Achieve Fulfillment Counseling

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This is a generic article you can use for adding article content / subjects on your website.

Trauma creates changes in your brain that trigger the fight or flight response (sympathetic mode) and freeze or fold response (survival mode). These responses can become so second-nature that stress hormones are released even without the stimulus of a threat in your environment. Over time, this process can lead to neurological changes and nervous system dysfunction. As a child, when you experience a traumatic event, it typically goes unrecognized. Unless you had parents that are very aware of the long-term impacts of trauma, you likely just had to move forward and shake it off. Unfortunately, trauma doesn't typically resolve on its own. While the event may be over, the impacts of a traumatic experience can live on in your body for decades.

Eating disorders are pathological conditions characterized by disturbed eating behaviors that affect mental and physical health. Among them, some Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), Pica and Anorexia Nervosa (AN) studies have shown, at least in part, a sensory-related etiology. Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a neurological condition that exists when the brain has an altered processing of sensory signals, resulting in non-adaptive motor and/or behavioral responses. Some of the SPD phenotypes include hyper or hypo-reactivity to one or more sensory channels, including tactile, olfactory, visual and oral that might have connections with the aforementioned eating disorders, like atypical responses from determined food colors, textures or smells which eventually lead to unhealthy eating behaviors, weight imbalance, malnutrition and psychosocial impairment. We have gathered and discussed some of the most relevant studies about the connection between eating disorders and SPD, proposing a general term called sensory eating disorder to define peculiar SPD cases that might evolve to an established eating disorder. Keywords: Sensory processing disorder; Eating disorders; Sensory eating disorder; Avoidant-restrictive; Food intake disorder; Pica; Anorexia nervosa; Autism Abbreviations : ARFID: Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder; AN: Anorexia Nervosa; SPD: Sensory Processing Disorder

Because having an eating disorder is a way to cope with emotional challenges, it isn’t uncommon to have Co-Occurring Disorders. What this means is you may be suffering from one or more psychological disorders at one time. When this other disorder is not properly diagnosed, or addressed, the Eating Disorder can be negatively affected. This can lead to the inability to recover or lead to future relapse. The Eating Disorder can also simultaneously be affecting the other psychiatric disorder, for example, food restriction progressing an anxiety disorder. Our directory of specialists can help you diagnose and treat the co-occurring problem, in order to successfully rule out the disorder and identify how it is colliding negatively with your current Eating Disorder. You may be curious by now as to what co-occurring issues we are referring to. Here’s a list of one of many that may be harming you and your preexisting Eating Disorder from reaching recovery. Depression- effecting 50-75% of Eating Disorder patients, many that may not even be aware. Undernourishment can cause the progression of the patient experiencing super low- lows. Anxiety Disorder- affecting 2/3 of society at some point in a persons’ lifetime, ignited by the social anxiety and OCD that may come to the surface with Eating Disorders. PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)- there has been a higher rate of sexually abused victims having Eating Disorders. Coming from the feeling of lack associated with coping with the traumatic occurrences, that are often ignored by the fixation the Eating Disorder consumes. This can be diagnosed for anyone who has experienced a traumatic event in their life that has gone improperly treated. Substance Abuse- the most common of which are drugs and or alcohol. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)- this disorder comes with the destruction of the patients’ interpersonal relationships. A need to cope with constant fear of abandonment can lead to an Eating Disorder. Self-injury/Self-harm- affecting over 25% of Eating Disorder sufferers, this is often a result of preexisting anxiety, depression and/or trauma and involves the person physically or ritually turning to self-harming physical body tissue in order to relieve the anxiety or overwhelming feelings that come with the illness. Through treatment for an Eating Disorder, you can also uncover the underlying issues present that co-exist with both disorders/challenges in play. Reach out and tell your story to our group of professionals experienced in the subject of diagnosing Co-occurring issues while having an Eating Disorder. Together, we can help you identify the preexisting issue to keep it from continuing to conflict and or merge with your Eating Disorder. Reach out to us by phone or email (whichever you are most comfortable with) and we can help you get the help with going forward. When you are ready, look through our directory and find and contact a professional who is well versed with Eating Disorders and understands other mental health challenges. We have provided a directory to help you receive the best possible care to reach recovery and heal your mind in order to heal your body for good! Just one phone call or email away- let’s get started on a beautiful journey towards recovery.