Diet cultureis such a trap.
Its a big part of our society.
And that relentless focus on food and bodies can seep into your own psyche, leading to unhealthy fixations.
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That might be a friend, a family member, your primary care doctor, or a therapist.
Here are some signs that you could benefit from talking to a therapist about your relationship with food.
Youre constantly thinking about food and/or your weight.
That can really interfere with someones daily functioning, Goldman tells SELF.
Its obviously natural to think about food and your appearance at certain times.
Youre worried about eating in front of other people.
She adds that shame about eating in front of others commonly occurs with people who haveanorexia nervosaorbulimia nervosa.
You dont need to have a diagnosable eating disorder in order for this to be a problem.
Youre fixated on only eating healthy foods.
But theres so much misunderstanding about what healthy eating truly is.
In reality, having ahealthy relationship with foodinvolves indulging along with being flexible and kind to yourself.
You have rituals around food that feel compulsive or stressful.
Plenty of people like to eat their food in a particular way.
But certain food rituals might be a sign of disordered eating.
Of course, not every food routine is a sign of an eating disorder or disordered eating.
Your lack of an appetite comes with mood changes.
Having a low appetite from time to time isnt a big deal.
Youre severely restricting calories.
Constantly worrying about how many calories youre consuming can point to various disorders.
The obvious one is anorexia nervosa.
There are other times restricting your food intake can be dangerous, Goldman says.
The point is thatcalories arent the be-all and end-allof nutrition.
You feel like you cant control how much you eat.
A lack of control over eating is a hallmarksign of binge-eating disorder.
Feeling a lack of control over your eating can be isolating and terrifying no matter what.
Even without the purging, those emotions are clearly serious enough to warrant getting help.
Youre already wondering whether or not to see a mental health professional about your food habits.
If anyone is questioning [therapy], its a good idea to seek the help, Goldman says.
Its basically your mind hinting that you could benefit from talking to a professional.
Every therapist is different, but theres no harm in going and meeting with someone, Goldman says.
Its really about finding a person youre comfortable with.
So, where should you start?
Finding a therapist can be a struggle, but there are some good resources out there.
NEDA has aHelplineyou can call at 800-931-2237 to find treatment options near you.
It operates Monday through Thursday from 9 A.M. to 9 P.M.
ET and Friday from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.
ET, or online search tools likeGoodTherapyandPsychology Today.
