Eating disorder treatment at Oxfordshire Hypnotherapy, Oxford.

Abnormal patterns of eating have become extremely common in the West, particularly, although not exclusively, in younger people. The two principal disorders are known as Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa.

Anorexia Nervosa

This is characterised by self-induced weight loss, often to an extreme level, and an intense fear of becoming fat. Sufferers of this condition will have a belief that they are grossly overweight when they are clearly substantially thin.
There will often be an unusual fascination with food, in the way it is prepared, cooked and eaten, while at the same time being preoccupied with such rituals as cutting food into very small pieces, chewing and spitting out and hiding food in unusual places to avoid eating. Symptoms may also include exercise rituals, insomnia, depression and loss of sex drive.

What causes Anorexia?

Anorexia is a unique reaction to a variety of external and internal conflicts such as stress, anxiety, unhappiness and the feeling that life is out of control. Those suffering from this illness have a low self esteem and often a tremendous need to control their surroundings and emotions.

The concern about the size and shape of our bodies is widespread in Western society particularly amongst young girls who might wish to copy the (sometimes inappropriately) slim forms of models or film stars. Groups such as ballet dancers, models and athletes are also under constant pressure to maintain a trim figure. Anorexia is estimated to affect about one in ten dancers for example. However, as with other eating disorders, the most common element surrounding Anorexia is the inherent presence of a low self esteem and bottled up emotions.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia is characterised by binge eating sessions, very often of high calorie foods such as chocolate and cake, followed by vomiting up or purging the food from the body. Again, this condition is surrounded by low self esteem and false and distorted ideas about weight and body shape. Following an episode of over-eating the sufferer may also use laxatives to get rid of the food in order to let out feelings of anger, depression, stress or anxiety. It is also a characteristic to indulge in compulsive exercise in an attempt to burn off the calories of a binge.

What causes Bulimia?

Such triggers as teasing about weight in younger people or difficulty in intimate relationships can be contributory factors, but the underlying cause will be an inability to express anxiety in a more articulate way. In addition, a person may want to punish themselves for some imaginary blame.

Treating eating disorders with pure hypnoanalysis at my hypnotherapy practice in Oxford

For both of the above conditions as well as others such as Compulsive Eating Disorder, Pure Hypnoanalysis as practised at Oxfordshire Hypnotherapy is the most effective therapy. During the sessions we seek to find the underlying reasons for the anxiety and accompanying bottled –up emotions which causes these disorders. By releasing these emotions we can resolve the symptoms for ever. Please contact me now to arrange a no obligation, free consultation.

“I am now able to maintain a reasonable weight and without overeating” Andrew (Oxford)