It takes courage to recognise and acknowledge that you might be struggling with food, or with your relationship with your body. It can also be frightening, and difficult to know what to do. If you’re wondering whether you might have a problem in this area, you might find the following tips helpful.
If you think you might be struggling with eating, please pay attention. Sometimes people assume that they’re OK because other people seem worse, because their weight isn’t low, or because they don’t want to draw attention to themselves. Eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes – you can be very unwell without fitting the stereotypes. It is never too early (or late), or too trivial, to seek support.
The Inside Out Institute for Eating Disorders website is a good place to start. It includes a ‘screener’ that can help you to know if you are experiencing symptoms of an eating disorder, as well as a database of eating disorder treatment services in Australia. In Australia, the Butterfly Foundation also has lots of information available, as well as a Helpline that you can call to talk confidentially to a trained counsellor. You might also like to check out our ABCs of Eating Disorders page, and links to other sources of information on our Resources page.
This can seem scary, but it is important – both to make sure that you’re safe, and to explore what’s going on for you and engage appropriate supports if you need them. In Australia and New Zealand, a General Practitioner (GP) is often a good place to start. If you have a GP who you know and are comfortable with, you might want to see them, or you might want to find a GP who has a specific interest in eating disorders. If the first person who you see dismisses your concerns, see someone else.
If you are struggling with eating or your body, this doesn’t make you a ‘bad Christian’ or mean that God is angry with or disappointed in you. Jesus cares and is with you in this. Consider how you might invite God and safe people into this journey with you. For example, you might want to talk to someone who you feel safe with from your faith community for support. You could direct them to this page for information about how they might be able to help.
