DISORDERED EATING

EATING DISORDERS

An eating disorder is not just about food – its about the emotions, thoughts, and experiences that sit beneath it. It can quietly develop over time, often as a way to manage pain, regain control, or cope with feelings that feel too overwhelming to face directly. What begins as an attempt to feel ‘okay’ can soon become something that feels in control of you instead.

You may find yourself preoccupied with food, weight, or body image. Meals might feel like battles, and your thoughts may be filled with harsh self-criticism or rules about what you ‘should’ or ‘shouldn’t’ do. Yet underneath it all, there is often deep distress – a longing to feel safe, seen and enough.

Eating disorders can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background. They are not a sign of vanity or weakness – they are signs of struggle and pain that deserves understanding, not judgement.

Understanding What’s Happening

An eating disorder often serves a purpose, even if it’s painful. It may offer a sense of control when life feels unpredictable, numbness when emotions feel too intense, or focus when everything else feel chaotic. But over time, the disorder can take more than it gives – stealing joy, confidence, and health.

You may notice:

Constant thoughts about food, weight, or body image

Restrictive eating, binging, or purging behaviours

Feelings of guilt, shame, or fear around eating

Withdrawal from social situations involving food

Physical changes such as fatigue, dizziness, or irregular sleep

Recognising these patterns is not failure – it’s the first courageous step towards healing.

Working Together to Heal

In therapy, we work gently to understand what your eating disorder has been trying to communicate. Together, we look beyond food and weight, exploring the emotions and experiences that lie underneath. Our work is not about judgement or control – it’s about compassion, curiosity, and connection.

We’ll explore what may be driving the cycle and help you find new ways to manage difficult emotions, rebuild a healthy relationship with your body, and reconnect with parts of yourself that have been silenced or shamed. Healing is possible – even if it feels far away right now.

There is Hope

Recovery doesn’t happen over night, but it does happen – one small supported step at a time. With care, patience and understanding, it is possible to move beyond the grip of an eating disorder and towards a life where food no longer feels like the enemy, and your body becomes a place of safety again.

You do not have to face this alone. Together, we can begin to create space for peace, nourishment, and self-acceptance to return.

Some symptoms may include

• Compulsively thinking about your weight and your body
• Over eating, under eating, binging or starving
• Using laxatives
• Poor health/teeth
• Compulsively exercising
• Eating rituals
• Food rituals
• Obsessing about meal preparations
• Safety behaviours around food
• Fear of food/control around food
• Relationship difficulties/withdrawal
• Mood swings/anxiety/depression
• Dizzy/fainting
• Cold
• Tired
• Sleep problems
• Confusion
• No periods
• Being over or underweight
• Feeling worthless/not good enough etc
• Feeling guilt/distress/disgust

Criteria for this service

• If you think there is a problem with your eating habits, whatever they may be, and you would like to do the work to make the changes you want.
• If you have been diagnosed with an eating disorder If you have come out of an eating disorder facility.
• You do not need a referral from your G.P.
• Please take a look at our therapist’s and see who you would like to work with. You are welcome to go ahead and book your chosen appointment on there.

What is NOT provided within this service:

• There is no weighing
• There is no nutrition advice
• There is no meal planning
• There is no focus on body weight or food.

Disclaimer
If you need to be monitored for medical reasons or need help with your meal plans or nutrition please see your G.P or a dietician as this is not included in our service. 

Our privilege
It is our mission and our privilege to support you on your journey to recovery and to reach your goals. We are confident that together we can make a difference to your world and help you to live your life the way you want to live it. Imagine what your life would be like after therapy and the difference it would make to you. 

We help hundreds of people every year to be the best they can be. Please don’t suffer unnecessarily any longer, get in touch with us today and take the first step to make great things happen!

Eating disorders are treatable and recovery is possible.

Telephone 07907613600
Email info@greymatterscentre.co.ud