Many people struggle with eating-related challenges that don’t meet full eating disorder criteria but still cause distress. According to the American Psychological Association, these concerns are valid and deserve compassionate attention.
Recognizing Signs You Have Issues with Food
Eating-related concerns include thoughts and behaviors around food, body image, and eating habits that disrupt your relationship with eating— even if they don’t qualify as an eating disorder. You might notice:
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Anxiety or discomfort at mealtimes
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Rigid rules about when, what, or how much you eat
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Obsessive focus on “clean eating” or calorie counting
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Guilt, shame, or self-criticism related to eating
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Avoiding social events that involve food
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Fear of losing control once you start eating
Though these patterns don’t meet clinical thresholds, they can significantly impact your quality of life, leading to stress, isolation, and confusion.
How Stress and Trauma Contribute to Eating Issues
Stress affects how we eat, and chronic stress can trigger emotional eating or complete avoidance of certain foods. Past trauma—whether directly related to food or not—often fuels eating-related struggles.
When trauma disrupts emotional regulation, people sometimes develop strict eating habits to regain a sense of control or safety. For example, someone who experienced emotional neglect might rigidly restrict food to avoid emotional discomfort. To learn more about trauma’s impact on eating, see the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA).
Why Support Matters—Even Without a Full Eating Disorder
If thoughts or feelings about food cause distress, it’s a signal that your relationship with eating needs attention. Issues with food can interfere with your enjoyment of meals, social connections, and confidence in your body. Over time, this may lead to nutritional imbalances, depression, or generalized anxiety.
Rule of thumb: If your eating patterns or feelings about food disrupt daily life, therapy can help. Early support often prevents symptoms from worsening and fosters a healthier eating relationship.
How My Online Therapy Can Support You
I offer professional online therapy tailored to individuals facing eating-related concerns and signs of issues with food.
Together, we’ll explore:
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Your unique patterns and triggers
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Thoughts and beliefs that complicate your relationship with eating
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Goals you want to achieve—such as feeling calmer around meals or enjoying social eating
My approach includes evidence-based methods like:
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CBT-E (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders): Identifies and challenges unhelpful thoughts and behaviors around food and body image.
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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): If trauma influences your eating, EMDR helps process distressing memories to reduce emotional distress. For more on EMDR, see the EMDR Institute.
Your therapy plan will match your readiness and needs, ensuring you feel safe and supported throughout your healing journey.
Working Safely Within Your Health Needs
I do not work with severe eating disorders requiring urgent, multidisciplinary care (e.g., medical complications). Those cases are best managed by teams including medical doctors and dietitians. If you have no acute physical concerns and have some nutritional support in place, I welcome you to begin therapy for eating-related issues.
What You Can Expect from Therapy
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Relief from ongoing worry about food
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Less guilt and more freedom in your eating choices
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A deeper understanding of emotional or trauma-related triggers
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Practical skills to manage stress and body image concerns
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Increased confidence and self-trust
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Trauma processing when relevant—helping you release emotional blocks
Online therapy offers privacy and convenience, allowing you to access support from home—ideal if you have a busy schedule or live in a remote area.
Take the First Step
If your relationship with food is causing distress, you don’t have to face it alone. Early support can transform how you feel about eating and yourself. Reach out to learn how my online therapy for eating concerns can guide your healing journey.
To explore how trauma may be connected, visit my Trauma Therapy page.
