Q: I think I may have an EATING DISORDER. How do I know for sure?
A: Some of the Symptoms of an eating disorder are:

• self-induced vomiting on a regular basis
• thoughts about "feeling fat"
• fear of gaining weight
• feelings of loss of control when eating
• thoughts that weight determines one's self-esteem or obsession with body-image
• feeling of guilt, shame or embarassment after eating
• sneaking food, eating large amounts of food in a short period of time or repeated
• attempts at dieting
• restrictive eating or strict dieting
• laxative or diurectic abuse
• eating to relieve stress or depression or eating when not hungry
• depression
• low body weight or gastrointestinal complaints
• menstrual irregularities

A word of caution: these things by themselves do not indicate the presence of an eating disorder. However, several of these in combination or a lack of control to stop any of the above, could indicate an eating disorder.

Q: What is an EATING DISORDER?
A: There are many factors which contribute to an eating disorder. Often, a eating disorder can be viewed as a survival mechanism or a coping skill. Some of the underlying issues that are associated with an eating disorder include, low self-esteem, depression, feelings of loss of control, abuse or victimization, feelings of worthlessness, identity concerns, and an inability to cope with emotions. The practice of an eating disorder may be an expression of something that the individual has found no other way of expressing.
Eating Disorders are ususally divided into three categories: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Compulsive Overeating.

Anorexia Nervosa - Anorexia is a disorder where the main characteristic
is the restriction of food and the refusal to maintain a minimal normal body weight. Any actual or perceived weight gain is met with intense fear and is often experienced as body image distortions. Those areas of the body usually associated with sexuality of maturity such as the buttocks, hips, thighs and breasts are visualized as being fat. In the obsessive pursuit of thinness, anorexics participate in restrictive dieting, compulsive exercise, and laxative and diurectic abuse. Weight loss is sometimes can be so servere that there is a loss of menses. If Anorexia Nervosa is left untreated, it can be fatal.

Bulimia Nervosa - Bulimia is characterized by an addictive binge-purge cycle. The bulimic eats compulsively and then purges through self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, diuretics , diets, excessive exercise or other compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain. The binges usually consist of eating a large amount of food in a short period of time and usually in secret. Bulimics are usually obsessed with their bodya shape and weight. Like Anorexia, Bulimia can be fatal if untreated.

Compulsive Overeating - Compulsive overeaters are usually caught in a cycle of binge eating and depression. They often use food as a way to cope with their feelings. Usually, binge eating temporarily relieves the stress of dealing with feelings, but is unfortunately followed by feelings of guilt, shame, disgust, and depression. The overeating usually occurs in secret. The overeater will tend to eat normally or restrictively in public but then make up for eating less by bingeing in secret. Overeaters usually determine their self-worth by their weight or body shape and are constantly unhappy with their weight. Medical complications can be servere and even life-threatening for the compulsive overeater.

Q: I have heard that often an EATING DISORDER is due to abuse of some sort. Is this true?
A: Yes. Research indicates that over 80% of people with an eating disorder have also been abused in some ways, often sexually abused. In some cases, an eating disorder serves as a coping mechanism for the abuse. For compulsive overeaters, they unconsiously may be trying to make themselves larger to shield themselves from more abuse, or to make themselves less "attractive" ( which actually is not a reason sexual abuse occurs). Anorexics and Bulimics may unconsiously be trying to make themselves smaller, losing their sexual characteristics (breasts, hips, etc.) and thereby ridding themselves of a sexual identity. For some survivors of abuse, binging, purging and starvation may serve as control over their bodies where they had none before.

Sometimes, an eating disorder is a way to "punish" ones self for being abused. Often vicitms/survivors view what has happened to them as their fault because they could not stop it from occurring or because they did not tell anyone that it was happened or even that it felt good while it was happening. So, punishing one's body is, in her/his mind, justified and even necessary.

Q: I think my friend has an EATING DISORDER. What can I do?
A: Understand that it is not your fault. An eating disorder is a disease. Eating disorders are not caused by family , friends or even the individual who is experiencing it. You did not cause it, nor can you stop it.

The eating disorder could be viewed as a coping skill for something that is going on or has gone on in the person's life. It may be an expression of something the individual has no other way of expressing.

You may be the one who has to initiate the conversation about the person's eating disorder. Sometimes the person with the disorder feels afraid, ashamed, unsafe or as if they do not deserve any help. You do not have to agree with the person's behavior in order to listen to them in a non-judgemental way. It could be healing for the person to share this information with someone else and not feel judged. Acknowledgement, acceptance (of the person, not the behavior) and understanding can be very beneficial.

Be honest with the person about how about what she/he has been doing to her/himself. Use "I" statements while talking. For instance, "I feel scared that you might become really ill and die." Or, "I feel really angry because I don't know how to help you."

Focus on more than just the "physical" issue. The disorder stems from emotional issues and pain. Ask them if they want to talk about emotional issues as well. Be prepared for what you may hear them say. Recovery from an eating disorder takes time. It did not develop overnight and nor will recovery.

Finally, offer them the opportunity to find professional help. Offer to accompany them to a physician and a counselor. Then, consider whether you need help and support for yourself. Remember, an eating disorder does not just effect the person who is experiencing it, but everyone in his/her life.

Q: Is there help available for persons with an EATING DISORDER and/ or their friends on campus at Greenville College?
A: Yes. The three campus counselors are available and able to help. Call 6810 to schedule an appointment. All services provided by the counselors are absolutely confidential - no one need know that you are attending sessions.