More Help For Eating Disorders

Dr. Jenn sent out a request to other experts who work with teen girls.  The Topic? Eating disorders. Please contact any of the experts in the posts if you have further questions.  Or, leave a comment here on the site.

If you are the parent(s) of a teenage girl you suspect or know suffers from an eating disorder, my heart goes out to you.  As a licensed psychotherapist/eating disorders specialist, mom of a teen aged daughter and recovered anorexic, I want you to know that help is available and recovery is possible for your daughter and your family.

Eating disordered behaviors appear to have a cycle.  First, there is an experience of a “feeling”, could be any feeling, negative or positive, doesn’t matter.  Containing our feelings, our internal states are troublesome especially during times of transition.  Like the one your daughter is going through now, from childhood to adulthood.  Second, there is a reaction to the “feeling”; such as overeating (Binge Eating Disorder), or restrictive eating (Anorexia Nervosa), or binge eating and purging behavior (Bulimia Nervosa).  The third part of the cycle after the eating disordered behavior is a release of anxiety, internal pressure, a calmness or a feeling of being more in control (for the anorexic or bulimic).  This coping mechanism works!  It works, but only for a short while and not without tremendous consequences, as you already know.  The fourth part of this cycle is experiencing tremendous remorse, guilt and shame over doing these behaviors; having overeaten, hiding, stealing, sneaking or hoarding food, purging food.  What happens when there is the internal pressure of guilt, shame and remorse?  Well, those are feelings, and so the cycle continues.

The best place to begin dismantling this cycle is by dealing with the guilt, both as a parent or patient.  Stop feeling guilty!  Stop blaming yourself.  Eating disorders are an illness, not a choice.  If your daughter had any other serious medical condition would you blame yourself?  Not likely.  Guilt, however, is a choice.  We can choose to wallow in guilt as parents or so “no” to the guilt.  There are many more helpful ways to cope.  By modeling “no guilt” you will be helping your daughter.  You will also be able to see more clearly what needs to be done next.

Getting professional help is the next step to disabling the cycle.  There are various types of help.  There are in-patient treatment programs, which are usually in hospital settings, there are residential treatment programs which provide treatment in a large home like setting, or there is something called “intensive outpatient programs”.   These programs are highly structured and based on a particular treatment philosophy.  Find out what the provider’s treatment consists of and their philosophy about treatment for eating disorders.  Make sure it feels like there is a good fit between yourself, your daughter and the healthcare providers.

There are many websites available for further information.  Some good ones are:

www.wyweight.com to find out more about my practice

www.NationalEatingDisordes.org  – they have a free Parent, family and friends network

www.EatingDisordersReferrals.com  – a national providers listing

www.eatingdisorderinfo.org – the Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness

www.bulimia.com – This is a website for Gurze Book Catalog, a comprehensive description of books on eating disorders.

Lastly, I want to say, don’t give up hope.  I got well, your daughter and your family can too.

By Robbin I. Gregson LMFT

Fatal Mistakes…Literally

Every parent needs to watch for  the signs that their daughter may have an eating disorder. Putting off treatment for  eating disorders can be deadly.

 Financial woes, family denial and fear are all factors that people with eating disorders and their loved ones may cite when avoiding treatment for their illness.  According to the Eating Recovery Center, the premier treatment center for eating recovery, recent anecdotal evidence has shown that people with eating disorders are waiting longer to enter treatment, and are entering significantly sicker.

 “Waiting to seek treatment for an eating disorder can be a fatal decision,” said Dr. Kenneth L. Weiner, founder and medical director of the Eating Recovery Center.  “As an eating disorder progresses, the likelihood that it will lead to serious medical problems grows exponentially.  It’s important that anyone with an eating disorder seek help as soon as symptoms arise.”

 Eating disorder treatment is not the only medical area that has fallen victim to the recent economic decline; a recent poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation found that nearly half of Americans say someone in their family has skipped pills or postponed medical care because of the cost.  According to Weiner, an individual’s fear of gaining weight or reluctance to come to terms with the underlying roots of the disease may also play a part in a decision to ward off treatment.  Weiner has also witnessed many instances where families delay treatment because they deny the gravity of their loved one’s disease or they feel frustration with their long recovery timeframe.

 According to Weiner, eating disorders are serious and complex illnesses that require the attention of trained professionals. Although those with the disease may have the desire, it is almost impossible for “self treatment” to be effective; in fact, trying to go it alone will likely result in repeated failures. The Eating Recovery Center offers these top five reasons why anyone touched by an eating disorder should not put off treatment.

 Eating disorders are the deadliest mental illness with mortality rates 12 times higher than the annual death rate due to all causes of death among females ages 15-24 in the general population.  Death is most commonly due to heart failure, suicide or other complications associated with the eating disorder.

 Eating disorders can lead to significant health issues. When left unchecked, anorexia nervosa will starve the body of essential nutrients and can cause liver or kidney failure, heart problems and osteoporosis. Bulimia nervosa can do significant damage to the mouth, stomach and esophagus and can lead to tooth decay, peptic ulcers or gastric and esophageal ruptures.

 Starvation can affect the brain’s ability to recover from the disease. Poor nutrition negatively impacts the brain’s chemicals and functionality, leaving anyone at a very low weight unresponsive to cognitive therapy or many pharmaceuticals.  This can extend the life of a mental illness.

 Eating recovery is a long-term process, not a quick fix. A prior visit to treatment is not a reason to avoid going again.  Anorexia and bulimia are complicated, multi-faceted diseases that have a high rate of relapse, at 30 to 50 percent.  Individuals with eating disorders may require ongoing treatment to truly experience a long-term recovery.

 Eating recovery is an individualized process. Finding the best treatment option uniquely suited to each individual person may be a time-intensive process.  The sooner this process begins, the better the outcome will be for the individual with the eating disorder.

 “I was given a death sentence when my eating disorder caused an infection that doctors couldn’t initially identify,” said Toni Saiber, anorexia survivor and founder of the Eating Disorder Foundation.  “I was lucky.  Thousands of people every year are not.  It’s vital that people dealing with these terrible diseases seek the appropriate treatment for their situation as soon as they can.”

 Early detection and intervention has been proven to increase the chance of full recovery. It is essential for the person with the illness to get a professional assessment first, from a practitioner trained in eating recovery.  For more information, please call 877.825.8584 or visit http://www.eatingrecoveryinfo.com.

 About the Eating Recovery Center

Located in the heart of Denver’s medical district, the Eating Recovery Center is the only facility in the Rocky Mountain region that offers adults a full spectrum of eating recovery treatment options.  From inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization and outpatient programs to meet each patient’s unique needs, the Eating Recovery Center combines highly-trained medical staff with a unique integrated treatment philosophy to make each patient’s successful recovery a life-restoring event.  For more information, visit http://www.eatingrecoveryinfo.com/.

 About Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, Founding Partner and Medical Director, Eating Recovery Center

Ken Weiner, MD, has been active in the treatment of eating disorders for more than 25 years. Recognized as a national expert in the treatment of eating disorders, he has been voted eight times by his medical colleagues as Best Doctor in Denver for his dedicated work. He created and directed the Columbine Psychiatric Center’s eating disorders program from 1988-1992, the Bethesda Eating Disorder Program from 1992-1998 and the Eating Disorder Center of Denver from 2001-2007.  Dr. Weiner is assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, a fellow of the Academy of Eating Disorders, an approved Certified Eating Disorder Supervisor for the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals and a distinguished fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

Secrets Girls Keep

Anorexia, abuse, sexual activity, fear of rejection…

Dangerous secrets girls keep and how to help 

 Girls love secrets. In many ways, teen girls are trapped by the cult of secrecy that exists today. It is as part of this cult that so many girls hide their depression, eating disorders, pregnancies, and sexual relationships.

Secrets Girls Keep: What Girls Hide (& Why) and How to Break the Stress of Silence (HCI Books, Nov 2009) by teen expert Carrie Silver-Stock, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., shows teens that when they help share their stories without judgment, they begin to break down the walls and ensure better and safer choices for their futures. Many girls today struggle with feelings of low confidence, loneliness, rejection, and depression and then look to unsafe sex, drugs and alcohol for comfort and answers.

Secrets Girls Keep shares the personal stories of other girls as they share their secrets, showing the reader that she is not alone in her struggles. Each chapter tackles a separate issue that is relevant to teenage girls today along with stories and seven tips they can use to overcome those issues. Silver-Stock helps girls think for themselves, explore their own feelings and gives them ways to open dialogue with parents, teachers and others. Topics include:

• Feel beautiful without going on a crash diet

• Navigate the ups and downs of dating

• Make and keep good friends

• Deal with school (the social scene and the grades)

• Handle funky family stuff

• Phone and Internet safety and social media

Silver-Stock is a mom of two and the founder of GirlsWithDreams.com. She is also the author of the award-winning book, The Powder Box Secrets. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri.

Secrets Girls Keep: What Girls Hide (& Why) and How to Break the Stress of Silence by Carrie Silver-Stock (HCI Books, Nov 2009, ISBN 978-0757313691, $14.95)