Body Image Concerns
Treatment For Body Dysmorphia and Eating Disorders
We live in a day and age where there’s more pressure put on the way we appear than ever before. Movie stars on the big screen and models on the catwalk are one thing, but we now also interact with our peers in an especially high touch way across social media platforms. With everyone, including the average joes, putting their best foot forward at all times, body dysmorphia and eating disorders are becoming more and more prevalent. While these conditions pertain to the body, they are very much rooted in the mind, which makes them all the more challenging to address. In these conditions, what physically exists does not align with what we see which leads to a plethora of symptoms that prevent you from feeling your best. Our body dysmorphia and eating disorder experts take a highly strategic approach to treating these disorders and helping patients find common ground between what they see and what they truly are.
Let’s dive into how Wellington Counseling Group treats body dysmorphia and eating disorders in Chicago.
Understanding Body Dysmorphia
Body dysmorphia, or body dysmorphic disorder, is a mental health condition in which the patient develops an obsession with one or more perceived defects or flaws in their appearance. Affected patients become intensely focused on their appearance, which often leads to compulsive behaviors like grooming, checking themselves in the mirror, or seeking reassurance from peers. In some cases, cosmetic procedures or disordered eating behaviors can offer some minor, yet fleeting relief from the symptoms of body dysmorphia, but ultimately, without effective treatment on the psychological imbalances, the discontent with one’s body will return.
How Do Eating Disorders Relate To Body Image Concerns?
The relationship between the mind and the body is especially complex. In many cases, body image distress and eating disorders are related, but every patient who struggles with an eating disorder does not necessarily suffer from poor body image.
Therapy For Body Dysmorphia and Eating Disorders
The disconnect between body image concerns and eating disorders is why uncovering the underlying causes of the symptoms is so essential to effective treatment. We take assessment very seriously when patients come to us reporting body image issues or suspecting they have eating disorders. At Wellington Counseling Group, we have an in-depth multi-step treatment process for body dysmorphia and eating disorders.
How WCG Approaches Treatment For Body Dysmorphia and Eating Disorders
When working with a patient who struggles with symptoms of body dysmorphia and/or an eating disorder, the first thing our team of specialists will do is perform an initial evaluation. During this evaluation, we’re assessing your propensity for an eating disorder, as well as your willingness to address your symptoms. We are looking at your history of the problem as well as the known triggers for the unwanted behaviors around the disorder.
But, identifying the problem is only the first step towards achieving the solution. You must be ready to address your triggers and make changes in order to be successful in learning to manage body dysmorphia, eating disorders, and other related conditions.
If you’re not ready to address the symptoms, then you’ll find that even the most effective therapeutic solutions will be for naught. Our team of professionals will help guide you into a space where treatment can make a lasting impact. Additionally, we’ll help you set goals by which we can measure your progress.
