Meet our Eating Disorder Experts at the iaedp Symposium

The practice of treating eating disorders has become more complicated in the last few years. Recent research has shown that a variety of factors can influence an individual’s development of an eating disorder. 

 

We now know that there is a strong genetic component to eating disorders that makes individuals more vulnerable to the disease based on different temperaments and brain functions. We also know that there are many neurobiological factors that greatly influence the development of eating disorder behaviors and traits.

Co-occurring conditions such as trauma, mood disorders, substance misuse, and personality disorders are often present in many eating disorder patients. This complicates diagnosis, treatment, and treatment outcomes.

Eating disorder treatment teams are continually faced with the challenge of working with a more acute patient population, making a basic understanding of the diagnostics and functions of all types of eating disorders vital for the best possible treatment outcomes.

The annual International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp) Symposium, which kicks off this week (March 23 – 26) in Las Vegas, Nevada, gathers health experts from many different disciplines together to share the latest knowledge and research on eating disorder and treatment. Medical and behavioral health professionals discuss ways to broaden their understanding and get ideas for integrating new knowledge into better treatment experiences for eating disorder patients.

We consider it a tremendous honor and privilege to have two of our eating disorder experts from Remuda Ranch serve as presenters at the symposium and as leaders of the iaedp organization.

As an organization, iaedp develops educational opportunities and helps to establish a high level of competency for eating disorder professionals. It is the only organization that serves as the standard bearer for eating disorder professional certification.

The work of iaedp’s leaders and chapter members across the country helps to ensure that those struggling with eating disorders can receive the highest level of care and that therapists, dieticians, doctors, and nurses are trained to recognize the signs of eating disorders and help guide their patients to right treatment programs.

Our Remuda Ranch and iaedp Leaders

Buck Runyan, MS, LMFT, LPC, CEDS
James “Buck” Runyan has a long history with iaedp. He started the first iaedp chapter in Orange County, California in 2004 and went on to establish several more chapters from there. He has also served as President of iaedp and as a member of their board of directors. He currently sits on the iaedp advisory board.

For this year’s symposium, Buck rewrote spearheaded the redevelopment of the core certification courses offered to those who want to begin the process of becoming a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS.)
He will be co-presenting the first certification workshop, Pre-certification Core Course 1 – Overview of Eating Disorders alongside Dr. Craig Johnson on Wednesday, March 22.

This workshop is designed as an introductory course in eating disorders. Participants will learn how to identify and diagnose eating disorders, gain an understanding of social and culture features of populations affected by eating disorders, and understand how neurobiological influences may factor into an individual’s likelihood of developing eating disorders.

Buck says that he’s looking forward to seeing his friend and colleagues at the symposium and to integrating some of the knowledge and ideas presented there into the Remuda Ranch program:

“This meeting is the largest gathering of thought leaders in eating disorder treatment in the world. Being able to teach alongside Dr. Craig Johnson and have conversations with other influencers like Phillip Mailer, Sondra Kronberg, and many others at the top of their fields is quite an honor. We also get to access some of the best clinical eating disorder education available anywhere in just one week’s time. I’m looking forward to using what I learn to help our Remuda Ranch team members continue to rise above the highest levels of professionalism and industry standards.”

Vicki Berkus, MD, Ph.D., CEDS

Dr. Berkus is currently the medical director for Brighthearthealth.com, a telemedicine IOP, and a Senior Fellow at Remuda Ranch at The Meadows. She has also served in many capacities within the iaedp organization and currently serves on the advisory board. She is a regularly featured speaker at iaedp events and conferences.

On Thursday, March 23 she’ll take part in a roundtable discussion at the iaedp Symposium titled "An Integrative Approach to the Psychological, Medical, and Nutritional Treatment of Eating Disorders in Special Populations."
Dr. Berkus will be stationed at Table 8, where participants will get a chance to talk with her about the physiology of eating disorders and integrative treatment.
The roundtable discussions aim to help reinforce the fact that, more than any other disorder, the treatment of eating disorders requires a multidisciplinary approach. Medical providers, psychotherapists, dieticians, nutritionists, body workers, practitioners of eastern medicines, coaches and trainers, sufferers, family members and more will benefit from will benefit from understanding the varied approaches of their multidisciplinary team members. At the same time, the eating disorder patient is a multifaceted, biopsychosocially developed human being with key aspects that are essential for providers to understand.

Visit us at Booth 51

Stop by our booth to learn more about treatment options available at Remuda Ranch at The Meadows and our exciting, newly enhanced programming for adolescent girls - Sunflower at The Meadows. Or, contact us today to learn why Remuda Ranch at The Meadows is the treatment choice for adolescent girls and women with eating disorders and co-occurring conditions. 866-331-5926.

Content Source

Recovering from My Eating Disorder Through Faith

By Kelly Biese, 2007 Remuda Ranch Alumna
I will never forget October 11, 2007, as I stood in front of the security gates at the Dayton airport. I was so angry with God. Part of me wanted to turn and run back, afraid that I'd never return to see my friends, and another part of me still believed I didn't have a problem and would be sent back home when I got to Remuda Ranch. I was just so tired of fighting and tired of being tired.

Remuda Ranch proved to be just the right place for me, and by the second day God began to change my heart and fill me with hope as I put my trust in HIM. There were challenges while I was there, but the caring staff and especially the music and messages I experienced in Chapel continued to fill me with strength and hope. 

 

When I returned home on Nov. 25th, 2007, I felt great and believed everything was going to be okay. However, even though I was using the skills I learned at Remuda Ranch and following my treatment plan, I took my focus off of God and started looking to those around me to provide my strength and hope. I made them my foundation, and I began to sink again.

Fortunately, I had a strong support person that asked me one evening if I had ever asked God to be healed. After thinking for a moment, I realized that I had prayed for years but had never asked God to heal me. That night, I wrote the following in my journal:

"Lord, it is time. I want to be healed. I want to be well enough to let your light shine through me and touch others. Please Lord, send the Holy Spirit to fill me. Empower me to rise above this. If there is something deep inside me holding me back from fully accepting recovery, from embracing the new life you have for me, from letting go of the past, please open my eyes to it and help me to move beyond it. Help me to move beyond this, Lord. You said ask and ye shall receive, knock and the door shall be opened. I've been afraid to ask because I didn't feel I deserved it. It is your will, Lord, but I don't believe your will is for me to continue suffering with no gain. Lift this burden, Lord. I'm willing to take the steps I need, but I need your help to guide me, Lord. I'm willing to take the step, but I need your guidance. I trust you. Open my eyes. Open my ears. Open my mind. Open my heart—to you, Lord. Fill me with your Holy Spirit, that I may grow strong and serve You." - April 28, 2008

The next morning I awoke with a sense of peace I can never describe, and I have not been the same since. I have continued on my path of recovery and each year gets a little easier. I may not love every part of my body, but I can finally say I like my body, for the first time in my life. I can enjoy food - ALL food - when and where I want, without guilt. The scale has no place in my life, because I refuse to let three digits consume my mind and define my life.

In August, I returned to graduate school to pursue my Masters in Social Work degree, and I hope to specialize in trauma and substance abuse. I will forever by grateful to Remuda Ranch for bringing me back to life and giving me hope for healing.

content source

I am Loved and I am Loveable

By Lila Levitt
It was the year 2007 and my eating disorder had taken over my life. I needed help.

I had been attending EDA meetings for a few months and while the support of a group was nice, it just wasn't cutting it. I knew I desperately wanted to stop the shame cycle of binging and purging. I felt alone, hopeless and wanted to die. I had a spiritually irresponsible person in my life who told me over and over that “I wasn't praying hard enough. If I really wanted Jesus to heal me, he would heal me instantly. I just needed to have faith in his healing powers.” As a teen, my eating disorder started out as a way of controlling my weight, but it soon crossed over into the area of an unhealthy coping mechanism. Food became my go-to drug for dealing with all of my problems. With the purge, I confirmed the worst things I had ever thought of myself—I was in fact disgusting and unlovable.

My mom started looking online for a faith-based recovery program and I agreed to travel from Phoenix to Wickenburg to take a tour of the Remuda Ranch facility.

After seeing the grounds of the adult campus, we sat down at the table and I was told how much a 45-day stay at the ranch would cost. The figure seemed astronomical to a single, 27 year old, self employed hair stylist.
All my hopes of recovery went out the window. I guess this is just how I was going to be for the rest of my life. Then I was told they offered a scholarship program and I might be able to qualify. There was a glimmer of hope for me yet. A few days later, Remuda Ranch called and told me what my final calculated number would be.

As it turned out during that same time frame, my parents got a notice they could refinance their home and could take out the exact amount for my stay, plus a bit extra for any financial obligations I would need help with during my stay.
When I checked in on December 26th, 2007, I remember being all over the board emotionally.

Maybe I didn't really need to be here? Maybe I wasn't as bad as I made out to be?

But the one who knew my heart and saw me when no one was around knew better. He knew he got me there at the exact time in my life when I needed. And the other women he put there, were not there accidentally either. Our lives had been on a collision course and those relationships helped me get through my darkest days.

As I approach my 9 year anniversary, I reflect on my road to remain in recovery. There have definitely been slips and disappointments. But I look at those and tell myself I am loved. Those mistakes do not define me. I have come so far from the person I was before Remuda Ranch.

Now I am a wife, a mother and a stepmother. I wake up feeling like I have a responsibility, to live in recovery, for my family.

Recovery is a choice that I have to choose every day. I can finally say and also believe, I am loved and I am lovable. I am so very blessed to be alive. The heavy darkness I used to live in is a thing of the past.

What’s Your Story?

We want to give you a chance to share your story of learning to celebrate the beauty of your own unique body and soul. Was there a major turning point in your eating disorder recovery where you finally accepted and appreciated your body? At what point did it happen, and what led you there? In what ways did it change your life?
Send a 500- 1000 word essay to asauceda@themeadows.org. The first ten essays to be chosen for The Remuda Ranch at The Meadows blog will receive a free Remuda Ranch blanket as a special gift!
Submit your essay by Jan. 15, 2017. We look forward to reading your incredible stories!

Content Source 

Mentors Helped Me Learn to Love My Body

By Sara Goniea, Remuda Alumna
Once, I wanted to vanish. My body was a vessel to be tamed, broken, tortured, ignored, and forced into submission. I conveniently forgot that without it I didn't exist; frankly, at that point, I often wished I didn't exist.

Then I met a woman named Kacey. She'd fought "ED" and won. I didn't want to change, but I wanted the confidence, boundaries, zest for life and self-acceptance she had. She listened to me and accepted me where I was rather than trying to change me. 

 

When I decided to try recovery, I remembered where she said she had gone and called Remuda Ranch. Through a miracle, I ended up at Remuda and was shown, unconditional love. It was the first time I wasn't judged for struggling, labeled non-compliant or told to "just eat.” It was also the first time I was challenged with the truth in love.

There I met Kelley, an RD, who modeled acceptance of her body, challenged me, and laid the foundation for me to navigate the inevitable pitfalls of the recovery process. I had two pivotal experiences with her. The first was shortly after admission when she met with me and asked how she could help me meet my meal plan since I was refusing pretty much everything.

I started listing off "safe foods" and other ED- related demands when she stopped me. She told me she loved me too much to compromise with my eating disorder and walked off. At first, I was hurt and angry with her but I came to trust and love her because she fought for me and not ED.
The second was when she led our cooking experiential and we made chocolate chip cookies. I asked about sampling the cookie dough and she did it with me without commenting on how it was a "bad" food or how it would impact her body. She modeled that all foods fit into balance, variety, and moderation and that none are "good or bad."

Thanks to the love, support, prayers, and challenges, when I left, I was doing well. I was in my weight range for the first time as an adult and happy.
I thought I wouldn't have to fight this battle again.

A few years passed and then I contracted a serious illness and relapsed. Because I went from healthy to critically ill in the space of a few months, my insurance denied care and nearly cost me my life. I ended up in a program that was a poor fit and caused additional mental and emotional damage. Upon discharge, I connected with Kendra, a registered dietitian new to my area. Slowly, with her help and support and the support of additional team members, I begin to heal.
For me, the hardest part has been becoming comfortable in my body. There's a place of the recovery process when physically things look stable objectively, but mentally and emotionally it's the most dangerous because, yes, physically I'm healthier but ED is still very vocal. It takes time to learn how to be ok in my own skin and not jump right back off the cliff again. Kendra has been the most instrumental and helping me accept my body. First, she taught me touch can be safe—she's a hugger. At first, it freaked me out, but over the years it's something I've come to look forward to and even ask for.

Another neat aspect of working with her has been she's a former competitive gymnast and has been able to relate to some of my struggles with clothing designers because I'm more muscular than many women as the result of doing a very physically demanding job. It's hard to find clothes that fit well off the shelf. Having someone who can normalize that struggle helped me stop trying to mold my body in ways it's not meant to be. She also models that all foods can fit, and has joined me on many an impromptu snack when I brought something I've made into a session.

Overall, though what has helped the most has been what Kendra, Kelley, and Kacey have not done: try to force me to change. The common thread with all of these amazing women is they've led, guided, and listened. I've tried at points to force them away and yet they refused to go and for that I'm grateful. It wasn't until I was shown love that I could begin to love myself. It's still my most vulnerable area, but I'm no longer abusing my body. Even on hard days, I still meet my needs and give my body the care it needs.

What’s Your Story?

We want to give you a chance to share your story of learning to celebrate the beauty of your own unique body and soul.,p> Was there a major turning point in your eating disorder recovery where you finally accepted and appreciated your body? At what point did it happen, and what led you there? In what ways did it change your life?

 

Send a 500- 1000 word essay to asauceda@themeadows.org. The first ten essays to be chosen for The Remuda Ranch at The Meadows blog will receive a free Remuda Ranch blanket as a special gift! Submit your essay by Jan. 15, 2017. We look forward to reading your incredible stories!

Content Source 

Trauma Can Lead to Eating Disorders

Heather was raped when was she was a young adult. Her feelings of fear, rage, and powerlessness that followed became overwhelming and unmanageable. Initially, the stress she felt robbed her of her appetite; but, eventually, she began restricting her eating by choice. It gave her a sense of power over her body.

In recent years, it has become more and more apparent to researchers that people like Heather who struggle with eating disorders often also experienced trauma related to abuse. When someone experiences neglect, and/or physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, they are frequently left feeling helpless and out of control.

Survivors of trauma may develop an eating disorder as a method of coping with those feelings of helplessness, and the severe anxiety and conflicting emotions that often come with them. They may adapt unhealthy eating behaviors because food intake is something they can control and the focus on food rituals helps them to mask their emotional pain.

Trauma is by far not the only factor in the development of eating disorders—personality and temperament, perfectionism, cultural and peer pressures, family expectations, and genetic and neurological factors can also contribute to the disorder—however, it is a very common one. In order for an individual to achieve long-term recovery from an eating disorder, they must address not only their unhealthy eating and body image issues but also their underlying emotional trauma.

How Does Trauma Trigger Eating Disorders?

There is so much that scientists and researchers still don’t know about the way our minds and bodies are connected. What we do know, thanks to researchers and clinicians like Dr. Peter Levine (who is also a Senior Fellow at The Meadows) is that trauma is held within the body. It cannot be released through intellectual processing alone.

Dr. Levine’s insights are based on the idea that the methods in which we, as humans, subconsciously react to threats aren’t all that different from the ways in which our fellow mammals in the wild react to threats. When animals are presented with a dangerous situation, their brains and bodies automatically produce a survival response of fight, flight, or freeze. Once the threat is gone, they release all of their survival energy through their bodies—often by shivering, sweating, crying, or yawning. Once they have released all of the pent-up energy, they resume their normal activities.

Human beings are missing the crucial, final “release” step in their fight, flight, and freeze responses. Once we experience a survival response, the energy can get “trapped” in our bodies, leading to the development of chronic disorders such as anxiety disorder, depression, and PTSD. It can also lead to the development of disordered coping mechanisms, which is what often happens with addiction and eating disorders.

Not only can the trapped energy from trauma trigger the eating disorder, it can also make recovery from the eating disorder very difficult. If the energy from the trauma is not addressed and released during the course of treatment, relapse is much more likely.

Those at high risk for eating disorders because of trauma include victims of sexual abuse, particularly those who suffered at a younger age; victims or observers of domestic violence; and, those who suffer from PTSD.

Treatment for Trauma and Eating Disorders

Successful treatment for eating disorders and trauma requires a multi-disciplinary, integrated approach. Talk therapies, including group and individual counseling sessions, are important, as are coping skills training and nutritional counseling However, since trauma lives in the body as much as in the mind, it’s important to also incorporate body-based therapies including Somatic Experiencing® (SE), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Yoga.

Somatic Experiencing® (SE)

Somatic experiencing is a body-awareness technique that was developed by Dr. Peter Levine. It was first introduced in his book, Waking the Tiger. With the help of a therapist, patients explore sensations in their bodies as they work to identify and regulate feelings of distress.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

In an EMDR session, a therapist uses external stimuli, like eye movements, tones or taps, to help the patient develop new insights or associations with their memories, triggers, and traumatic experiences. For example, the patient may be asked to focus on a particular memory or bodily sensation while simultaneously moving their eyes back and forth, following the therapist’s fingers as they move across the patient’s field of vision.

Yoga and Meditation

A number of mind-body therapies can aid in stress management, boost mood, and help release trauma from the body. Trauma-sensitive meditation, acupuncture, yoga, and breath work are a few examples of techniques that can be helpful in treating eating disorders and trauma as part of a larger, integrated treatment program.
If you or someone you love is struggling to maintain recovery from anorexia or bulimia, they may be experiencing underlying trauma that needs to be addressed through treatment. Remuda Ranch at The Meadows conducts a thorough assessment of all patients to help determine what, if any, trauma or co-occurring conditions might be making recovery especially difficult for them. We then develop a personalized treatment plan to help ensure progress in recovery. For more information about our programs call our intake staff at 866-329-7713 or send us an email.

Content Source 

Recovering from My Eating Disorder, One Day at a Time

By Ashley Martin, 2016 Remuda Alumna

“You are a liar. You tell me I am worthless, and unworthy. You say I am not worth fighting for. You tell me I am undesirable and unpleasant. According to you, I am ugly and overweight, incapable and broken.

You are a thief. You steal my happiness and my hope. You steal my motivation and my inspiration. You steal away my self-worth and my confidence.” It isn’t hard to remember how I felt when I wrote these words for the first time. Writing a goodbye letter to my eating disorder, I gave it everything I had, screaming at my eating disorder through words on paper rather than voice.

 

At eighteen years old, I was the youngest patient in the adult house during my stay at Remuda Ranch. At this age I had in my grasps the opportunity to live some of the most exciting and fulfilling adventures in my life. I had the chance to create memories – great ones. Stolen from me was the healthy body and sound mind I needed to live this free, adventurous life where I wasn’t enslaved by fear and self-hatred.

During treatment I somehow decided that recovery for my parents wasn’t good enough. Recovering for my boyfriend wasn’t good enough. Recovering for the doctors, and the nurses, and the other patients wasn’t good enough anymore. I had to recover for me. Although this wasn’t the moment where I began to radically accept myself and my body, it set off a huge and never-ending chain reaction.

This chain reaction is something I can now recognize as endless and on-going (even now) steps toward self-acceptance. I can identify day after day after day where I inched closer to loving myself again.

I see now that the day I began loving myself was the day that I flew home from treatment and said yes to a snack on the plane. I see that the day I began loving myself was the day I gave away my sick clothes. I recognize presently that I loved myself when I told my eating disorder “no” for the first time, and as well when I completed my meal plan one hundred percent for the first time after leaving treatment.

I loved myself a little more when I took a bubble bath just to feel good, and when I painted my nails after years of leaving them bare. The day I began loving myself was the day I suggested meeting a friend in town for dinner and didn’t have to ask for a to-go-box full of food I didn’t plan on eating later.

I began loving my body when I bought jeans that fit like a glove. I loved my body the day I started taking pictures of myself again and chose not to delete them. The day I started loving my body again was the day when I allowed it to invest time and energy into something that wasn’t destructive, but rather productive and enjoyable.

I am learning to celebrate my appearance. It has been eight months since I left treatment, and I can say with certainty that I have made progress in loving my body. What I see in the mirror when I wake up no longer determines whether a day will be good or bad. Observing this truth in my own life not only encourages me, but drives me to make further progress in recovery.

“I want to hate you, and I am close.” These were the last words on the final page of the letter I wrote to my eating disorder. I found difficulty in that moment. I tried to express to this mental illness of mine that although it has tricked my mind into captivity, and taught me to love it, crave it, and rely it in some dark and twisted way, that I was almost ready to let go. Furthermore, I was learning why and how to let go. Treatment taught me to recognize the amount of destruction that was falling down on my life as a result of holding onto something that was no good for me. Once I began to make this connection, I also began the process of ignoring my eating disorder’s voice and loving my body again.

This process of self-acceptance carries on even now – eight months after treatment. For me, there wasn’t a giant and unbelievably obvious over-the-top aha-moment. There wasn’t a fanfare or a bright light. Instead, accompanied by a lot of effort and hard work, there have been identifiable moments in time which I can look back and see how I progressed further on the journey to loving myself.
I am closer than I have ever been to accepting my body for what it is, and it is this acceptance that I wish for everyone who is struggling and has struggled with an eating disorder in their lifetime.

Content Source 

Eating Disorder Recovery is a Journey, Not a Destination

By Hailey Meyer
Eating disorders are about so much more than physical appearance or a desire to lose weight. They are about fear, feelings of inadequacy, crippling anxiety, and an overpowering voice in your head constantly telling you you're not good enough.

An eating disorder is a quest for a sense of control when the rest of your life feels out of control. For me, it became a safety net, a comfort zone, and an escape from the stress and anxiety that school brought on. I operated under the delusion that if I shifted all my energy and focus to trying to control something tangible—pounds lost, miles run, calories consumed—then, that sense of control would somehow translate into other areas of my life as well.

I'm now able to recognize just how illogical that sounds, but for someone in the trenches of an eating disorder, it feels very real. The reality, though, is that no amount of weight loss was ever going to be enough, because the key to my problems couldn't be found through self-deprivation or the pursuit of a different body.

Eating Disorder Mindsets

Up until about eight months ago, I spent the past couple of years cycling through this series of various mindsets, sometimes all in the same day:

1. Denial that I had a problem.
2. Recognizing that I had a problem, but believing I wasn't “sick enough” to need help. I was also fully convinced that I would either figure it out on my own or simply grow out of it.
3. Wanting to get better, but being too afraid to fully let go of what I perceived to be control.
4. Committing (halfway) to recovery, but refusal to do anything beyond gaining the minimum amount of weight required to put me into a 'healthy' weight range. This typically led me right back to step two, because I neglected to acknowledge that eating disorders are mental illnesses that just-so-happen to have physical manifestations. Attending to the physical component doesn't do much good in the long-term if the underlying issues that led to that point go unaddressed.

Looking back at photos makes me sad. When I was in my eating disorder, I was constantly cold, tired, insecure, and generally apathetic. I was unable to think clearly or rationally. I was frustrated and ashamed that I couldn't just get myself to eat; just gain the weight; just get over it. At my worst, I was reduced to a shell of my former self, both physically and mentally.

Good Days and Bad Days

Eating disorders, like all mental illnesses, seep into all aspects of life. It distanced me from myself and others, preoccupied my every thought, jeopardized my health, and diminished the quality and meaning of almost everything I did. What I thought I was controlling was really controlling me. I truly felt powerless to stop, yet I would push away anything and anyone that threatened to break my rigid routine.

Now, after many difficult months, most days are good. Most days, I don't feel the need to numb myself from whatever emotion I'm feeling, good or bad. (Contrary to my former belief, my anxiety won't actually kill me and it WILL eventually pass!) Most days, I can eat without being consumed by regret and guilt. Most days, I am able to appreciate everything recovery has given me. I have energy, my *purrrsonality*, and my happiness back. I am able to be fully present and engaged in my own life instead of operating on autopilot, and the things that are truly important to me no longer have to take a backseat to my eating disorder.
But some days, like today, I have to take a step back and remind myself of how far I've come and how much I've learned about myself in the process. While the distance between these days on the struggle bus is becoming increasingly longer, sometimes the temptation to revert back to my old habits is as strong as ever.
I'm still learning to let go of the need for control and to embrace change and uncertainty. I'm still learning that there are no prerequisites that have to be met in order to be “deserving” of adequate nourishment. I'm still learning to accept that trying to hang on to as many pieces of the eating disorder as possible while still maintaining a relatively normal life is NOT true recovery. I'm still learning that self-criticism does not cultivate self-acceptance, and that it's not possible to hate yourself into a version of yourself you can love.

I think this kind of ambivalence is, to some extent, natural. I don't think it'll ever feel unequivocally awesome to regain weight, but as long as I keep my why at the forefront of my mind, it is bearable. At some point, I hope it's no longer about just being bearable, but that it stops mattering altogether.
The biggest difference is that now, even on the difficult days, I can say with confidence that I will continue to choose recovery over and over again until it's no longer something that requires my conscious effort. Rather than judging myself for still struggling after this long, I'm practicing a little self-compassion and accepting where I am at present. I'm not yet where I hope to be, but for once I'm able to say, and genuinely believe, that IT. IS. OKAY.
Recovery is a journey, not a destination. For now, I will relish the good moments that are filled with peace, growth, self-acceptance, and gratitude for another day of health and happiness. ('Cuz let's be honest, eating real donuts is a lot more enjoyable than holding a donut float while dreaming about the donut I'd never let myself eat!)

End the Stigma

Mental health is equally as important as physical health. One in five U.S. adults suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder. So, let's start talking about it and help #endthestigma. No matter what you're going through, you are not alone and you don't have to suffer in silence. It is okay to not be okay, and asking for help is not a sign of weakness!

I'm not gonna lie, it has taken me a long time to gain (and maintain) the weight and it certainly hasn't been easy, but with the support of some pretty great (and incredibly patient) peeps, an awesome treatment team, and a whole lotta yoga, I did it. I am happier and healthier than I've been in such a long time, and I'm finally at a point where I'm no longer ashamed of my struggle or to admit that I couldn't have gotten here on my own.

I Might Have An Eating Disorder: What Do I Do?

The moment when you recognize your eating behaviors have gotten out of control can be followed by intense fear and uncertainty. Will I need treatment? Where will I go? What will happen during treatment?

The first thing you should do is choose to be hopeful, and choose recovery. There are effective treatments for eating disorders. Talk to a trusted friend or family member and seek help from a healthcare professional or facility that specializes in eating disorders.

Right now, you might wonder how you could ever change. What could happen during treatment that would allow you to let go of the unhealthy behaviors you’ve held onto for so long?

Here are 18 things that you will learn in eating disorder recovery, to help you let go of dangerous eating behaviors and start building a healthy, happy life:

1. Acknowledge that your behavior is harmful and will negatively affect your life now and in the future if you do not choose to change.
2. Identify your feelings and internal messages before, during, and after you binge, purge, or restrict.
3. Identify what triggers you to binge, purge, or restrict.
4. Focus on the present rather than the past, and on the positive aspects of your life.
5. Take time to nurture yourself in ways that have nothing to do with food or your eating disorder behaviors (a walk, movie, hot bath, etc.).
6. Enjoy your body. Choose physical activities for fun rather than weight loss, such as dancing, stretching, and swimming.
7. Take responsibility for changing your behaviors.
8. Work toward the point where weight is no longer something by which you rate your success.
9. Think about your accomplishments, positive personal qualities, and valued relationships, and affirm yourself for these things.
10. Identify goals and activities you have been putting off until you’re “thin.”
11. Set small goals that you can accomplish easily, and congratulate yourself for every success.
12. Explore any ambivalence about giving up old habits and your fear of living without them. Take the risk to try new behaviors, without being certain of the outcome.
13. Recognize your personal rights. You have the right to say “no,” to express your feelings and opinions and to ask to have your needs met.
14. Find a growth-oriented, non-judgmental community of relationships, such as a church, support group, or appropriate 12-step group.
15. Keep a journal of your experiences, feelings, thoughts, and insights. This is a safe place to be honest with yourself. The journal is for your eyes only: no one else will be reading it or judging it. The journal can also help you identify the feelings, internal messages, and triggers that lead to your eating disorder behavior, so that you may prepare yourself to choose alternate strategies.
16. Don’t let the scale run your life. Remember that numbers on a scale are not a value judgment of self-worth. Throw the scale away.
17. Let go of fault-finding, blame, guilt, and shame. Focus on the present, and take responsibility for what you can change today.
18. Understand that shame and guilt often lead to eating disorder behavior, and eating disorder behavior then leads to more shame and guilt, creating a vicious cycle that can be broken.

How We Can Help

Remuda Ranch at The Meadows offers customized, comprehensive treatment programs for women and girls with eating disorders, designed to help heal the mind body and spirit. We take pride in our…

• Experienced, multidisciplinary staff: Treatment is led by dedicated doctors, psychologists, dieticians, and nurses who help patients achieve medical stabilization and support them through the stages of recovery.
  
• Comprehensive care: We can stabilize women and adolescents with an acute eating disorder, and help them progress in our program to residential and partial levels of care.
  
• Experts: Our leadership team has extensive experience in the field and are involved in daily operations, ensuring that each patient receives the help she needs.
  
• Family Program: Our staff incorporates the patient’s family into the healing process through weekly webinars and an onsite Family Week.
  
• Spiritual approach: Mindfulness activities and life skills are incorporated into the recovery process. Christian focused and 12-step focused tracks are available.
  
• Healing atmosphere: Our facilities are located on a ranch in the beautiful Sonoran desert, and are designed with patient’s comfort and healing in mind.
  
• Discovery and ownership: We work with patients to confront their issues in a positive manner in order for them to develop a sense of their true potential, allowing them to take responsibility for their lives.

For more information, reach out to one of our Intake Specialists today at 866-390-1500 or send us an email.

Content Source

Eating Disorders Are the Unspoken Public Health Crisis of Our Time

This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. In a special section of USA Today, National Eating Disorder Association CEO Claire Mysko advocates for awareness and action:

“It’s time to take action and fight for change. We need to take eating disorders as seriously as other public health concerns. Let’s bust the myths and get the facts. It’s time to shatter the stigma and increase access to care. It’s time to talk about it.”

Many people don’t realize that eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia are life-threatening conditions that can cause devastating physical and emotional damages. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental health disorder.

You can be a beacon of hope for those struggling with these illnesses. Share this article and other factual information about eating disorders with your social media friends and followers this week. You just might save a life.

Content Source