Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are often thought to be about food. Frequently, however, the disorder is a mechanism for coping - a way of avoiding some other problem the person does not feel able to cope with or face.  It may give the person some sense of control over their life.

However, an eating disorder can take over your life. Thoughts of food and eating or not eating can dominate your thinking to the point where this becomes the most important thing to you. It can get to the point where you may think you cannot live without it.  Feelings of helplessness, shame and guilt can make it difficult to reach out to others for help. Not wanting to give up the disorder at some level and fear of losing this control can make it hard to seek change.

Counselling and Psychotherapy can help by creating a safe and non-judgmental space to explore what is troubling you. It can help build your self esteem, put in place resources for yourself and supports. Over time, within this supportive environment,  you can explore and understand the function the eating disorder has in your life and find alternatives that are more life-giving. As there is a physical as well as a psychological dimension to eating disorders, regular contact and monitoring by your doctor is important.  
 
While it may seem difficult to believe it when in the grip of an eating disorder, people can and do recover.  

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Agnew Counselling and Psychotherapy,
Brenda Agnew, Counsellor and Psychotherapist,
Address: Clontarf Road, Clontarf, Dublin 3.
Call: 01-4452139, 086-0661030.
Email: brenda@agnewcounselling.com