Eating Disorders

Eating disorders aren’t a lifestyle choice but mental health conditions that affect your physical and emotional well-being. Lawrence Abah, PMHNP-BC, Pauline Bao Ling Soh, PA, and the team at Holistic Behavioral & TMS Therapy in Aurora and Chicago, Illinois, specialize in managing eating disorders, offering innovative treatments to help you attain mental wellness. For expert care and support, call or schedule an appointment online today. Telepsychiatry visits are also available.

What are eating disorders?

Eating disorders are behavioral conditions that cause changes in eating behaviors and distressing thoughts and emotions about food, eating, and body image. Eating disorders are serious health conditions because they affect your physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being.

Holistic Behavioral & TMS Therapy is a psychiatry practice that specializes in managing eating disorders.

What are the types of eating disorders?

There are many types of eating disorders. Each type causes different behaviors around food and eating. Some of the more common eating disorders include:

Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder in which people severely restrict food intake for fear of weight gain, even though they’re underweight.

Bulimia nervosa

People with bulimia nervosa alternate between eating very low-calorie foods (or dieting) and binge eating what they consider forbidden foods. During a binge, they eat large quantities of food in a short period of time and feel they have no control over their eating.

After a binge, a person with bulimia nervosa feels the need to compensate for eating the forbidden foods by vomiting, abusing laxatives, fasting, or exercising excessively.

Binge-eating disorder (BED)

People with BED have episodes where they eat large amounts of food in a short period of time and feel as though they have no control over their eating. Unlike bulimia nervosa, however, people with BED don’t engage in compensatory behaviors. 

Pica

Pica is an eating disorder in which people eat non-food items like dirt or clay. This type of eating disorder can lead to health problems and nutrient deficiencies,

If you or someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder, the team at Holistic Behavioral & TMS Therapy can help.

What can I expect during an evaluation for eating disorders?

You can expect a compassionate and patient-centered exam during your eating disorder evaluation at Holistic Behavioral & TMS Therapy. Your provider asks about your concerns and goals, reviews your medical and mental health history, and performs psychological tests to better understand your current emotional and mental state. 

What are the treatments for eating disorders?

Holistic Behavioral & TMS Therapy provides the support and treatment you need to lessen and ultimately eliminate the behaviors and distressing thoughts and emotions caused by your eating disorder. Their intervention program includes:

• Treatment planning
• Goal setting
• Psychotherapy
• Group therapy
• Medication management
• Relapse prevention

The team also offers innovative treatments that might alleviate some of the symptoms, including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and ketamine therapy.

Call Holistic Behavioral & TMS Therapy or schedule your eating disorder consultation online today.