When should I see a psychologist?
This is a tricky question, and one we are asked all the time. Our usual answer is it might be time when you feel stuck, you want things to change, and you don’t now how to do it alone. This is different for everyone, and the timing of accessing support from a psychologist is something that needs to be decided by you alone.
If you feel as though your mood, your worries, your thoughts and constant planning, your sleep, your eating, or your behaviour is starting to get in the way of how you would like your life to be, then it’s likely time to think about getting some support.
If you feel as though regardless of how much you try and do things differently, the same patterns and behaviours keep happening, then reaching out for some assistance on why this is the case and what can be done about it is a good option.
You don’t need to hit ‘rock bottom’ in order to access support. Psychologists are trained to meet you wherever you are on your journey and collaborate with you on how to address certain areas of your behaviour or thoughts in order to reduce the chance of getting to rock bottom.
We’re happy to have a chat with you about what it is you are going through and discuss if seeing a psychologist is the right option for you at the moment.
What is an eating disorder and do I have one?
An eating disorder is a serious mental health concern involving your relationship with your eating and your body. They can impact any person, at any age of their life. It can take the form of eating in a really controlled way which means you don’t get enough food, or the right type of food, or your day revolves around your meals and what you eat. Eating too little can have serious medical consequences and needs to be addressed as soon as possible. For some people they can be eating too little food for their body but still have a ‘normal’ body size, this does not mean all is ok, your body may be struggling to keep you at a healthy size at significant costs to your health.
Some eating disorders can also be focused on behaviours that appear to get rid of food stores, such as vomiting or exercise, or use of laxatives. These behaviours can also be very harmful to your health and the sooner the pattern can be changed the better.
Some eating disorders are characterised by binge eating, which is where you feel a sense of being out-of-control with your eating for specific periods of time. The emotional toll of binge eating is significant and can also be harmful to your physical health. Getting help for ways to feel more in control of your eating is recommended.
You do not need to necessarily be diagnosed with an eating disorder for your eating and thoughts about your body to impact you and cause emotional and physical pain. If you feel there is something not quite right about your eating, please get in touch as help is available and the sooner the pattern can change the better the outcomes!
For more information please visit the Butterfly Foundation website www.butterfly.org.au
Get in touch
0493 580 956
admin@coalcoastpsychology.com