Upon completion of the screening questionnaire, you are given the option of completing a more formal assessment tool, known as the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). The EDE-Q is a standard tool used by health professionals treating people with eating disorders. It’s important not to try and interpret the results of the EDE-Q, but rather provide the results to a clinician, such as a GP or psychologist.
Do I have an eating disorder?
The first step in understanding if you’re potentially experiencing an eating disorder is acknowledging that something isn’t right, and you may need some additional help.
Often when people engage in eating disorder behaviours, they are trying to cope with a range of challenging feelings, beliefs or experiences. Admitting something is wrong can feel daunting, and there may be resistance to addressing some of the concerning behaviours. It can be helpful to understand the stages of change when contemplating help for an eating disorder.
It doesn’t matter about age, gender, ethnicity or background — anyone can develop an eating disorder. That’s because eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder are complex mental illnesses without a single identifiable cause.
The symptoms for eating disorders also present differently for each individual, which makes self-diagnosis or diagnosis without a professional’s input difficult and potentially dangerous. It’s also worth noting that diagnoses and symptoms can change over time, so being guided on your recovery journey with the help of a psychologist or GP is advisable.
For people concerned about themselves
The InsideOut Institute for Eating Disorders offers a free, online screening questionnaire which when completed, provides general guidance and next steps.
Telling someone
Telling someone for the first time can be a daunting experience, but can also bring with it a great sense of relief as you are no longer carrying your concerns alone.
You do not need to attempt to tackle an eating disorder alone. Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses, so it’s important that you get support from someone close to you, such as a family member, partner or a friend. If you don’t have someone trusted in your life to talk to, you may decide to confide in a health professional like your family doctor.
Who should I tell?
When you are considering who to talk to, make sure they are someone trustworthy, sensitive and understanding, who you feel comfortable speaking with. Ensure you talk to someone who will support you in finding the best path to getting better.
You may feel more comfortable talking to a family member, close friend, sports coach, teacher (if you’re at school), colleague, or spiritual leader. Sometimes it is easier to open up to someone outside of your immediate circle of family and friends because the level of emotional attachment is less significant.