Comprehensive Support For Eating Disorders: Resources And Strategies

Eating disorders (ED) can affect the mind and body in complex ways, which is why it’s typically important to take a holistic approach to treatment and recovery. Here, you’ll learn how to find support for eating disorders, including medical interventions, therapy, and self-help strategies. With this guide, you’ll be equipped to find effective treatment and make meaningful progress towards overall health.

Understanding eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions characterized by abnormal eating behaviors. Body image issues are a common feature of many eating disorders, though disordered eating behaviors can occur for a wide range of psychological reasons. 

Among the most common eating disorders are:

• Anorexia nervosa: characterized by extreme food restriction, fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image, often leading to severe weight loss 
• Bulimia nervosa: involves cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors like vomiting or excessive exercise to prevent weight gain
• Binge eating disorder: marked by recurrent episodes of consuming large amounts of food, often rapidly and to the point of discomfort, without subsequent purging behaviors

These disorders can lead to severe physical health concerns if untreated, including poor nutrition, organ damage, and other effects. Effective treatment typically involves a multidisciplinary approach, combining psychotherapy, medical interventions, and family counseling as well as ongoing self-care practices.

Professional treatment options

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that typically don't resolve without professional intervention, so seeking help if you notice symptoms is usually crucial. Comprehensive treatment generally involves some or all of the following components.

Medical interventions

Mental health support

Mental and behavioral health interventions are usually crucial for eating disorder recovery, as they can help address the underlying psychological factors that contribute to disordered eating behaviors. The following types of talk therapy are well-supported by evidence for treating eating disorders:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy for eating disorders (CBT-ED): CBT-ED helps individuals identify and change distorted thoughts and behaviors related to food and body image. Its effectiveness is well-supported by research, making it a leading treatment option.
• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT): DBT is a form of CBT that emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and mindfulness. Many find this approach helpful for managing intense emotions and reducing harmful behaviors. 
• Interpersonal therapy (IPT): IPT focuses on improving communication and relationships to reduce symptoms of eating disorders. For those who struggle with social, or relationship issues related to their disorder, IPT may be an option to consider.
• Psychodynamic therapy: Psychodynamic therapy may be used to explore and address unconscious conflicts and emotions that may drive disordered eating behaviors. While less common than other treatments, it may still be recommended in certain cases.

Family counseling

Particularly for children and adolescents with eating disorders, family counseling can be an important part of treatment. Family-based therapy (FBT) for eating disorders is one approach specifically developed to help those in ED recovery by empowering families to take an active role in treatment. In FBT, a therapist may help family members learn to manage meals, address eating challenges, encourage healthy eating patterns, and create a supportive home environment.

Inpatient and outpatient programs

In some cases, inpatient care may be necessary to help individuals restore a healthy weight and manage physical symptoms. For less severe cases, or for those who have progressed from inpatient treatment, outpatient and day treatment programs offer a structured yet flexible approach to recovery, allowing individuals to attend daily therapeutic programs while still maintaining their regular responsibilities.

Online and community resources

In addition to care offered by medical and mental health professionals, people with this kind of mental illness often benefit from seeking support in other places too. Some examples include eating disorder hotlines, support groups and online communities, or apps and digital tools designed to aid the recovery process. Remember that these forms of support are generally recommended in combination with professional care, not as a substitute for it.

Hotlines and helplines

If you’re struggling with compulsions related to your eating disorder, a helpline can offer immediate support. Eating disorder helplines are typically staffed by trained volunteers who can guide you towards appropriate resources and professional help. 

Support groups

Whether in-person or online, eating disorder support groups can be valuable, allowing people with similar challenges to share experiences, exchange advice, and find encouragement. They may also provide opportunities to connect with a peer mentor or “recovery buddy,” which can be helpful.

Online communities and forums

People in ED recovery often find it valuable to connect with others through online communities as they pursue other forms of treatment. Forums can be a space to vent, share experiences, and seek advice from others in similar situations. 

Apps and digital tools

ED recovery apps may help you develop healthier eating patterns and monitor emotions over time. Ask your doctor for a recommendation if you’re interested in these tools. It may also be worth exploring mindfulness apps for your recovery, as mindfulness can be crucial for regaining control in overwhelming moments. 

Self-help strategies for eating disorder recovery

Therapy and medical support are typically crucial for eating disorder recovery. In addition, self-help strategies like those below can be important as well. These strategies empower you to take an active role in your healing, helping you build resilience, manage emotions, and develop healthier habits.

Develop healthy coping mechanisms

Because disordered eating behaviors tend to be an unhealthy coping mechanism for difficult or unpleasant emotions, developing healthy coping mechanisms is usually a vital part of treatment. Examples can include distraction, mindfulness and relaxation techniques, journaling, positive self-talk, and healthy self-care habits, among others. You can ask your therapist for advice on coping mechanisms to adopt.

Build a balanced lifestyle

Eating disorders often disrupt multiple aspects of well-being, making it important to create healthy routines and habits during recovery. Some examples include getting enough sleep, exercising in a way that’s healthy and enjoyable, getting regular social interaction, and making time for activities you enjoy.

Learn to manage triggering situations

Triggering situations are the specific circumstances, thoughts, or emotions that contribute to disordered eating behaviors. It’s important to identify and understand yours as part of recovery. With this awareness, you can develop strategies to help you cope with them without resorting to disordered eating.

Cultivate self-compassion

To help you overcome the negative self-talk that often accompanies eating disorders, practicing self-compassion may be helpful. This can look like aiming to speak to yourself the way you’d speak to a cherished friend and giving yourself grace when you experience challenges and setbacks. Positive affirmations can be helpful too, as can engaging in fulfilling, confidence-building activities.

How to support a loved one with an eating disorder

If you are supporting a loved one in their recovery journey, it can help to understand what they might need from you in terms of emotional and practical support. Here are some tips that may help:

• Educate yourself: Learn about the particular eating disorder your loved one is living with to help you understand its challenges and complexities.
• Listen without judgment: Offer a caring and empathetic ear, even when you may not fully understand their feelings.
• Avoid triggering topics: Try to focus on feelings and experiences rather than food or weight. Avoid commenting on their appearance in general.
• Encourage professional help: If they are not yet in treatment, you might gently suggest some resources for professional support and offer to help them connect.
• Promote healthy behaviors: Encourage positive habits without pressure or criticism.

Online mental health support for eating disorders

If you are living with an eating disorder, ongoing mental health support in addition to in-person care from medical staff and nutritionists can be pivotal in helping you achieve lasting recovery. If you struggle to regularly travel to in-person therapy appointments in addition to other care appointments, you might consider online therapy instead. 

With BetterHelp, you can attend weekly virtual sessions with a licensed mental health professional from anywhere you have an internet connection. Plus, research suggests that online therapy can be as effective as in-person sessions. It may be preferable for those seeking a convenient, flexible, lower-cost alternative to traditional therapy.