Eating Disorders/Self Injury
Eating disorders include Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia, and binge-eating disorder. An eating disorder is an illness that causes serious disturbances to everyday diet and functioning, including eating extremely small amounts of food, severely overeating, and/or purging. Self esteem is overly related to body image. Self injuring behaviors are unhealthy efforts to cope with overwhelming emotions, such as intense anger, rage, terror, fear, sadness or shame.
Our psychiatrists specialize in treating adolescents and adults with eating disorders and self-injurious behaviors. Quite often, eating disorders co-occur with depression and anxiety.
Anorexia Nervosa:
Symptoms include deliberate self-starvation with weight loss; intense, persistent fear of gaining weight; refusal to eat or highly restrictive eating, and compulsive exercise.
Bulimia Nervosa:
Bulimia is characterized by frequent episodes of consuming very large amounts of food, followed by behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced purging.
Binge-Eating Disorder:
Binge eating disorder is characterized by compulsive overeating, while feeling out of control and powerless to stop.
Self Injury:
Self-harm is a way of expressing and dealing with deep distress and emotional pain. This includes cutting, burning, or severely scratching the skin; hair-pulling (trichotillomania); hitting oneself; and intentionally preventing wounds from healing.
We implement a comprehensive, integrative treatment plan that includes psychotherapy and psychopharmacology to help patients identify and work through underlying causes of eating disorders. Our practitioners tailor a treatment plan that helps patients manage and recognize their symptoms. Our treatment is offered in a nurturing, constructive, and supportive environment.
