Dialectical Behavioral Therapy For Eating Disorders: Managing Painful Emotions In Recovery
Eating disorder recovery is no easy feat — it is a challenge, and it brings up challenging emotions. After relying on an eating disorder as a coping mechanism for so long, letting it go feels like there’s no way to cope with underlying issues. The process of eating regularly and changing habits can be difficult,…
Fat Is Not A Feeling: How To Identify What You’re Feeling In Eating Disorder Recovery
Many people, even those without eating disorders, will say: “I feel fat.” It’s usually uttered at times or events that involve food or body image – when someone may feel vulnerable. It’s sort of a catch-all for everything you’re really feeling at that moment, all wrapped up in a phrase that does not accurately describe…
What Is Body Checking, Why Is It Harmful, And How Do I Stop?
You see your body every day: in the mirror, shop windows, your mind’s eye. While it’s normal to look in the mirror when you’re getting ready for your day, or feel your body to, for example, see if there are bruises or bites, some people find themselves doing these things much more often. At a…
Compulsive Exercise And Eating Disorders: Healthy Vs. Unhealthy Movement
A large part of society has adopted a one-size-fits-all approach to exercise: “You should exercise, it’s good for you.” And while movement has been proven to have positive effects on mental and physical health, there is a fine line between healthy and unhealthy movement. For some, what starts as healthy movement can easily turn into…
Seasonal Depression And Eating Disorders: Managing Both For Full Recovery
Does the idea of leaving your house in the morning when it’s still dark outside, and coming back at five p.m., in total darkness, feel devastating to you? While some people relish the idea of turning back the clocks and getting an hour of sleep, others feel like it seals their fate until March. It’s…
Eating Disorders In The Military: Risks, Treatment, And Battling Stigma
Something rarely discussed in the military, whether in training, active duty, or among veterans, is mental health. There are many reasons for this: heavy stigma, fear of being unable to advance in their career, and fear of being rejected from the military before even starting. The military can also put personnel at higher risk for…
Perfectionism And Eating Disorders
While it may seem harmless – even admirable – to set high standards for yourself and constantly strive for perfection, research shows this type behavior (known as perfectionism) plays a detrimental role in the development and maintenance of eating disorders (ED). Here we dive deeper into perfectionism and eating disorders, uncovering the connection between the…
The Effect Of Weight Stigma On Eating Disorder Treatment And Recovery
Weight stigma, also known as weight bias or fatphobia, is the stereotyping, discrimination, or assumption-making about someone based on their weight. Much of this phenomenon is attributed to the cultural idealization of thinness and the subsequent undervaluing of larger bodies. Weight stigma is ingrained in our culture, including within the healthcare and eating disorder treatment…
Learning How To ‘Trust The Process’ In Eating Disorder Treatment And Recovery
“I AM LEARNING TO TRUST THE JOURNEY EVEN WHEN I DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT.” – MILA BROWN The greatest success stories–from Albert Einstein and Walt Disney to J.K. Rowling and Abraham Lincoln–all begin with failure, despair, and a “rock bottom” moment. Einstein, considered one of the greatest scientists of all time, couldn’t speak fluently until…
Reconnecting: Nature Therapy For Eating Disorders
Think about the last time you waited in traffic. Now, recall the last time you walked along a busy road. Next, think about the last time you took a walk on a trail or in a park. And finally, the last time you just sat under a tree. How do those different memories make you…