Food Restricting and Eating Disorders
Are you struggling with a negative relationship with food?
Please, know that there is help for this.
I am not saying I have a magic wand to wave away this very complex problem. But there are ways to significantly impact some of the factors that contribute to restricting.
Certainly, counseling or talk therapy can be a big part of dealing with this and I highly recommend accessing that type of support.
What I want you to know is that the root of your struggle may be due to physical issues that might be easier to address than you think.
I do not mean in any way to make light of the subject. It is very serious and can be life threatening. And unfortunately, more often than not women live with it in secret.
The first thing I like to address with women is that each of us has value and deserves to take up space. You deserve to be here and to be nourished, with food as well as with love and positive attention. You have as much value as any other person. It is important for you to say this to yourself, perhaps over and over. Many women benefit from saying it out loud to themselves.
“I am home. I have arrived. I am right where I belong. I have value and I deserve love and nourishment. I will love and nourish myself.”
We are often our own worst enemy, criticizing and shaming ourselves in ways we would never treat a friend. Why do we do this?
The answer is multifaceted but a piece of the puzzle can be nutrient deficiency. There are certain situations in which an individual binds up necessary nutrients, rendering them unavailable for use by the body. Over time a deficiency occurs and symptoms develop.
One such syndrome is pyroluria. Trudy Scott talks about it in depth in her book, The Anti-anxiety Food Solution. A brief questionnaire can help determine if simply supplementing with zinc, magnesium and particular B vitamins may rock your world, in a good way.
Another questionnaire, also by Trudy Scott, assesses various amino acid deficiencies. You might be suffering from low GABA, low serotonin, low endorphins or low catecholemines for example. Careful supplementation with the appropriate amino acid can be life changing, eliminating excessive self-criticism and overly controlling, obsessive behaviors.
Other factors such as poor methylation, food sensitivities and poor gut health can contribute to mood disorders like depression, bipolar, and anxiety which can influence eating behaviors too.
So, the moral of the story is that:
It is worthwhile to address the mental and emotional aspects of eating disorders and restricted eating.
I recommend you also consult someone such as myself who can help you correct underlying physical factors. It can be a game changer.
Get in touch if you would like to talk about your personal situation.