When to Seek Help for an Eating Disorder
You Do Not Have to Wait Until Things Feel “Bad Enough”
Eating disorders and disordered eating can be hard to recognize, especially when part of you feels like you are “in control” or that things are “not serious enough” to deserve support.
But if thoughts about food, weight, exercise, or your body are interfering with your daily life, relationships, school, work, health, or emotional well-being, it is okay to reach out now.
Early support matters. You deserve help before things get worse.
Please note: EDAM is not a treatment provider or crisis response service, and this website is not a substitute for medical, mental health, or nutrition care. If you are looking for support, please visit our provider directory to connect with an eating disorder-informed therapist, dietitian, medical provider, or treatment program.
Signs It May Be Time to Reach Out
You may benefit from support if you are experiencing any of the following:
Food feels stressful, rigid, or hard to navigate
Restricting or limiting food with the goal of changing your weight or body
Skipping meals, avoiding certain foods, or following strict food rules
Feeling anxious, guilty, ashamed, or distressed after eating
Spending a lot of time thinking about food, eating, calories, ingredients, or “making up for” what you ate
Feeling like food decisions are taking up more space in your life than they used to
Body image thoughts are taking over
Thinking constantly about how you “should” look or what you “should” weigh
Feeling unable to set aside distressing thoughts about your body
Having rigid expectations for your weight, clothing size, or appearance
Feeling intense fear, anxiety, or depression about weight gain or body changes
Hearing others express concern about your body or health, but still feeling unable to see what they see
Eating feels out of control
Eating large amounts of food while feeling unable to stop
Feeling disconnected, ashamed, or distressed during or after eating
Experiencing cycles of restriction, bingeing, purging, or “starting over”
Feeling like eating patterns are affecting your mood, relationships, school, work, or daily life
Movement feels driven by fear or guilt
Exercising to compensate for food eaten
Feeling anxious, guilty, or distressed if you cannot exercise
Continuing to exercise when injured, exhausted, sick, or undernourished
Feeling like movement is something you “have to do” rather than something that supports your well-being
Signs to Get Medical Help Right Away
Some eating disorder symptoms can become medically serious quickly. Please seek urgent medical support, contact a medical provider, call a crisis line, or go to the emergency department if you are experiencing:
Fainting, dizziness, weakness, or feeling like you may pass out
Chest pain, heart palpitations, irregular heartbeat, or shortness of breath
Frequent vomiting, vomiting blood, or severe dehydration
Using laxatives, diuretics, diet pills, or other substances to compensate for eating
Exercising despite feeling medically unwell, faint, injured, or exhausted
Going long periods without eating or severely limiting food or fluids
Feeling frequently cold, noticing new fine/downy hair growth, or other signs your body may be undernourished
Rapid or significant weight loss
Feeling suicidal, hopeless, unsafe, or out of control
If you are in immediate danger or may hurt yourself, call 988 in the U.S. or go to the nearest emergency department.