an eating disorder. Free, impartial, confidential advice.
If you are in crisis and need immediate support please contact 999.
What is an eating disorder?
An eating disorder is a persistent (ongoing) disturbance in thoughts and behaviours around food, eating and weight. They are serious mental illnesses that can cause significant harm to sufferers.
Any person of any age, gender, sexuality, race, culture or situation can develop an eating disorder.
Why do people get eating disorders?
The short answer is that we don’t know, or that there are many different reasons, especially as there are different eating disorders with different symptoms. Often, an eating disorder helps a person to cope with difficult emotions and to feel a sense of control.
Some reasons that people develop eating disorders are:
- Genetics
- Personality traits – like perfectionism, or highly anxious people
- Trauma
What types of eating disorders are there?
Anorexia Nervosa
An individual experiencing anorexia nervosa:
- Will try to keep their weight as low as possible by not eating and/or over-exercising
- Are likely to be medically underweight
- Will often experience themselves as fat which they find very distressing
- Might have obsessive or compulsive tendencies especially around food
Bulimia Nervosa
An individual experiencing bulimia nervosa:
- Will binge eat (eat a large amount of food in a short time) and then ‘purge’ (find a way to ‘get rid’ of the binged food. This might be through making themselves vomit, through using laxatives, or by using extreme exercise.
- May be very secretive about their behaviours and feel deeply ashamed of them
- May be any size or weight
- Are likely to see experience themselves as fat, which will be extremely distressing to them.
Binge Eating Disorder:
An individual experiencing a binge eating disorder:
- Will eat very large amounts of food in short amounts of time
- May feel ‘out of control’ or ‘in a trance’ when binge eating and continue eating even when full
- Could live in a larger body (be overweight) or have a high BMI
- Feel extreme shame about their eating.
Many people may have other forms of eating disorders such as:
- Struggling with their relationship with food and weight and may experience great distress with some symptoms of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder
- Experience obsessions or compulsions around food and eating
- Struggle with eating a range of foods or with the texture or other aspects of food or the feeling of being full
- Use food as a way to self-soothe or comfort themselves and then experience guilt or shame.
How to get help
If you think you are experiencing difficulties with food you can speak to Mindline Somerset for advice and support. Please get in touch with our team locally on 01823 276892 or freephone 0800 138 1692.
Our partner SWEDA offers a number of services to support individuals with eating disorders including:
Counselling
Counselling is a talking therapy where you will have the opportunity to explore your situation, talk about your feelings and emotions, and find ways to move forward. This might be in the form of ‘tools’ to help you in various scenarios; a chance to process any trauma that you have suffered; gaining an understanding of how you came to be where you are; learning more about your ‘triggers’ or finding ways to ease your distress and manage when things are difficult. You can find more information on SWEDA’s website here: www.swedauk.org/services/counselling
Self Help Support groups
The self-help support group are user led so, in each session, the discussion will vary depending on who is attending and what they are bringing to the session. This also means that you will always have an opportunity to discuss what is important to you. We are not here to judge you and the safe and confidential setting may enable you to discuss things you feel unable to share elsewhere. You can find more information on SWEDA’s website here: www.swedauk.org/services/self-help-support-group
Recovery Support project
This service provides in-the-community support and guidance for those in recovery from an eating disorder who wish to work on specific goals to help with their recovery. These might be to do with shopping, eating out, meal planning, clothes shopping, swimming or anything else that you might feel would be beneficial. This service is for people who are in active recovery from an eating disorder. You can find more information on SWEDA’s website here www.swedauk.org/services/recovery-support-project
You can also access support services from NHS Somerset by being referred by your GP.
How you can support a person with an eating disorder
In some ways, people with eating disorders may have the same concerns as others with mental health issues or who are experiencing a crisis. They may be struggling with anxiety or fear, depression or isolation. You can offer support in the same way that you might any other service-user. However, there are a few points worth remembering:
- Listen to the person – they may know best about their own situation and will have an understanding of their own condition
- Anxiety is a key feature of eating disorders and will likely be present for the person you are supporting
- Understand that food can be literally terrifying for an eating disorder sufferer – do not minimise their fear
- Avoid diet talk or diet culture talk
- Sufferers may feel extremely ashamed about their behaviour so may struggle to reach out or talk openly
- They may have their own self-care and self-help techniques which can be useful in stressful situations
- Some people refer to their eating disorders as something outside themselves or talk about the eating disorders ‘voice’ – this is a useful way to understand the way it feels to have an eating disorder.