One in four teens and young adults and women will struggle with weight, eating and body image issues at some time in their lives. Most women will describe their view of self and their body as a burden and something they have just learned to tolerate. Often teens and adults have intense worries about their weight, shape, and how others see them. We live in a society where there is intense pressure to be a “perfect size”. The age of starting into disordered eating and obsessive exercise is younger and extends through adulthood and even to the elderly.
However, it doesn’t have to be like this. With the guidance and support of therapy, you can feel better about yourself. You can let go of the pressure to be one size. You can learn to accept and even love the body that you have. This is what counseling is about: stopping the years of self-hate and truly connecting with your self and your body. It takes time to undo previous habits and shift your thoughts and feelings towards empathy and compassion for yourself. At first that may feel like an impossible goal, and yet we see people attain it.
Eating disorder recovery is also about changing your behaviors and actions around food and exercise. This will take time to build new awareness so you can learn to respond to internal signals for eating and movement. Many women will use disordered eating behaviors including binging, purging, restricting, avoidance, diet pills, and excessive exercise to control their weight and shape. These behaviors come with significant dysregulation of your emotions, often intense fears, and constant worry. We want to help you change all of that and begin to live in peace with your body, instead of feeling like you are fighting a losing battle with yourself.
Therapy is supportive, non-judgmental and compassionate. We work with you to build a team surrounding you, including a dietician, your primary care physician, and support groups. We will hold the belief for you that healing and recovery is possible. This is hard work….and we can help you find freedom.
Call or text (331)229-3123 today, or email help@flourishinglivescounseling.com
