Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are a category of mental disorder relating to eating habits or one’s relationship with food. Eating disorders are very common; in the U.S., around 29 million people have experienced an eating disorder at some point in their life. The prevalence of these disorders is in part due to unrealistic body standards in media causing people to have unhealthy relationships with food. Some of the most common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.
Eating disorders affect everyone differently, and symptoms vary between conditions. However, similar disorders, like anorexia and bulimia nervosa, may share symptoms that could help lead to the detection of either disorder. This is important because people struggling with these conditions often feel shame and disgust towards their eating habits, which causes them to hide their behavior from others.
EMDR
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a type of psychotherapy method that involves using specific eye movements to help the mind heal from traumatic experiences. It works by using side-to-side eye movements to stimulate the brain and promote healing. Experts in EMDR describe the process as the mental version of a wound closing; not a conscious decision the patient makes, but an automatic process carried out by the body.
EMDR was first brought up as a potential therapy method in 1989. Since then, a solid amount of research has come out proving its effectiveness as a psychotherapy method. EMDR can be applied to help treat chronic mental conditions, namely PTSD. Some healthcare providers also recommend EMDR for patients with anxiety disorders, depression, OCD, and multiple eating disorders.
Etiology
Etiology is the study of the causes of a disease or disorder. It is important for understanding the origin and risk factors of a disease, which could lead to breakthroughs in prevention and treatment measures. The word stems from the Greek word “aitia”, which means change or origin. The term etiology can be used outside of a medical context to study the causes of various phenomena.