Eating Disorders

Understanding Eating Disorders & Disordered Eating

Eating disorders are far more common—and far more diverse—than many realize. They affect at least 9% of the U.S. population, though experts believe this number is significantly higher because many people suffer in silence or don’t see their experience reflected in traditional stereotypes.

While eating disorders are often associated with women, they impact people of all genders, ages, and ethnicities. In fact, research shows that BIPOC individuals are significantly less likely to be asked by doctors about eating disorder symptoms despite experiencing them at similar or higher rates than white individuals.

The Spectrum of Disordered Eating

Eating disorders rarely fit into a neat box. While we often hear about the three primary diagnoses, most people actually fall into a “gray area” that is just as painful and deserving of care:

  • Anorexia Nervosa: Characterized by severe caloric restriction and a distorted body image.

  • Bulimia Nervosa: Involving cycles of consuming large quantities of food followed by “compensatory methods” like purging or over-exercising.

  • Binge Eating Disorder (BED): The most common eating disorder in the U.S., involving episodes of eating large quantities of food without compensatory behaviors, often accompanied by deep shame and secrecy.

  • The “Unspecified” Majority: Many people struggle with disordered eating that doesn’t fit these three categories. If your relationship with food feels obsessive, painful, or out of control, your experience is valid, regardless of whether you meet a specific diagnostic threshold.

    The Physical Impact of Disordered Eating

    While eating disorders are mental health conditions, they have significant physical consequences that require careful attention. These behaviors can affect nearly every system in the body as it tries to adapt to malnutrition or metabolic stress. Some common health complications include:

    • Cardiovascular Issues: Such as heart palpitations, low blood pressure, or a slowed heart rate.

    • Gastrointestinal Distress: Chronic bloating, acid reflux, or a disruption in normal digestion.

    • Hormonal & Bone Health: Including the loss of menstrual cycles, thyroid imbalances, and decreased bone density.

    • Cognitive Function: Difficulty concentrating, “brain fog,” and increased irritability due to the brain not receiving adequate fuel.

    Acknowledging these risks isn’t about using “scare tactics.” Rather, it allows us to monitor your physical safety as a priority while we do the deeper emotional work of therapy.

Moving Beyond the Symptoms

It is a common misconception that eating disorders are “just about the food.” In reality, the behavior is often a symptom of a deeper internal struggle. These patterns frequently emerge as a way to cope with:

  • Low Self-Esteem & Perfectionism: The drive to be “perfect” when you feel “not enough.”

  • Control & Safety: Using food or body size to create a sense of predictability in a chaotic world.

  • Repressed Emotions: Finding it difficult to express anger, sadness, or conflict.

  • Identity & Sexuality: Navigating complex feelings about who you are and how you are seen.

My Approach to Treatment

I work with you to target the immediate, distressing symptoms of the behavior while simultaneously gently exploring the “why” underneath. We don’t just focus on the behaviors or the meal plan; we focus on building self-compassion, emotional resilience, and a sense of internal agency.

Healing is possible. Together, we can work toward a life where your value is no longer tied to what you eat or how you look.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is often misunderstood as simple vanity or a lack of confidence. In reality, it is a distressing and time-consuming mental health condition characterized by an obsessive focus on perceived flaws in one’s appearance—flaws that are typically unnoticeable or appear very slight to others. This preoccupation can lead to significant emotional distress and interfere with your ability to work, socialize, or feel at peace in your own skin.

Recognizing the Patterns of BDD

Body dysmorphia often manifests through “safety behaviors” or rituals intended to soothe the anxiety caused by the perceived flaw. You might find yourself:

  • Compulsive Checking: Spending hours in front of mirrors or, conversely, avoiding reflective surfaces entirely.

  • Camouflaging: Using clothing, makeup, or specific postures to hide the area of concern.

  • Reassurance Seeking: Frequently asking others if you look “okay,” though the relief from their answer is usually short-lived.

  • Social Withdrawal: Avoiding photos, outings, or intimacy because of the intense fear of being judged or seen.

A Path to Freedom

Healing from BDD isn’t about suddenly loving every part of your reflection; it’s about reaching a place of body neutrality, where your appearance no longer dictates your mood or your freedom. You deserve to live a life that is bigger than a perceived flaw.

By using a psychodynamic and integrative approach, I go beyond just managing symptoms. We look at the “history of your reflection” to understand how these patterns began. Our work often explores:

  • The Language of the Body: Sometimes, the mind fixates on a “fixable” physical flaw because it feels safer than facing complex emotions like shame, grief, or a fear of rejection. We work to translate these physical obsessions back into the emotional truths they represent.

  • Early Blueprints: We look at how early experiences and “mirroring” from caregivers shaped how you see yourself today. Often, healing the way you view your body requires healing the way you feel seen by the world.

  • Identity & Protection: We explore how body obsession might be acting as a shield, protecting you from other vulnerabilities. Understanding this “protection” allows us to build new, healthier forms of internal security.

A Holistic Path to Peace

An integrative approach means I don’t believe in a “one-size-fits-all” solution. I blend the depth of insight-oriented therapy with practical tools to help you inhabit your body more fully. This may include:

  • Somatic Awareness: Moving from “looking at” your body to “living in” it, learning to trust your physical sensations rather than just your visual judgments.

  • Relational Healing: Using the safety of the therapeutic relationship to provide a “corrective experience” where you are valued for your whole self, not your image.

  • Structural Change: Our goal isn’t just to stop the rituals, but to heal the underlying vulnerability so the need for the obsession eventually falls away.

From Observation to Inhabitation

The goal of our work is body neutrality and internal freedom. Success means reaching a place where your reflection is the least interesting thing about you—where you have the mental space to pursue your passions, deepen your relationships, and simply be.