Lindsay Ell, recently diagnosed with an eating disorder, hopes her story can serve as a beacon of support for others facing similar struggles.

Country singer-songwriter Lindsay Ell has shared her past trauma by opening up about two separate instances of sexual assault. Through sharing her story, she hopes to de-stigmatize mental health disorders and eliminate bullying stigmas, ABC News reported.

What Is an Eating Disorder?

Eating disorders are severe mental illnesses that affect how people eat, feel about their body and weight, as well as how they experience daily life. They can affect people of all ages, ethnic backgrounds and body types.

An eating disorder can be a devastating experience, but there is hope for recovery. Treatment helps individuals learn new strategies to cope with feelings, behaviors and relationships more effectively.

Mental health professionals can determine if an individual has an eating disorder through clinical testing and evaluation. They may also conduct a medical exam and order blood tests to measure someone's weight, BMI, and blood sugar levels.

Each type of eating disorder has specific diagnostic criteria that a mental health professional must meet in order to make a diagnosis. Although not all symptoms associated with an eating disorder must be present for treatment to be effective, people suffering from such disorders often have other mental health issues which necessitate additional considerations during the course of treatment. Thus, providing comprehensive and targeted care becomes even more important when treating someone for an eating disorder.

For instance, if someone is bulimic and also suffers from anxiety disorder or depression, psychotherapy could address both of those issues simultaneously. Other conditions that could be linked to an eating disorder include night eating syndrome, dysautonomia or other sleep-related disorders, obesity and/or eating/exercise disorders.

Once someone is diagnosed with an eating disorder, they will collaborate closely with a doctor to create an individualized treatment plan that meets their specific requirements. This may involve psychotherapy, specialized counseling and nutritional therapy.

The purpose of treatment is to help individuals retake control over their eating and body image. It will also teach them how to manage emotions effectively and recognize when they may be experiencing a relapse or setback.

Eating disorders come in many forms, but they all share certain common characteristics. These may include:

Some individuals may experience some of the above symptoms without developing an eating disorder, however if these signs persist for more than two weeks or are interfering with daily life, seek help immediately. Doing so could save yourself and those you care about from potentially serious medical complications as well as give yourself the best chance at full and lasting recovery.

What Is Bulimia?

Bulimia is an eating disorder that typically begins during early adolescence. People with this disorder binge-eat (consume too many calories in a short amount of time) and then attempt to eliminate them through vomiting or using laxatives.

Bulimia can be treated, though it may take a considerable amount of time. Treatment usually consists of psychotherapy, medications and nutrition counseling in combination.

A therapist can work with you to develop new ways of thinking about food, weight, and body image. This will enable you to stop binge eating or purging and enhance your overall health.

If you are under 18 years of age, your doctor may suggest taking the antidepressant drug fluoxetine (Prozac). This antidepressant works by increasing serotonin levels in the brain, which helps with managing negative emotions.

As you get older, your doctor may prescribe topiramate (Topamax), a medication that can alleviate the symptoms of binge and purge episodes associated with bulimia. When other medications haven't helped, topiramate may be the go-to choice.

Bulimia is most often purging disorder, which involves self-induced vomiting or misuse of laxatives or diuretics. Other forms can involve fasting and excessive exercise.

Binge eating and purging can have serious health repercussions. Dehydration, a lack of essential nutrients in the body, and imbalances in minerals such as calcium or potassium could all result from these practices, potentially resulting in heart and kidney issues or even death.

If you think that you might have bulimia, or if someone close to you has been diagnosed with it, seek medical help immediately. The sooner treatment begins, the faster you can recover from your condition.

Bulimia remains poorly understood, though genetics is believed to have some role. People with a family history of eating disorders such as bulimia are four times more likely to develop it themselves.

Bulimia, like any mental illness, is caused by a combination of personality traits, emotional and thinking patterns, as well as biological and environmental elements. It's an illness that can have serious, life-altering repercussions in many aspects of one's life; however with proper treatment you can make full recovery.

What Is Anorexia?

An eating disorder is a mental illness that influences your thoughts, feelings and behavior around food and your body. It can cause immense distress and irreparable harm to your wellbeing.

Eating disorders are complex conditions caused by genetic, psychological and sociocultural influences such as social networks, media influence and cultural norms relating to eating and appearance.

Some people develop eating disorders as a means of dealing with emotional problems, such as anxiety or depression. They may also strive to achieve an ideal body image, which may include believing they are fat or unattractive and needing to shed pounds.

Anorexics have an intense fear of gaining weight, so they take drastic measures to prevent it. They may restrict their diet severely and use laxatives, diet aids, diuretics or enemas as appetite suppressants. Furthermore, they may engage in binge eating or purging (making themselves vomit) as ways to burn off extra calories.

Many individuals who develop anorexia are raised in a society that emphasizes thinness and aesthetics. This can lead them to indulge in restrictive diets and excessive exercise, as well as develop an obsession with food and weight that makes it difficult to lead an ordinary lifestyle.

Anorexia can be a devastating disorder, leading to starvation, malnutrition and mental health issues like depression or suicidal thoughts. Seeking help as soon as possible is the best way to avoid these negative outcomes.

When diagnosing eating disorders, doctors look for signs such as changes in weight or body size, feelings of deprivation, guilt or self-criticism and signs that you aren't eating enough food.

If you experience any of the symptoms listed above, contact your GP immediately for advice and testing to identify what's causing them. With the right treatment in place, it can help speed up recovery from illness.

Anorexia nervosa can be challenging to diagnose, so it is essential that you seek help as soon as possible if you believe you have this eating disorder. Though having this condition will have a major impact on your life, treatment for it is possible and highly successful.

What Is Overeating?

Overeating occurs when you eat more food than what your body requires to stay healthy. This can lead to weight gain and health complications like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

Overeating can alter how your body regulates hunger and fat storage. It causes your stomach to expand beyond its usual size, pressing against other organs and making you feel bloated or uncomfortable. Furthermore, overeating alters hormones that regulate hunger levels, increasing the likelihood of chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes or obesity.

Everyone indulges from time to time, especially during holidays or special events when portions are larger than usual. While overeating may be a normal inclination for some individuals, those exhibiting symptoms more frequently or affecting daily life should consider it an eating disorder.

Some individuals may overeat out of a desire for certain foods or to relieve stress. It's essential to distinguish between overeating and binge eating, which is a serious condition requiring medical treatment.

Binge eating disorder is a disorder in which individuals consume large amounts of food rapidly and without feeling in control over their eating. Binge eaters typically experience repeated episodes of eating more food than normal and may experience feelings of shame or regret after overeating.

Overeating usually causes temporary symptoms, but if they persist for more than a few days, you should consult a healthcare provider. Signs include feeling bloated, tired or full as well as stomach pain or discomfort.

These symptoms can strike at any age, but are most prevalent during adolescence and young adulthood. Anorexia and bulimia often manifest as more severe cases, while ADHD or other behavioral disorders may also manifest.

Overeating can be indicative of emotional difficulties, and when combined with other issues it can be challenging to overcome. If you are struggling with an eating disorder, reach out for assistance from a mental health professional as soon as possible.

Counseling can help you uncover the root causes of your overeating, giving you more control over your eating behavior and healing emotional wounds. You may learn healthy coping techniques such as changing how you think about food and yourself. Rehab facilities for overeating are available nationwide so that you can take back control over your diet and begin healing from within out.