Eating disorders are never just about food. People who develop conditions like anorexia and bulimia really have much deeper problems, and they control their food intake as a means of coping with those issues. Treatment for eating disorders is always about physical health first and foremost, but personal development and therapy closely follow. Creativity through art therapy is one way that patients with eating disorders can begin to develop self-confidence, healthily cope with their emotions and manage their symptoms in a constructive way.

How Art Therapy Helps People with Eating Disorders

It's difficult to delve into your own emotions, especially when you have an unhealthy relationship with them that manifests as an eating disorder. Being uncomfortable with your feelings and thoughts makes them harder to articulate, and you may grow frustrated or even feel tempted to partake in eating disorder behaviors to cope with the discomfort of therapy. Using creativity, people can begin to "shift" their thoughts, according to eatingdisorderspecialists.com. Art therapy helps people deal with their emotions in a lot of ways. This can be through journaling, drawing, painting, making music, or doing other creative activities.

The goal of art therapy for eating disorders isn't to create a masterpiece but instead help you identify, interpret, and express your emotions in a healthy way that feels safe. You won't have to explore or discuss anything you aren't ready to; nothing is "forced" out of you in art. You just create and feel as the thoughts and emotions come to you.

Creativity Helps Build Confidence

In bulimia treatment centers and other eating disorder rehabs, self-image and confidence-building exercises are an integral aspect of therapy. There are many different ways that people develop healthy self-esteem and learn to feel confident in themselves. Many people with eating disorders believe that their weight is the most important marker of their self-worth. By exploring creative projects and coming up with new ideas, you can learn how to appreciate other things about yourself that have nothing to do with how you look.

Treating Eating Disorders with Art Therapy

Creativity is just one coping skill and hobby you might develop as you go through treatment. However, it is not a substitute for therapy, and you should seek proper treatment for your eating disorder that ensures you are healthy and wholly healed throughout the recovery journey.

Finding a local eating disorder rehab or a therapist who specializes in treating patients with eating disorders is the first step toward living a happier, healthier life.