Orthorexia treatment is often needed for those obsessed with only consuming foods that he or she deems healthy and avoiding those foods that he or she views as harmful. This specific type of eating disorder is one that can easily be mistaken for someone wanting to consistently eat healthily, however, when it is occurring, an individual can be causing more harm than good to his or her wellbeing.
It is common for someone who has orthorexia to shy away from specific foods, not because he or she does not want to eat junk food or consume something they do not like, but specifically because he or she strongly believes it will be harmful to do so. An individual with orthorexia is likely to avoid foods containing the following:
- Animal or dairy products
- Artificial flavors or colors
- Pesticides
- Fat
- Sugar
- Salt
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
Those who struggle with orthorexia should not be confused with people who strive to maintain a healthy diet. The major difference between those who eat healthily and those who have orthorexia is that those with this type of eating disorder struggle with obsessive behaviors surrounding their food consumption. Someone who is simply trying to eat well is not going to go to extreme lengths to ensure that what he or she is eating either has or does not have a specific ingredient in it, for example. The experienced professionals at our orthorexia treatment center can help you understand the root causes of this illness and how to effectively recover.
Signs and Symptoms of Orthorexia
Being obsessive about one’s food is absolutely a marker for orthorexia, however, it is merely just one of many different signs and symptoms that someone is grappling with this condition. Some of the most common symptoms of orthorexia, as described by the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) include the following:
- Compulsively reviewing food labels
- Marked concern about how healthy ingredients are
- Eliminating specific foods from one’s diet due to the belief that they are in some way unhealthy
- Only eating a small amount of foods that are considered healthy
- Abnormal interest in what other people are eating and if it is healthy or not
- Ruminating on a regular basis about what foods might be provided at places that he or she might need to eat
- Becoming distressed when the foods they deem healthy are not available to them
- Having body image problems
- Being obsessed with following the lifestyles of those who eat healthily (in their opinion) such as through Instagram, blogs, etc.
While the majority of the signs and symptoms associated with orthorexia are behavioral, these behaviors are what cause physical problems and additional negative effects. For example, someone with orthorexia can easily become malnourished due to cutting out specific foods in his or her life. He or she can also grapple with cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and endocrine system complications that can range from being uncomfortable to life-threatening. The only way to properly manage this eating disorder is by getting orthorexia treatment.
Orthorexia Treatment
While many people develop this eating disorder in response to wanting to be thinner, many others develop it because they are struggling with compulsive behaviors, the need to “escape” from difficult emotions, wanting to have high self-esteem, and/or attempting to create a sense of identity. Because orthorexia has such deep roots in one’s psychological health, our orthorexia treatment provides several different evidence-based therapies proven to treat those with this specific type of eating disorder. Consider the following:
- Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) – Dialectical behavioral therapy, which was originally developed to help treat symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD), is extremely beneficial in treating the symptoms of orthorexia. DBT helps individuals adopt skills such as mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness – all of which can help change the compulsive behaviors associated with this form of eating disorder.
- Psychotherapy – Working one-on-one with a therapist, an individual can participate in psychotherapy. This kind of treatment for orthorexia allows the individual to identify and address the underlying causes of the disorder and work towards finding new ways to heal and move forward so that it can be properly managed.
- Meditative therapy – A holistic form of our orthorexia treatment with a more spiritual twist is meditative therapy. Proven to be highly effective in helping individuals manage their emotions and moods, this form of therapy can teach an individual how to meditate. Meditation allows individuals to practice breathing techniques, become connected to the present moment, and manage desires to behave in a compulsive manner.
When therapy is provided, it is often highly effective for those who are participating in orthorexia treatment. However, sometimes, medication is also needed to help balance out one’s recovery.
It is very common for those with orthorexia to also grapple with symptoms of other mental health conditions, such as anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Both of these conditions can be treated with the use of anti-anxiety medications, such as Celexa, Zoloft, and Cymbalta. While these medications are most commonly used to treat depression, studies have shown that they are also effective in treating symptoms of anxiety when used as prescribed by a professional.
These services, plus several others, can be offered through our orthorexia treatment program. Depending on what level of care an individual requires, he or she might be a good fit for inpatient treatment, partial hospitalization, outpatient treatment, or a combination of these programs over time.
Recover Today Through Our Orthorexia Treatment Center
Being caught in the throes of an eating disorder as time-consuming as orthorexia is not only distressing, but it is also exhausting. If you are struggling with this condition, our orthorexia treatment can help.
There is no need to be ashamed of your condition. With the appropriate treatment and your dedication and hard work, you can begin to live a life that is healthy but in a way that is not extreme.
Do not allow one more day to go by where you continue to struggle with this illness. Get the help that you need right now by reaching out and making that call.
