"The purpose of Psychotherapy is to set people free" Rollo May
The warning signs of eating disorders
Anorexia
Significant weight loss
Cessation of menstruation
Complaining of being fat
Fad dieting with poor nutrition or becoming vegetarian
Continued dieting when a declared weight goal has been reached
Excessive exercise
Making a fuss if fat is on food
Moodiness/ impatience/ rudeness/ secretiveness
Social isolation
Intense fear of gaining weight
Excuses about eating elsewhere
Denial
Baggy clothes
Bulimia
Overeating without appearing to gain weight
Hoarding food
Going to the bathroom after meals
Air freshener in the bathroom
Showering or radio noise in the bathroom
Missing food, pretending its not them when asked
Denial that anything is wrong
Depression/Anger/Anxiety
Night bird behaviour
Finding wrappers
Weight fluctuations
Anxious to get people out of the way/out of the kitchen
Binge Eating Disorder
Always on /off diets
Going to diet ‘tomorrow’
Large weight gain
Depression and moodiness
Disappearance of food
Finding wrappers hidden under beds sofas etc
Erratic eating habits e.g. missing meals especially breakfast in one who used to eat breakfast
Also:
- Excessive exercise, will not vary routine, cant miss a day
- Reluctance to eat in front of others
- Tearfulness and irritability
- Obsession with scales
- Touchy if food or diet is mentioned
- Tactical vegetarianism or detoxing (orthorexia)