When you use a prescription medication in a way other than that directed by a prescribing physician, then you are abusing that medication. This misuse can easily become an addiction with negative effects. People abuse prescription drugs for many reasons. Some of these include social pressure, experimenting with effects, to relieve stress, to feel high, or to increase alertness or concentration for work school. Because these drugs activate the reward center of the brain, you can become addicted to them and continue to use them even if the consequences for your life are serious.

The types of drugs that people commonly misuse include painkillers, stimulants, and sedatives. In fact, prescription drugs, after marijuana and alcohol, are the most commonly abused substances in the U.S. An estimated 52 million people have taken prescription drugs for a nonmedical reason at least once.

Everyone is susceptible, but prescription drug abuse is particularly common among young people. Risks also include having a mental illness, having past or present substance abuse problems, being exposed to peer pressure, and having access to prescription drugs. Though young people tend to abuse more commonly, older people who take multiple medications are also at risk.

Prescription Drugs Commonly Abused

Opioids (painkillers) such as oxycodone (Oxycontin) and hydrocodone (Vicodin).

• If a person is abusing opiods, they might experience sweating, confusion, slowed breathing, lower blood pressure, poor coordination, and depression. A person abusing opiods is at risk for choking, dangerously low blood pressure and breathing rate, and even could fall into a coma.

Anti-anxiety medications and sedatives used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders, such as alprazolam (Xanax) or zolpidem (Ambien).

• If a person is abusing sedatives, they may experience restlessness, irregular heartbeat, insomnia, high blood pressure, irritability, and weight loss. A person is at risk for memory loss, and overdose can lead to a coma or death.

Stimulants used to treat ADHD and sleep disorders like methylphenidate (Ritalin)

• If a person is abusing these medications, they may experience dizziness, poor judgment, lack of balance, drowsiness, and rapid eye movement. A person is at risk for heart problems, seizures, paranoia, and hallucinations.

Other symptoms of prescription drug abuse might include:

• Obtaining prescriptions from multiple doctors
• Changes in sleep or eating patterns
• Pretending to misplace prescriptions
• Sudden changes in mood
• Appearing high or sedated

The consequences of prescription drug abuse, in addition to the physical symptoms, include illegal drug use, car accidents, criminal actions, decreased performance at school and work, relationship problems, and other instances of poor judgment.

 Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention

To lower the risk of prescription drug abuse, follow directions on your medication. Never change the dosage without consulting with your doctor. Also take steps to understand your medication. You should know what effects to expect and which would be abnormal. Be sure to only take your medication. Never use another person’s medication, even if you have similar medical conditions. Whenever you’re prescribed a medication, you should communicate with your doctor. He or she should know your symptoms and what other medications you are taking to ensure you are prescribed what’s best for you. Also be sure to limit access to prescriptions for children and teens. If your child is taking medication, they should know it’s not okay to share it with others or to take without your supervision. You should also talk to them about the dangers of abusing the medication.

Treatment Options

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is a major part of prescription drug abuse treatment. Therapy can address mental health and relationship issues that contributed to the addiction. It also provides psychoeducation about addiction and how to prevent it from reoccurring. Your doctor or a mental health professional may also recommend peer support groups, which can be a valuable resource for those struggling with addiction. Other supports include friends and family, religious organizations or churches, and employee assistance programs.

When detoxing from prescription drugs, you should consult with a doctor. Side effects of withdrawal can be serious and not overlooked. Sometimes medication may be used to reduce symptoms, such as buprenorphine for opioid withdrawal. Even if you don’t need medication for withdrawals, it’s important to consult with physician to keep track of symptoms and to ensure you are getting proper sleep and nutrition.

Remember, you have a prescription drug abuse problem, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor. You might feel embarrassed, but they are there to help, and the sooner you can deal with the problem, the more you can prevent serious consequences. Before your appointment, make a list of all the medications you take, your symptoms, and key stressors in your life.

What steps can you take today to prevent and address prescription drug abuse? You’re never alone, and the first step starts with asking for help.

Millions of Americans, in fact 22.5 million, needed treatment for drug or alcohol use disorders in 2014. Addiction is a well-researched field, with multiple treatment avenues available for those who are ready to ask for the help they need and want to lead a healthier life. But it also means that treatment options can feel overwhelming at first glance.

How do I know I have an addiction?

Technically the term “addiction” isn’t used anymore when it comes to getting a diagnosis. In the most recent edition Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, drug and alcohol addiction are called “use disorders” (i.e. Alcohol Use Disorder; Opioid Use Disorder). The three most common symptoms of a use disorder include needing more of the substance over time to achieve the same effect, experiencing withdrawal symptoms when stopping use, and being unable to quit even when you know there is a big problem.

Use disorders can range from mild to severe, depending on the number of symptoms you have. These symptoms include:

• Being incapable of limiting drug or alcohol use.
• Making unsuccessful attempts to curtail use.
• Spending much time using or obtaining the substance.
• Experiencing cravings to use.
• Falling behind in work, school, or family responsibilities due to use.
• Continuing use even when aware of the problems it causes.
• Abandoning former interests or hobbies to engage in use.
• Drinking alcohol or using drugs in unsafe situations, such as driving.
• Requiring more of the substance to achieve the same effect.

What should be my first step towards recovery?

Asking for help gives you the best chance in changing the pattern of addiction. Going it alone rarely works, and isolating will only set you up for relapse. Getting help can look like talking to your doctor, a mental health professional, or a loved one. You can also enlist the support of strangers by attending a support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous and asking for local recommendations. Addiction is common, so never be silent for fear that you still shock your doctor or counselor. Their job is to help you take that next step.

Do I need to see a doctor or a mental health professional?

Yes. They will respect your confidentiality, so you should feel free to share all information about your patterns of use. A doctor or mental health professional can evaluate you to determine whether you meet the criteria for a use disorder. Drinking and drug use can cause serious damage to your body, so it’s important to get checked out by a doctor. He or she will conduct a physical exam and other necessary tests. When you go to your appointment, share with your doctor any symptoms you’ve experienced, your habits of use, and other major stressful life events that have occurred recently. The more information you can give them, the better care you will receive.

How can I get help for a loved one with an addiction?

First, understand that recovery requires a willingness to change. However, that doesn’t mean you have to wait until things hit rock bottom to approach your loved one about their harmful behavior. If you’re considering planning an intervention or approaching your loved one about the addiction, always talk with a professional first about how to avoid harm. They may recommend that they be in the room with you to have the difficult conversations. If your loved one isn’t ready to change, self-help groups like Al-Anon also can provide emotional support and guidance for you and your family.

What are the characteristics in an excellent treatment program?

For drug and alcohol use disorders, there are a variety of treatment options. How do you know which is best for you? A stellar treatment program will:

• Offer you detoxification support.
• Address all the person’s needs that the addiction impacts.
• Offer you counseling and behavioral support.
• Consider medication as an option.
• Evaluate you for other mental health concerns.
• Educate you about healthy coping skills and habits.
• Provide follow-up services to prevent future use.

What will happen once I decide to seek treatment?

There are three major components to quitting drug and alcohol use. The first is detoxification, where a person abstains from using so that the substance can leave their body. Medication is often prescribed during this stage to reduce the intensity of symptoms. The second step involves seeking treatment, which might include additional medications, counseling, and evaluation of other mental health problems. Treatment occurs in outpatient or inpatient programs. Finally, you will need to find support for the long-term to prevent relapsing on the substance.

Should I choose inpatient or outpatient treatment?

Depending on the resources available, what your health insurance is willing to cover, the intensity of the disorder, and the type of use disorder, mental health professionals may suggest inpatient or outpatient behavioral health treatment.

Inpatient treatment – Inpatient programs are 24-7 facilities that provide housing, medical care, and therapy for those with severe addictions. Over half of people who receive treatment for drug or alcohol use disorders participate in inpatient treatment. Inpatient treatment programs include short-term detox centers, long-term programs which last anywhere from a few weeks to a year, or recovery programs which provide housing to bridge the transition to independent living. Long-term programs are often recommended for those with an additional mental illness diagnosis who require extra support or persons with a criminal history.

Outpatient treatment – Outpatient treatment can range from a individual therapy session once a week to more intensive day programs that offer individual and group therapy, psychoeducational classes, and other activities. The distinguishing factor is that outpatient treatment is not 24-7 and does not always provide onsite medical care. Individuals may transition to outpatient treatment from detox centers or longer inpatient treatment programs.

What types of therapy have been proven to work?

Many types of therapy and multiple behavioral interventions have proven effective in treating addiction. The most commonly used therapy is cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps people evaluate and correct negative thought patterns and behaviors that lead to addiction. Behavioral therapy such as REBT can provide positive reinforcement strategies that encourage continuing with sobriety. Group therapy has also proven effective when it happens concurrently with individual counseling. Multidimensional family therapy examines how improving the functioning of a family system can reduce the triggers of drug and alcohol abuse.

An increasingly common tool used in treatment addiction is called motivational interviewing (also known as MI). Used by doctors, therapists, and other health professionals, motivational interviewing is a conversational technique that helps a person assesses their readiness to stop the behavior and seek treatment. Rather than trying to convince a person to change a habit, MI acknowledges that there are good things and bad things about using drugs and alcohol and not using them. This helps an individual become more comfortable with moving towards making a permanent change.

Will I be prescribed medication?

Medication alone can’t cure drug and alcohol use disorders, but it can prove extremely effective in reducing the symptoms of withdrawal and the possibility of relapse. Pharmacotherapy can also help reduce the symptoms of other mental illnesses, such as anxiety and depression, that promote drug and alcohol use. Medications are commonly prescribed for those addicted to opioids (including prescriptions drugs and heroin) and alcohol.

Opioid use medications include methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Methadone and buprenorphine work to reduce cravings and the intensity of withdrawal symptoms, and naltrexone keeps opioids from having their usual effect in the brain. While these medications do not cure the addiction, they help prepare an individual for therapy and evaluating what changes can help them maintain sobriety.

Alcohol use medications include naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram. Acamprosate diminishes symptoms of withdrawal such as feelings of depression or anxiety, thereby reducing the chance of relapse. Disulfiram (also known as Antabuse) produces unfavorable physical reactions when someone drinks alcohol, such as nausea and facial redness.

What lifestyle changes can I make to prevent relapse?

Once you leave a treatment program, you might find that your old triggers will be waiting on the doorstep when you get home. It’s important to explain to your friends and family that you’re serious about recovery. Develop relationships that aren’t based on drinking or using drugs. Know when and where support groups meet in your neighborhood. Maintain a distance from people, places, and events that promote old habits. Most people with use disorders experience relapse. While a relapse might be upsetting, it is no excuse to give up hope.

Living a healthier life can also lift your mood, give you energy, and reduce the cravings for alcohol or drugs. Getting a proper night’s rest, exercising regularly, and coping with stress effectively can make a huge difference. Relaxation techniques such as mindfulness and yoga can also prove instrumental in recovery.

Can alcohol and drug use disorders really be treated?

Yes! Be aware however, that detox is just the first step. Addiction is chronic, meaning that it is a lifelong challenge. Stressful events, anxiety, depression, and other factors can trigger a relapse, so most people need long-term support for their decision to quit. Maybe you’ll always crave the substance, or maybe you won’t, but you can control what goes into your body. Remember, a day where you don’t use is better than one that you do. Make the choice to start your recovery today.

A Guide to an Emotionally Painful Obsession – BDD

What is It?

We all have that one imperfection we wish we could change – a crooked tooth, a large nose, acne-prone skin, eyes that are too narrow, a flabby stomach, and the list goes on. However, we accept it and carry on with our daily lives – it’s more of an annoyance than a debilitating thought. If you suffer from body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), you become fixated on that imperfection – obsessed, really – until it becomes the only thing you see when you look in the mirror. These obsessive and controlling thoughts can lead you to spend exorbitant amounts of time trying to cover or conceal the flaw, to seek verbal approval of your looks, even though you are not likely to believe what people tell you, to socially withdraw, and to have thoughts of suicide.

Body dysmorphic disorder, also known as dysmorphophobia, is a common affliction, affecting approximately 1.7% to 2.4% of the population, with roughly equal distribution among men and women. The disorder usually first surfaces in adolescence and is characterized not only by obsessive thinking about a flaw that is usually imagined or if present, hardly noticeable to the general population, but also characterized by compulsive checking of the perceived flaw (for example, spending lots of time in front of the mirror), engaging in behaviors to minimize the appearance of the perceived flaw (i.e., covering it up with makeup or an article of clothing), and hiding the disorder from others due to fear of social stigma. Whereas most individuals might be annoyed by a real or imagined physical imperfection, if you are suffering from body dysmorphic disorder, you are likely spending hours and hours a day obsessing over it, taking excessive precautions to hide from others (i.e., social isolation) so others will not notice the perceived flaw, exercising excessively, and even undergoing drastic plastic surgery to try to “fix” the flaw, usually with non-satisfactory results. The most common places you are likely to perceive a flaw if you are suffering from BDD is your hair, skin, stomach, nose, or chest. Although the most common, this list is not exhaustive and a perceived flaw can happen anywhere on the body.

Body dysmorphic disorder is similar to both obsessive-compulsive disorder and eating disorders, but presents itself slightly differently. If you have an eating disorder, you are preoccupied by your overall weight and body shape, where if you suffer from body dysmorphic disorder, you are preoccupied with one specific body part. With obsessive-compulsive disorder, you may suffer from recurrent thoughts, fears, or images you have no control over. The anxiety that results from these thoughts usually leads to the performance of rituals or routines (known as compulsions). When you have BDD, the obsession with the perceived flaw or defect leads to ritualistic behaviors (e.g., skin picking) and the obsession over the flaw leads to social, work, or home functioning impairment. One study found that24% of individuals with BDD also suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder.

What are the Symptoms?

There are many signs and symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder – and they widely vary from person to person. As mentioned above, if you are suffering from BDD, you likely spend an excessive amount of time obsessing over a perceived flaw on a specific body part. Then, compulsively exhibit any number of behaviors to try to rid yourself of the defect.

If you are experiencing BDD, some of the most common body parts that you may fixate on are:

• Moles and freckles (especially related to their size – too large or too noticeable)
• Minor scars or aberrations
• Acne
• Facial and body hair
• Too little hair on head (e.g., balding or hair thinning)
• Size and shape of genitalia
• Size of breasts
• Muscle size (belief that the muscles are too small – also known as muscular dysmorphia)
• Size, shape, and/or symmetry of the face or another body part

Individuals with BDD are likely to exhibit one or many of the following behaviors or compulsions:

• Repetitive checking of a real or imagined flaw in the mirror
• Avoidance of mirrors
• Avoidance of having your picture taken
• Repetitive grooming activities (e.g., combing hair, shaving)
• Repetitive touching, checking, or measuring perceived flaw (minor or imagined)
• Wearing excessive makeup or growing a beard to cover up perceived flaw (minor or imagined)
• Wearing certain types of clothing (e.g., hats, scarves) to cover up perceived flaw (minor or imagined)
• Making multiple doctor visits, especially to dermatologists
• Undergoing multiple medical procedures (e.g., plastic surgeries) to try to eradicate or minimize the perceived flaw (minor or imagined) – usually resulting in unsatisfactory results
• Frequent thoughts about your appearance (hours per day)
• Repeatedly asking others for their verbal opinion of how you look (i.e., reassurance seeking) – not believing them when they say you look great
• Compulsive skin picking, using fingernails or tweezer to remove unwanted hair or blemishes
• Leaving the house less often or only going out at night to try to camouflage your appearance in the darkness
• Keeping obsessions and compulsions secret for fear of social stigma
• Emotional problems, including depression, feelings of disgust, low self-esteem, and anxiety
• Avoidance of social situations
• Belief that others take special notice of your perceived flaw in a negative way
• Excessive exercise
• Changing clothes frequently and excessively

How is it Diagnosed and What Causes It?

Unfortunately, body dysmorphic disorder is not high on many general practitioners’ and other clinicians’ radars and may go undiagnosed or unnoticed. This is especially true since most individuals with BDD hide their obsessions and compulsions from the general public so well. Often times, body dysmorphia is misdiagnosed as social phobia or major depressive disorder. One red flag though is repetitive plastic surgery for the same or multiple perceived physical defects. A trained clinician will diagnose BDD – beginning with a health history and a physical exam. If body dysmorphic disorder is suspected, you are likely to be sent to a mental health professional who will make a diagnosis based on his or her assessment of your attitude, behaviors, and symptoms.

So, you have been diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder. You may be asking yourself, how did I end up with this? What caused it? All very good and likely questions. Mental health professionals and researchers have not found the one specific cause of BDD. But, they point out that like many other mental health disorders, it’s likely due to a number of causes. Brain differences, genes, and the environment are the likely culprits. Your risks of having to cope with BDD are heightened if you have biological relatives with BDD, experienced negative childhood situations (e.g., bullying or teasing), exhibit certain personality traits, such as low self-esteem, experience societal pressures to be “pretty” or “beautiful,” and if you suffer from another psychiatric disorder, such as anxiety or depression.

How is it Treated?

The two most common treatment options for body dysmorphic disorder is medication and therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy has been found to be the most effective at treating BDD and a certain type of antidepressants have also been shown to help individuals coping with the disorder.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a coping technique that teaches individuals suffering from body dysmorphia how to recognize irrational thoughts and change negative thinking patterns. You then are instructed on how to take those negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. Exposure and response prevention are two key processes involved in cognitive-behavioral therapy. Exposure helps individuals experiencing BDD confront situations that cause irrational fear (e.g., going out in public with the perceived flaw uncovered). Response prevention teaches you how to resist the urge to cover up your perceived flaw with makeup or clothing, how to stop seeking reassurance from others about your appearance, and how to decrease time spent repeatedly checking your appearance.

Antidepressants, more specifically, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can also be prescribed to individuals living with body dysmorphic disorder as they help relieve the obsessive and compulsive thoughts and behaviors associated with the disorder. These are effective, in part, because it is believed that a partial cause of body dysmorphia is due to problems related to the brain chemical serotonin. Your doctor may prescribe you a gradual dose of antidepressants to make sure you tolerate the medication and the potential side effects. In some situations, you may also be prescribed an antipsychotic drug in addition to an antidepressant, especially if you are experiencing delusions related to your BDD diagnosis.

To get the most out of treatment, be sure to do the following:

• Don’t skip any therapy sessions, even if you don’t feel like talking
• Take your medication as directed – even if you feel fine – there is a chance that your symptoms may return once you stop taking the medication and you could even experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking your medication suddenly
• Educate yourself about your condition – learn all you can about the disorder and how it affects your body
• Pay attention to warning signs and certain triggers that enhance your symptoms – speak about these with your therapist and doctor
• Be more active – physical activity can help ease many of the symptoms associated with body dysmorphic disorder, including anxiety and depression
• Avoid drugs and alcohol – they can interact with your medication and worsen mental illness symptoms
• Don’t skip regular, routine health checkups

Destructive Disorder

Your eating behaviors will change throughout your entire life. Part of transitioning into adulthood involves learning how to be healthy without overdoing it. You also have to figure out how to love your body rather than be ashamed of it. For many people, this is no simple task.

When damaging eating behaviors and negative thoughts become persistent, they can turn into eating disorders. Up to 30 million people in the United States suffer from an eating disorder. These disorders are characterized by a lack of control over eating habits, which can include eating very small or very large amounts, and a hyper focus on your weight and body shape.

Eating Disorder Research

Sadly the funding dedicated to research of eating disorders is a small fraction of that dedicated to other conditions. This despite the prevalence of eating disorder cases continuing rise year after year for decades.

Now take a look at how much more prevalent eating disorders are versus those other conditions drawing 10 times as much research funding:

How can an eating disorder impact my life?

In addition to disrupting your day-to-day activities, an eating disorder can affect your mental and emotional health. You might find yourself feeling more anxious about the number of calories you consume or ashamed about your weight. You may start to isolate from friends and family who express concerns about your health, which can lead to depression.

The physical impact of an eating disorder can be significant. Over time, damaging eating behaviors can affect your digestion, your bones, your skin, teeth, and your heart’s functioning. Of any mental illness, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate. Persons with anorexia are 18 times more likely to die that their peers, so getting treatment as early as possible when behaviors appears is essential.

Who is at risk for an eating disorder?

Eating disorders most often occur during adolescence and young adulthood, but children and older adults can also develop them. Though women more frequently experience symptoms, men are also at risk. With some men, however, there may be a hyper focus on gaining muscle size rather than losing weight.

Your genes, the environment, societal norms, and your psychological health also play a role. People with other behavioral health challenges such as depression, anxiety, or drug and alcohol use are also more likely to engage in unhealthy eating behaviors. High stress situations and activities that encourage a stricter diet (such as sports, dancing, modeling) might also put you at higher risk.

What are the types of eating disorders?

There are many types of eating disorders, but the three most common diagnoses are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia is a life-threatening disorder that can occur when people who appear underweight to everyone else see themselves as overweight. A person with anorexia will begin to obsess over the details of their food intake and carefully control their weight. Major symptoms might include the following:

• Unhealthy body weight
• Fear of gaining weight
• Restrictive eating habits
• Distorted perception of body shape
• Extreme efforts to control weight
• Lack of menstruation among females

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia can occur when an individual frequently eats large amounts of food and then purges the food. Purging can occur through forced vomiting or the use of laxatives or diuretics, or instead of purging, the individual may compensate for the overeating by excessively exercising or fasting for an extended amount of time. The criteria for a diagnosis of Bulimia include:

• Episodes of binging and purging
• Feeling that you can’t control your overeating
• Restrictive eating that leads to binging and purging
• Preoccupation with your weight
• Feeling ashamed about binging and purging
• Keeping purging habits a secret

Binge-Eating Disorder

Binge eating becomes a disorder when a person loses control over their eating. But unlike bulimia nervosa, there is no purging or fasting that occurs afterwards. People with binge-eating disorder often struggle with their weight and feelings of shame or guilt about the behavior. Caught in a cycle, the emotions often reinforce the binging. Symptoms include:

• Lack of control overeating
• Feeling guilty or ashamed of overeating
• Lack of purging followed by binge eating
• Eating more food than you intended
• Hiding your overeating from others

Other Eating Disorders

There are several other less common eating disorders. Rumination disorder occurs when a person consistently regurgitates food after eating, and pica is a disorder where a person persistently ingests nonfood items. Both of these disorders are more common among people with intellectual disabilities and autism. To get more information about them, talk to your doctor.

How do I know if a friend or family member has an eating disorder?

Only a physician or mental health professional can give a diagnosis, but here are some signs you may observe if your loved one is struggling with eating habits.

• Eating in secret or leaving meals to go to the bathroom
• Expressing guilt about eating habits
• Constantly talking about weight or losing weight
• Being extremely focused on eating healthy
• Consistently skipping meals
• Exercising excessively
• Frequently checking the mirror or scale
• Using dietary supplements or laxatives

How will I know if I need treatment?

If you or your loved have any concerns about your eating behaviors, then you should always err on the side of caution and talk to your doctor. It may not feel serious to you, but stepping in at the right moment to ask for help can prevent the behaviors from escalating and becoming life threatening. However, there is always hope for change. Even if you’ve been struggling with your eating for years, it is never too late to be brave and seek treatment.

How do I get the best help?

Make an appointment with your primary care physician or a mental health professional as soon as possible. To prepare for your appointment, make a list of any eating, purging, or exercising habits that concern you, and how frequently you engage in them. This can help you feel more prepared and ready to be honest with yourself and your physician the day of your appointment. You might also want to write down questions you have from your doctor and pertinent medical information.

Finally, if you can, jot down a few reasons why you feel motivated to take care of your mental and physical health. You can turn to these reasons if you begin to feel too afraid or embarrassed to take the next step.

What will happen at the doctor’s office?

If you go to the doctor, he or she may ask you about your eating and exercising habits, your family’s medical history, and your thoughts about your body image. The doctor may complete a physical exam as well to rule out other causes. You may also receive a referral to a mental health professional who can conduct a more in-depth assessment and determine whether you fit the criteria for a diagnosis. You should always feel free to jump in and ask any questions you have about treatment options and the best treatment options.

What can I do to protect my child from unhealthy eating habits?

Whether they realize it or not, parents have a significant amount of influence over their child’s behavior. While it’s important to encourage your child to eat healthy foods, you shouldn’t talk excessively about dieting or negatively about your own body image in front of them. Also, be aware of Internet content they might see that promotes anorexia as a lifestyle. If you’re not sure how to have a conversation with your son or daughter about their negative eating behaviors, talk to their doctor about warning signs and communication strategies.

What treatment options are available?

There are multiple treatment options for eating disorders, depending on the nature and severity of the symptoms. Most treatment recommendations however, include some type of psychotherapy and nutrition education.

Psychotherapy – also known as talk therapy or counseling, psychotherapy can help you examine thoughts and behaviors that lead to negative body image and eating behaviors. Therapy options might include cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help you examine irrational thoughts about your body and self-image and replace unhealthy ways of coping with healthier ones.

Some mental health professionals also recommend family therapy, because they have found that improving family dynamics, reducing family stress, and improving communication can reduce stress that influences eating disorders, particularly among teenagers and children.

Nutritional education – For people who are extremely underweight, a major goal of treatment will be to help an individual return to a healthy body weight. All individuals, however, can benefit from learning the basics of a healthy diet and help them develop safe, and healthy eating habits. Doctors, nurses, and nutritionists can help you with these goals.

In-patient treatment – A doctor may recommend in-patient treatment if malnutrition or other complications are serious or even life threatening. In-patient care is more intensive, as a patient can receive round the clock care, nutritional interventions, and individual counseling to promote good mental and physical health.

Medication – Medication is available to reduce the urge to binge eat or purge food. Some people find that antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication can also assist with stress and symptoms that promote unhealthy eating habits. While no medication can cure an eating disorder, it’s important to talk with your doctor about whether this option might be a valuable intervention.

What can I do today about my damaging eating behaviors?

Today you can make the commitment to give others the opportunity to support you on your journey towards feeling healthy and whole again. Lean on your support network, even if they can’t completely understand what the experience is like. Lean on your doctor and mental health professionals who can give you the best care that you need. Your life may not change overnight, but with the right first steps and that first phone call, you can trust that someday you’ll look in the mirror and feel proud. Or better yet, you won’t even feel the need to look in the mirror at all.