A Common Misconception
Mention eating disorders to the majority of people and they will probably imagine someone who is ‘stick thin’ or emaciated. They cannot picture someone who is overweight or obese.
Admittedly, anorexics and bulimics will often present in this way – but not all eating disorder sufferers are obsessed with starving themselves.
Binge eating disorder, often triggered by stress or trauma, is a condition which, for most sufferers, means that eating has become something that they can no longer control. They are powerless to stop or even slow the rate at which they are ingesting food. Without the accompanying bingeing or purging associated with bulimia, sufferers experience rapid weight gain which, in turn, impacts upon the individual’s physical health and mental well-being, as well as personal relationships and social development.
Binge eating disorder is not simply occasional overeating; nor is it having the odd extra slice of cake or pizza. Sufferers experience this problem on a regular basis and are often ashamed of their behavior, withdrawing from social life in order to hide their inability to control their eating habits.
Diagnosis
Until recently, there have been no official diagnosis criteria for binge eating disorder, despite the fact that clinicians have long recognized its existence. This is about to be rectified, however. The fifth edition of the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), scheduled to be released in April 2013 will contain a reference to binge eating disorder.
It is proposed that diagnosis should focus on a combination of at least three of the following five behaviors and that these behaviors occur at least twice a week over a 6 month period:
- Eating much more rapidly than normal
- Eating until feeling uncomfortably full
- Eating large volumes of food when not physically feeling hungry
- Eating alone because of embarrassment over how much one is eating
- Feeling disgusted, depressed or extremely guilty after overeating
The good news is – There is help available!
At Sovereign Health of California, we have a wealth of experience in treating all forms of eating disorder – including binge eating disorder. We will design a treatment program, specifically tailored to meet the needs of the individual.
WE TREAT THE INDIVIDUAL – NOT THE DISORDER!
Every individual is different. Some people are seeking treatment for the first time, some have tried other treatment centers and relapsed; some will have underlying issues such as depression, anxiety, low self esteem, etc.
Before we admit a patient, we, at Sovereign Health, request extensive information from not only the sufferer, but from family and friends, in order to obtain a complete picture of the issues involved. We seek permission to contact any previous eating disorder treatment providers in order to gather additional information. The more complete the picture, the easier it will be to design a treatment program to meet the specific needs of the individual.
During this evaluation our experienced professionals will uncover any dual diagnosis issues or co-occurring disorders which may be contributing to the overall problem. Here, at Sovereign Health of California our experience in treating dual diagnosis is second to none.
Our patients stay in our comfortable, welcoming, gender specific residences, situated in the picturesque, coastal community of San Clemente, California, where they are encouraged to take part in various activities and therapies, such as meditation, exercise sessions at a local gym, art therapy, equine therapy, etc.
Our treatment programs combine these holistic therapies with more traditional, clinical treatment, in order to achieve long term successful recovery – and our ongoing aftercare program provides continued therapy and support as the patient transitions back into the community, armed with the skills and techniques necessary to live a normal and rewarding life.
We offer treatment to both men and women. So, to learn more about treatment and recovery at Sovereign Health of California, why not visit the 'What We Offer' page of our website. Alternatively, call us now! We have advisors available 24/7 to answer any question you may have with regard to Sovereign Health of California and all its treatment programs. Our success rate speaks for itself!
