Specialized Eating Disorder Therapy
in Orlando, Florida & Online

Understanding Eating Disorders & Body Image Struggles

You don’t have to go through this alone.
Eating disorders and body image issues can feel isolating, confusing, and overwhelming. You may be doing your best just to get through the day, even while something inside you is hurting. These struggles are never “just about food” or appearance — they’re often rooted in deeper pain, trauma, or unmet emotional needs. Below are some of the most common experiences we support in therapy.

Anorexia Nervosa

You may feel an overwhelming fear of gaining weight, even if others express concern about how thin you’ve become. You might eat very little, avoid entire food groups, or follow strict rules around eating. Sometimes, it feels safer to stay in control than to risk feeling full, nourished, or out of control.
You may also find that no matter how much weight you lose, it still doesn’t feel “enough.”

What is Atypical Anorexia?

You might relate to everything described in anorexia — the fear of weight gain, the constant food rules, the restriction — but your body doesn’t reflect what people expect of someone with an eating disorder. You may feel dismissed or not “sick enough” for support. Please know: your pain is real, and your body does not need to look a certain way to deserve care.

Bulimia Nervosa

You may find yourself stuck in painful cycles — eating large amounts of food in a short time and then feeling the desperate need to undo it. That might mean purging, fasting, over-exercising, or using laxatives. Afterward, you might feel ashamed or isolated.
This isn’t about lack of willpower. These patterns often come from deep emotional distress, and you deserve help that meets you with compassion, not judgment.

Binge Eating Disorder

Sometimes eating becomes a way to comfort, numb, or escape. You might eat more than you want to — even when you’re not hungry — and feel unable to stop. Afterward, you may feel guilt, sadness, or disgust.
Binge eating disorder is not a failure of control. It’s often a sign that something inside you needs attention and care. You’re not broken — you’re human, and healing is possible.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

You may struggle with eating due to sensory sensitivities, fear of choking or vomiting, or just a very low interest in food. This isn’t about body image, but it still affects your health, energy, or ability to feel comfortable in social situations.
ARFID can happen at any age and is just as deserving of support as other eating concerns.

Orthorexia (not officially recognized in the DSM)

You may find yourself constantly thinking about eating “clean,” “pure,” or “healthy.” Over time, those rules may become restrictive and rigid, making it hard to eat with others, enjoy food, or feel okay after eating something off-plan.
Even when it started with good intentions, it can become exhausting. If food feels more like a source of anxiety than nourishment, you’re not alone — and help is available.

Purging Disorder

You might purge — by vomiting, laxatives, or other means — after eating small or typical amounts of food, even without bingeing. The desire to control your body or weight might feel overpowering, even if part of you knows it’s taking a toll.
This is a very real and painful struggle, and you don’t have to keep facing it alone.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) / Body Dysmorphia

You may find yourself constantly preoccupied with parts of your body that you feel are flawed, ugly, or “wrong,” even if others don’t see what you see. Maybe you check mirrors, avoid photos, or seek reassurance, but nothing ever seems to help for long.
Body dysmorphia can take up so much mental space — and make it hard to feel connected to yourself or to others. Therapy can help you learn to relate to your body with more softness, clarity, and self-compassion.

Exercise addiction is a compulsive need to engage in physical activity despite injury, exhaustion, medical risk, emotional distress, or meaningful disruption to daily functioning. The person is no longer exercising because they choose to, but because they feel unable to stop.

Key Features

Loss of control:
Attempts to cut back are unsuccessful, and a person may feel panicked or distressed at the thought of reducing exercise.

Emotion regulation through exercise:
Exercise becomes the primary way to cope with anxiety, guilt, shame, low mood, or feelings about the body.

Withdrawal symptoms:
Missing a workout brings irritability, guilt, restlessness, or fear.

Rigid rules and requirements:
There are strict standards around time, intensity, steps, calories burned, or routines.

Continuation despite harm:
The person exercises through injury, illness, lack of sleep, or significant exhaustion.