“Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” - Berthold Auerbach For most people, music is an important part of daily life. Maybe you rely on Beyoncé to get you through a long daily commute or the Beatles to keep you company while making dinner. Music has a significant impact on our […]
It’s National Pet Month! Let’s Celebrate the Amazing Power Pets Have on our Health
Time to grab the toys and treats….May is National Pet Month! According to its founders, this month-long celebration is intended to acknowledge the positive impact that pets have on our lives. The affection we receive from our furry pals does more than put a smile on our faces—it also benefits us physically and psychologically. Here […]
Eight Secrets to Cultivating Self-Acceptance
”You have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.” - Louise Hay Experiencing feelings of shame and worthlessness can have a huge impact on our lives. It can create anxieties and hold us back from pursuing opportunities, relationships, and happiness. Many of our worries stem […]
Recognizing and Recovering from Body Image Disorder
Almost everyone has some self-image issues. Maybe you feel your thighs are too big, your hair is too frizzy, your waist isn’t small enough, or your muscles have no definition. In our culture that seems fixated on appearances, it can be hard to love your body and easy to find fault with it. But for […]
It’s okay to take time off school to recover
School has just begun, and already we are seeing a number of clients in high school, college, and graduate school seeking eating disorder treatment at our program. Many require partial day, residential, or inpatient treatment. But our recommendations for level of care often fall flat for one reason alone, “I can’t leave school!” Here is […]
How trauma bonds affect eating disorders
At some time or other, most of us have seen the signs of abuse. Bruises on the arm. The black eye hidden behind sunglasses. The hyper-startle response to a raised voice. The quiet tears quickly wiped away. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will […]
Healing Body, Healing Mind: Yoga as a Therapeutic Complement to Eating Disorder Treatment
Across our nation, eating disorder treatment centers are catching onto the therapeutic benefits of yoga. Yoga is a practice rooted in eastern philosophy that involves mindful meditation, breath work and intentional body movement. Over the past several decades, Westerners have grown fond of yoga for its physical and mental benefits. And while we know yoga […]
What keeps you from getting help for binge eating disorder - Stigma
Ours is a fat-phobic society. We can’t deny it. Researchers on public health issues find that individuals deemed overweight or obese are thought to be lazy, weak-willed, unsuccessful, unintelligent, lack self-discipline, have poor willpower, and are noncompliant with weight-loss treatment. These stereotypes give way to stigma, prejudice, and discrimination against those living in larger bodies […]
Don’t let shame and guilt keep you from getting help for binge eating disorder
People living with binge eating disorder (BED) come to this disease from so many different perspectives. Food becomes an obsession to numb out emotional trauma, physical pain, mental illness, and more. It’s a transfer behavior when someone is trying to get free from drugs and alcohol. And the size that often comes with long-standing leads […]
Bulimia Relapse Is Not Uncommon
I came across an article in SELF magazine about one of the cast member’s of Real Housewives of New York City struggle to fully recover from bulimia. The article quotes the woman, “Bulimia, it’s with you forever.” First off, let’s temper that as an overstatement of someone who has not yet fully recovered. Secondly, let […]