Metro Clinicians Experiencing High Call Volume With Oklahomans Dealing With Eating Disorders

The Oklahoma Eating Disorder Association said it is receiving so many calls for help during the pandemic. Local clinicians are struggling to keep up with the demand.

“Over the past 12 months, my practice has seen a huge increase in calls, emails, just family members concerned about their loved ones,” certified eating disorder specialist Deanna James said. “Spouses and people just reaching out on their own.”

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, about 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder during the pandemic. The figure is up from 1 in 10 adults in 2019.

People with the Oklahoma Eating Disorder Association said some of the reasons for an increase in call volume around eating disorders is that eating disorder symptoms can be a response to anxiety. 

This past year has been difficult for many. More people time was spent in triggering environments due to a structure hampered by the pandemic. People didn't have support and may have been lonely.

Food scarcity is another problem. A lack of food has caused a less than normal relationship with food. Others who struggled with obsessive compulsive disorder also worried about germs and other issues.

"I will say the clinicians in this area are overwhelmed,” James said. “Almost every eating disorder clinician whether it is a therapist, clinician or dietician, almost all of them are full."

James said the state needs more resources and trained professionals to help those who need it.

“We have a huge lack of resources in this state of qualified professionals who treat clients with eating disorders,” James said. “My practice is full. Almost everyone I know their practice is full, so it has been really difficult to get people connected with resources within the state.”

The Oklahoma Eating Disorder Association’s goal is to get more people connected with training so that they can work with people who have eating disorders.

“Getting clinicians that maybe just treat general anxiety or depression, getting them trained so they can work with the eating disorder population,” James said.

James said many clinicians have little to no training on how to spot an eating disorder and what to do if they have a patient who is struggling.

They are also trying to raise awareness of eating disorders and the impact it has on Oklahomans.

“If we could get more training for people and get more qualified professionals, then we could connect people with those resources,” James said. “What people don’t understand is eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes, all genders, all races and ethnicities. They affect everyone. A lot of people think, ‘That can’t be me. I can’t have that.’”

If you are questioning whether you have an eating disorder or not, there are screenings available that can help you determine if you are experiencing one.

If you don’t have a classified eating disorder, therapy and other help may be beneficial, as well.

“You might have some disordered eating that meeting with a counselor for anxiety or depression while working with a dietician may be a great combination,” James said.

For those who may be struggling with an eating disorder there are several different online resources available on the Oklahoma Eating Disorders website, which you can find by clicking here.

Those resources include support groups, free online support groups, books, workbooks and if food scarcity is an issue there are resources, as well.