How to recognise an eating issue

 With an eating or body image issue you may:

• Feel out of control around food
• Feel nervous and guilty about eating
• Find yourself continually on a diet
• Find yourself constantly thinking about eating or not eating
• Eat according to a set of rules that you have created and not according to when you feel hungry
• Attempt to get rid of food by vomiting or taking laxatives
• Starve yourself for periods of time
• Use weight loss medications and supplements inappropriately
• Exercise excessively
• Feel compelled to exercise even if you are tired, unwell, injured
• Binge on food followed by feelings of anxiety, guilt or self-disgust
• Not be able to eat until you have exercised
• Feel that your body is never quite ‘right’
• Feel terrified of gaining weight
• Believe that everything would be alright if only you had the ‘ideal’ figure

Is it time for me to get help?

Consider your responses to these questions

• Is this a problem for me a lot of the time?
• What changes have I noticed lately?
• Does this stop me from doing the things I would otherwise do?
• Does it cause me to feel bad about myself or put myself down?
• Do I feel unable to talk to anyone about this?
• Do I feel ashamed of this?
• Does this isolate me from other people?
• Does it diminish my quality of life?

If the answer is “yes” to one or more of these questions it maybe time to seek help.