21st February 2020

This month marks the return of Eating Disorders Awareness Week. It has been reported that 1.25 million people are living with an eating disorder right now. Living with an eating disorder can feel like living in a prison; the physical effects are sometimes plain to see but the torture of constant food obsession, negative self-talk, isolation and playing a game of cat and mouse with control is often what brings a client to seek treatment in the Disordered Eating Group. 

At The Living Room we encourage clients to take a closer look at their relationships with food. After time in treatment, they soon discover that although arresting the physical part of this illness is vitally important, recovery is an inside job. 

We often show clients The Iceberg Theory, well known in addiction treatment. Many clients enter treatment with the visible symptoms of their primary addiction, much like the tip of an iceberg, which has brought them so much pain and ultimately to a place of seeking help and an admission they cannot recover alone. This starts with food for disordered eating clients, but often crosses into other behavioural and substance addictions. Once a problem has been identified and there is a willingness to get better; they can explore below the surface of the water and look at why they are using food to change the way they feel, discover the tools necessary to make changes and begin their personal journey of recovery. 

The Disordered Eating Group has provided treatment for clients to achieve recovery whether they restrict, purge, binge or have a combination of all these symptoms. As professionals, we are continually inspired by the courage, tenacity and progress of each individual client. At The Living Room, we are privileged to play our part in Eating Disorders Awareness Week by enabling clients to break free from the prison of an eating disorder and live a better life. Recovery isn't always easy, but it's always worth it.        

Olivia and Max - The Living Room Counsellors