EDNOS
EDNOS stands for 'Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified' and includes all forms of disordered eating that do not fall into the classification of Anorexia, Bulimia or Binge Eating Disorder.
You may be a person who diets frequently, or have obsessive thoughts about food. You may overeat sometimes, and have concerns about your body image. Or you may exercise obsessively, or perform frequent purging behaviours.
These are all symptoms of EDNOS and require similar treatment to other eating disorders. I will listen to your story, and find out what makes your EDNOS uniquely yours. Then I will tailor my approach to meet the needs of your EDNOS.
Orthorexia
Orthorexia Nervosa is a disorder where there is an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating. Symptoms are emaciation, a mistrust of others preparing food and a compulsive fixation with eating healthy food. The desire of a sufferer is not to be thin, but to feel pure, healthy and natural.
Night Eating Syndrome
Night Eating Syndrome is characterised by an ongoing, persistent pattern of late-night bingeing. Symptoms include skipping breakfast, eating more than 25% of daily total calorie intake after dinner, and eating mostly carbohydrate at this time. Sufferers tend to feel depressed, have low self-esteem, are generally overweight and report poor sleep quality.
Compulsive Overeating
Compulsive overeaters tend to show an obsessive/compulsive relationship with food, it has been referred to as food addiction. Symptoms include eating large amounts of food, even when not hungry, eating alone, rapidly and showing a preoccupation with body weight. Sufferers will feel depressed, have mood swings and eat to help them deal with stressful life situations and emotions. Unlike binge eaters, compulsive overeaters may continue eating food all day long.
Pica
Pica is characterised by persistent and compulsive cravings to eat non-food items, such as dirt, clay, ice or toothpaste. Pica is mostly found in children and pregnant woman due to nutritional deficiencies. In some cases Pica can have severe complications such as malnutrition, lead poisoning, infection or intestinal obstruction.
The Eating Continuum
You may notice that you move up and down The Eating Continuum at different times of your life, depending on the life stress you are feeling and the coping skills available to you at that time. My job is to give you a toolkit of new coping skills, to combat the ever-changing landscape of life, so that you navigate it without the need to use food in a disordered way.
