Eating Disorder Treatment Options for the Adolescent Impacted by Trauma

As a parent, you have likely planned and envisioned only the best for your child, including desires for their future, saving for college, and more. One thing that you may never anticipate is that your little girl will develop an eating disorder, which can dampen the hopes, dreams, and aspirations that you wish for your child.

Eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder, are often connected with negative stigmas and stereotypes, which can leave you feeling more confused about what your child is confronting. It is important to know that there are resources and support to help you and your child through this journey and that you do not have to navigate this alone.

The Connection between Trauma and Eating Disorders

Research has uncovered multiple factors that may influence the development of eating disorders in adolescents, including both biological, psychological, and environmental components. The combination of these influencing factors can increase a child’s susceptibility to developing an eating disorder. While it is not necessarily possible to determine a child’s risk factor, there are warning signs that may indicate the susceptibility of forming an eating disorder.

For example, the experience of trauma or traumatic events, including physical, emotional, psychological, and/or sexual, can increase an adolescent’s risk of developing an eating disorder. The high levels of stress and anxiety that trauma often produces can lead to destructive methods of coping, including maladaptive eating behaviors associated with eating disorders.

Studies have found that emotional abuse, physical neglect, and sexual abuse were found to be significant predictors of eating psychopathology [1]. Research has also found that women who reported both childhood physical and sexual abuse were three times as likely to develop eating disorder symptoms as those who reported no abuse [2]. With the experience of childhood trauma associated with a range of serious long-term psychiatric complications, including eating disorders, it is important to recognize the necessity to address these concerns effectively.

Effective Treatment Options

Adolescents with eating disorders who have been impacted by trauma will require specialized and comprehensive care to find healing and recovery. Given the nature of eating disorders and the influence of unresolved trauma, it is necessary to find treatment options that can help address both simultaneously. In healing from trauma, many adolescents find that they are also able to recover from their eating disorder, as destructive eating behaviors are no longer necessary to cope with trauma stressors.

Thankfully, there are many treatment options available to help your adolescent facilitate healing from the inside out and address any unresolved trauma in a therapeutic and healing manner. The level of care for treatment that may be best for your child will depend on a number of factors. Having a complete assessment done by an eating disorder professional can help determine what level of care is best suited for meeting your loved one’s individual needs, including medical, nutritional, and psychological concerns. This may include critical care/inpatient, residential treatment, and transitional care for eating disorders impacted by unresolved trauma.

Establishing medical stability is a priority of eating disorder treatment, including nutritional rehabilitation and psychiatric safety. Once this has occurred, the process of uncovering complex psychological factors contributing to an unhealthy relationship with food can begin. Various forms of therapy can be helpful for trauma resolution, rebuilding self-esteem, and gaining confidence over the eating disorder.

Choosing the Right Treatment Center

At Remuda Ranch at The Meadows, we understand the unique challenges that young girls aged 8-17 face when impacted by eating disorders and trauma. Our treatment program is specifically equipped to effectively address the complex issues stemming from these conditions and empower recovery through our innovative treatment approaches.

Through the devastation and confusion that you and your loved one have experienced, we want you to know that you are not alone. We will work with your adolescent in a nurturing and safe environment to help them regain their health, find healing from trauma, and eliminate eating disorder behaviors. Connecting with the specialized care at Remuda Ranch at The Meadows can make all the difference in recovery from eating disorders impacted by trauma. Connect with us today and learn more about how we can help you and your family find whole-person healing and restoration. Give us a call at 866-239-7381.

References:

[1]: Seongsook Kong, et al. (2009) Childhood trauma as a predictor of eating psychopathology and its mediating variables in patients with eating disorders. Journal of Clinical Nursing 18, 1897-1907

[2]: Rayworth, BB, et al. (2004) Childhood abuse and risk of eating disorders in women. Epidemiology 15, 271-278.

Content Source....

Utilizing Psychodrama as an Effective Therapy in Treating Eating Disorders

“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom.” -Viktor Frankl

I will never forget this one particular group. I was sitting in a treatment center in Tucson, Arizona in the spring of 1986 and the facilitator asked for a volunteer. I froze. There were 30-35 patients sitting in a circle in a large conference room with a wide-open space in the middle as the facilitator moved gracefully around the center. After a few moments, a young woman, who I believe came in two weeks ahead of me, timidly raised her hand. The therapist thanked her and for the next 90 minutes I observed sublime human connection.

What did I just witness? Here was this peer publically sharing voices and experiences long kept silent within herself. Here was this peer showing vulnerability, courage, and strength. Here was this peer who seemed to have gained new insights and awareness about past events, and subsequently, new insights and awareness about herself. Here was a clinician who showed expertise, restraint, and seemed to allow the patient to tell her story without an agenda.

As an observer, there was a juxtaposition of fascination and emotional fragility. The intellectual and the emotional were at war. What I know now, and didn’t then, was that she was telling a human story. My story. Her pain connected to my pain. Her loneliness connected to my loneliness. I thought I would be safe as an observer, but little did I know the impact of that afternoon.

This was my introduction to the term, the concept, and reality of Psychodrama. I was a patient barely two weeks sober trying to grasp themes of sobriety, unmanageability, and powerlessness, and at the same time, having difficulty identifying and expressing feelings. What I witnessed that day was a brave woman, a skilled therapist, and a room full of patients “magically” connected in a moment of healing.

Fast-forward thirty-one years. I have spent the past 28 years as a clinician, and for the last 10 years, I have used group psychotherapy utilizing psychodrama and other experiential techniques with eating disorder patients.

Psychodrama and other action-oriented techniques developed by J.L. Moreno, and later by his wife Zerka Moreno, can be especially effective in the treatment of addiction and trauma. It can be extremely effective in the treating of eating disorders. An effective clinician has done his or her own work and will attain regular monitoring and supervision. Clinical judgment is needed, as those with medically compromised weights and those detoxing or actively psychotic are not appropriate for such work.

If clinically appropriate, Psychodrama, Sociometry, and group psychotherapy provides the chance for an individual or individuals in a group setting to heal and connect. Psychodrama creates a space for the safe expression of emotions. This therapeutic space can provide an opportunity for the patient to understand themselves and their history better, to resolve loss and trauma, to overcome fears, to improve their intimate and social relationships, and to practice new skills to prepare for the future.

We Can Help

Remuda Ranch at The Meadows incorporates a variety of treatment methods and therapies to help our patients achieve long-lasting recovery from their eating disorder. Our specialized approach combines proven medical and clinically intensive treatment to help restore balance to the lives of women and girls struggling with an eating disorder.

To learn more about the treatment therapies we offer, visit our treatment page. For immediate help, please call to speak to a Counselor at 866-329-7713.

Content Source...

5 Reasons Why You Might Need Residential Treatment for Your Eating Disorder Today

Seeking treatment at the appropriate level of care is important for helping you progress in your eating disorder recovery.  Thankfully, there are many eating disorder professionals and resources that can help you or your loved one decide what level of treatment might be most suitable for your specific needs.

When it comes to eating disorder recovery, there is a variety of options available for support and treatment. From residential treatment to outpatient care and everything in between, there are resources that can help you find hope and healing. How do you know which level of care is right for you?

Understanding Treatment Options for Eating Disorders

Seeking treatment at the appropriate level of care is important for helping you progress in your eating disorder recovery.  Thankfully, there are many eating disorder professionals and resources that can help you or your loved one decide what level of treatment might be most suitable for your specific needs. It is recommended that you work with a professional to determine what level of care is the most beneficial for your recovery. This might be an eating disorder therapist, counselor, physician, or psychiatrist. By understanding your concerns as well as the signs and symptoms you are experiencing, a qualified professional will make treatment level recommendations that meet you exactly where you are currently. The most common levels of eating disorder treatment include:

• Inpatient Treatment
• Residential Treatment
• Partial Hospitalization
• Intensive Outpatient
• Outpatient

Typically, a more acute or inpatient level of treatment is necessary for someone who may require medical and/or psychiatric stabilization.  Many individuals will often transition to the different levels of eating disorder treatment as they progress in their recovery journey.  Less acute levels of treatment, including intensive outpatient and outpatient treatment, are more suitable for a person who does not require supervision and monitoring and who is relatively stable from any medical or psychiatric complications.  

Why Residential Treatment Can Best Support Recovery

Residential treatment is an important option available for eating disorder recovery. Residential treatment programs offer a safe and structured environment where individuals can find healing from even the most destructive of eating disorders. At this level of care, residents are provided with continual support and monitoring as well as comprehensive treatment from a multi-disciplinary team, including physicians, psychiatrists, therapists, dietitians, and more.  Residential treatment offers the best level of support required for individuals suffering from a severe eating disorder, including anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder and co-occurring conditions.

Making the choice to seek out residential treatment can feel overwhelming, but it is important to know that you are not alone in this process.  Consider some of the following reasons why residential treatment might be a positive option for your recovery:

1. You are struggling with medical complications: Eating disorders are complex illnesses that can result in serious medical consequences. Maybe you have found yourself in and out of doctor's offices to deal with eating disorder symptoms. Alternatively, maybe you have found the quality of your life negatively affected by physical complications resulting from an eating disorder. Eating disorders, if left untreated, can be life threatening, often due to medical complications, such as heart failure, electrolyte imbalance, or malnutrition. In these cases, residential treatment can help you safely recover from these conditions by providing resources needed for medical stabilization.
2. You are overwhelmed, emotionally or psychologically: It is not uncommon for eating disorders to develop alongside other issues, such as anxiety, depression or addiction. These co-occurring conditions can make it more complex for you to find the underlying cause of your eating disorder and start healing. Residential treatment can give you the structure and environment needed to heal from these complex factors.
3. You find it difficult to feed yourself: Sometimes something as simple as feeding your body appropriately can feel immensely challenging if you are living with an eating disorder.  Because of the severity of eating disorder behaviors, you may not even be sure how or what to feed yourself. Engaging in destructive eating habits, like restricting, purging, and/or binging, can make food seem chaotic. You may feel like you cannot trust your body or are intensely fearful of gaining weight. Residential treatment can be an invaluable resource for helping you normalize your eating behaviors and develop healthier eating patterns.
4. The quality of your life is compromised: Eating disorders can deprive you of enjoying life, making it difficult to flourish in school, work, and relationships. You may have had to drop out of school, lost your job, missed out on a promotion at work, or are suffering in relationships with those closest to you because of your eating disorder. Residential treatment can give you the strong foundation you need in your recovery journey to deal with the underlying causes and gain the tools necessary to rebuild relationships.
5. You have a poor support system: Eating disorders can be isolating, and you may not have adequate support to help you through the recovery process. It is important that you do not fight this alone and that you surround yourself with others who understand how to help you. The treatment team available at the residential level of care can give you the support and structure you need to recover.

While the decision to seek out residential treatment can be tough, it is important to realize what you will gain by prioritizing your healing and recovery. Living life to your fullest potential and ultimately being able to thrive in every aspect of your life are gifts that you will never regret.

The risks of not seeking out residential treatment for your eating disorder must be taken into consideration. Left untreated, you could potentially endanger your life or even lose what matters most to you. Consider how you want your future life to look and ask yourself if your eating disorder is part of that picture.

How Remuda Ranch Can Support Your Healing

At Remuda Ranch at The Meadows, we understand what is needed to help you find lasting recovery from your eating disorder. Our residential level of care provides the highest quality of comprehensive treatment to ensure that you are supported every step of your journey.  Our eating disorder professionals are dedicated to seeing you thrive and will support you with an individualized care plan that is designed to meet your unique needs.  Wherever you may be on your journey today, we stand ready to support you in recovery.  For additional information about the treatment of eating disorders, please call to speak to an Intake Coordinator at 866-842-1245

Content Source

Eating Disorder Healing Through Equine Therapy

Content Source

Kristen Zollars, Program Director of Equine Services for Remuda Ranch at The Meadows, recently wrote about Eating Disorder Healing Through Equine Therapy. In this article she addresses how interacting with horses can help one deal with their own emotions and bring about acceptance.



To read this article in its entirety, please go click here.

Horses are an integral part of our leading-edge treatment. At Remuda Ranch at The Meadows, our patients learn how to be predictable, trustworthy and communicative from the bonds they establish during our Equine Therapy program. For additional information about the treatment of eating disorders, please call to speak to a Counselor at 866-842-1253 and we will contact you with the information you need.

Unhealthy Eating Disorder

Source Link: Unhealthy Eating Disorder

Orthorexia is “an unhealthy obsession with eating healthy food.” This is how Dr. Steven Bratman defined it in 1997 and although it is not a medical diagnosis, it can become a life-threatening disorder. Unfortunately, Orthorexia is hard to identify in its early stages because it simply looks like an admirable desire to eat “healthy.”

An Unhealthy Eating Disorder

It often starts as a simple and positive desire to eat in a more wholesome, nutritious way. The brain chemistry imbalance that causes Orthorexia turns this into a destructive addiction that results in malnutrition and physical and mental harm.

Orthorexia shares some features of both anorexia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, it differs from anorexia nervosa because the sufferer experiences an excessive and compulsive “need” to be “pure,” “clean,” or “natural” as opposed to “thin.” This leads to refusal to eat any foods that do not meet with the individual’s impossible standards. Of course the quest for “perfect” eating is not only unrealistic but unattainable since it not based in reality and the person’s sense of failure reinforces the desire to avoid even more foods.

Signs of Orthorexia

Even though a person with orthorexia may not want to lose weight, the disease nevertheless can cause emaciation or starvation due to food rules, restrictions and avoidance. This malnutrition makes it harder for the individual to recognize the disorder and increases anxiety, which then perpetuates the harmful restrictive eating behavior. Some symptoms of Orthorexia are:

• Preoccupation with nutrition and diet far beyond that which is necessary for health.
• Over-reliance on eating in a certain way in order to feel “safe” or “good”.
• Fear of eating, accidentally eating, or even being around “unhealthy” foods.
• Experiencing anger or panic while watching others eat “unhealthy” foods.
• Judging others harshly due to their eating and/or only associating with others who share the same restrictive food rules.
• Emotional distress or self-harm after eating a food considered “unhealthy”.