If you turn on the television at any given point and flip through the channels, you will find at least four or five advertisements for food, restaurants, or treats.  Attend any church, family or civic organization event and you will usually find tables loaded down with everything from hot rolls to banana pudding.  Everywhere, we are bombarded with images of food.  For most of us, we simply salivate a bit or spend a second thinking about a big cheesy pizza or hot burger and fries.  For someone struggling with an eating disorder, those food images are a reminder of the emotional battle within.

Although most of us immediately think of food when the words "eating disorder" come to mind, most individuals who have struggled with the disease will agree on one fact-IT'S NOT ABOUT THE FOOD.  Severely restricting food intake, excessive exercising, or binging and purging are merely symptoms of an individual's ongoing battle with their emotions and self-image.  Individuals who are suffering from an eating disorder live daily with an almost constant stream of negative thoughts running through their heads.  Even the simplest tasks can bring on serious self-doubt, guilt or shame.

As the family member or friend of someone with an eating disorder, it is hard to truly understand the person's experience.  Many of us think that if we can just get the person to eat some good food and gain a little weight, the eating disorder will be gone and our loved one will be all better.  What we see is a person who is under-eating or over-eating, so our natural response is to help the person with the problem that we can see.  The problem with that approach is that it fails to address the core issue that leads to the food issue.
 
Full recovery from an eating disorder is possible with the right amount of support, counseling and professional help.  Individuals with eating disorders can truly experience healing with the support of their loved ones, a professional counselor, a nutritionist and doctor.  Support groups specifically geared towards individuals with eating disorders and their family members can also play an important role in recovery.  If you or a family member is interested in attending an Eating Disorder Support Group, please contact the Samaritan Counseling Center of Southwest Georgia at (229) 243-1633.