What are eating disorders?

Eating disorders are behavioral conditions that cause unhealthy eating behaviors and negative thoughts about food. Eating disorders can be severe enough to affect your physical and mental health, relationships, and quality of life.

Pure Psychiatry of Michigan can diagnose and treat eating disorders, including:

Anorexia nervosa

People with anorexia nervosa have a fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of body image. They take extreme actions to control their weight, such as limiting calories, using laxatives, and exercising excessively.

Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia involves episodes of binge-eating food followed by vomiting (purging) to feel control over your weight. After purges, you may feel shame or guilt about your behaviors but continue to judge yourself for weight or self-perceived body flaws.

Binge-eating disorder

Binge-eating disorder describes a lack of control over eating. You may eat food quickly or when you’re not hungry. You may continue eating even after feeling uncomfortably full. Feelings of guilt and shame are common after binging, which leads to increased secrecy around food and your eating habits.

When should I seek medical care for eating disorders?

Eating disorders can become life-threatening and increase your risk for health complications and premature death without treatment.

The medical team at Pure Psychiatry of Michigan provides comprehensive psychiatric evaluations to pinpoint your condition. They provide medical exams to assess how eating disorders impact your health.

Based on your exam results, the team creates a treatment plan to address negative behaviors and thought patterns about food and help you achieve a healthy body weight.

How are eating disorders treated?

Your treatment plan depends on your type of eating disorder. The Pure Psychiatry of Michigan team uses strategies for all types of eating disorders, including:

Nutritional counseling

Nutritional counseling helps you learn to make healthy food choices that support your overall health. The team provides resources to improve your eating habits.

Therapy

Psychotherapy (talk therapy) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) help you recognize negative thoughts and emotions about your relationship with food. Therapy can also address issues surrounding your self-image and self-esteem.

Medications

Medications can help you control urges to binge or purge. You may need antidepressants to stabilize and boost your mood. People with eating disorders may require hospitalization to address malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies resulting from eating disorders. 

Call Pure Psychiatry of Michigan to schedule a consultation for eating disorders or book an appointment online today.