The Progressive Nature of an Eating Disorder

Trending this Week at The Meadows Ranch
By Libby Neal, MA, LPC

Eating disorders are more fluid than fixed. It seems the course of an eating disorder is progressive in nature, changing in severity over time. Eating disorder professionals who have worked long enough with one person will see the type of behaviors move from one end of the spectrum to another.

One example of the ever-changing nature of an eating disorder would be when a person starts with restricting calories then moves into purging food. Once the person realizes they can eliminate their calories while still consuming food, they may turn to purging calories with laxatives or vomiting. This could take a few years, and it is often the reason eating disorders seem to “sneak” up on family members and loved ones.

Parents often say that the eating disorder just showed up one day when, “all of a sudden my loved one was very sick and had an eating disorder.” The progressive nature of an eating disorder is subtle and easy to attribute to developmental expectations or adolescent quirks. Some of the natural personality tendencies are enhanced. It is easy enough to hide calorie consumption for fairly long periods of time, through meal-time manipulation, clothing selection and food avoidance. Parents seem quickly to notice the activities associated with binging or purging of foods.

Parents may not think much about a child who is an introvert staying in their room longer, or a child who tends towards dark humor becoming more interested in vampire books, or a child who is interested in cooking now reads recipe books yet never eats the recipes.

And while the eating disorder is evolving, it makes sense that the personality of the child is also changing. Perhaps the child’s demeanor has become edgier, angrier or confrontational. This can be intimidating for parents who wonder how to help, but instead take the high road in hopes of it “going away.”

So, if an eating disorder is progressive, it seems possible to encourage the good side of the developing habits that may turn from disordered eating into an eatingdisorder. Could it be that parents and loved ones can forge the positive side of these interests so they can become more involved with family and friends rather than feeling like an outsider?

Certainly it is not the parents fault if a loved one is developing an eating disorder, nor does this suggest an eating disorder is “stopped” by looking at the positive side of new habits, but it seems that we, as loved ones, can make subtle interventions along the way. This may encourage a progression into health rather than a disorder.

Here is a list of ways to incorporate interests that later improve the eating disorder:

• Encourage social time with the family
• Find the time for one on one with a loved one
• Allow for alone time but encourage quiet time around the family
• Read recipes together
• Shop for meals together
• Cook new meals together
• Create old favorite meals together
• Create a schedule in the house so meals and activities are predictable
• Take leisure walks together, maybe in the park and with the dog
• Go clothes shopping together, encourage positive body image
• Attend your child’s sports activities
• Learn about their favorite subjects at school
• Offer help for subjects that are hard for them
• Go to church together
• Offer to take them to appointments
• Help with ideas for proms, homecoming or questions about dating
• Recognizing increased negative changes in their child’s demeanor or habits.

Parents may feel overwhelmed by all their responsibilities in life, and their loved one may say they are fine; however, it is important to remain open to “gut” instincts and to continue an open dialogue concerning how their loved one is “progressing.” An eating disorder is not “contagious” so the parent does not necessarily make it worse by talking with their loved one about it. Remain open, curious and supportive all while looking to outside professionals if you find too many indicators of an eating disorder.

About the Author

 

Libby Neal, MA, LPC, is in private practice on the western slope of Colorado. Specializing in eating disorders and trauma, Libby utilizes psychodynamic therapy, evidence-based practices, equine assisted therapy and art therapy. Libby has fifteen years of experience with eating disorders working as a clinician, administrator and educator.

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Remuda Ranch at The Meadows Announces New Executive Staff

Meadows Behavioral Healthcare announced today that its specialty program, Remuda Ranch at The Meadows, a comprehensive treatment center specializing in eating and co-occurring disorders for women and girls, has appointed Mike Gurr, MS, MA, LPC, CDWF, Executive Director and Tanja Haaland, MA, LCPC, Clinical Director over the inpatient and residential programs.

WICKENBURG, ARIZ. JANUARY 26, 2018

Gurr joined Remuda Ranch at The Meadows in 2015, where he has functioned in various capacities, including Director of Family Services and Clinical Director. Previously, he spent 13 years in an executive level position with Copper Canyon Academy/Sedona Sky Academy, a residential treatment center for girls, where he developed clinical and workshop programming for over 2,000 students and their families from around the world. He received a master’s degree from the University of Utah in exercise and sports science, with an emphasis in sports psychology. He then went on to receive another master’s degree from Argosy University, Phoenix in professional counseling. Gurr’s experience includes working with marriage, family, adolescents, and elite athletes in private practice. He is a sought-after speaker on eating disorders, anxiety, relationships, parenting, and family systems work. Gurr has also appeared on CBS’ talk show The Doctors as an eating disorder expert.

“Mike has proven himself to be a tremendous contributor to our eating disorder program in a variety of areas,” said Sean Walsh, CEO of Meadows Behavioral Healthcare. “His extensive experience and total wellness approach to behavioral health will benefit our patients as we continue to enhance our programming to incorporate more trauma theory and brain level interventions.”

Haaland comes to Remuda Ranch at The Meadows with more than 11 years of experience in the field of behavioral health. Most recently, she was in private practice as a psychotherapist specializing in the treatment of eating disorders and trauma. She also has previous experience as the former Program Director of Eating Disorder Center of Kansas City. She is a national speaker and consultant on the treatment of eating disorders and trauma. Haaland received her undergraduate degree and Master of Arts in community counseling from the University of South Dakota.

“Remuda Ranch at The Meadows is very fortunate to have Tanja join our team,” said Walsh. “Tanja’s wealth of knowledge in the treatment of eating disorders and trauma, along with her leadership experience, will benefit our patients struggling with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and co-occurring disorders.”

“I appreciate the confidence of Sean and the Meadows Behavioral Healthcare organization. Remuda Ranch has a solid treatment approach, a beautiful campus, and an incredible, caring staff, and I am committed to its continued growth and development to best support our patients and their families,” said Gurr. “I look forward to working closely with Tanja on a multitude of levels, with a focus on giving hope and healing to the women and young girls who come to us seeking recovery of their eating disorders.”

Remuda Ranch at The Meadows is an industry leader in treating eating and co-occurring disorders for women and girls through its inpatient, residential, and partial-care programs. To learn more about Remuda Ranch at The Meadows’ work, contact an intake coordinator at 866-332-5209

Since 1990, Remuda Ranch at The Meadows has been a leading eating disorder and co-occurring treatment center. In that time, over 10,000 women and girls have trusted their care to Remuda Ranch at The Meadows . Through its approach and clinical excellence, individualized treatment is offered by a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, primary care providers, registered dietitians, therapists, psychologists, and registered nurses that provide assistance and support 24 hours a day. Along with treating eating disorders, Remuda Ranch at The Meadows addresses co-occurring issues, such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and trauma. Remuda Ranch was acquired by The Meadows in 2012 and is accredited by The Joint Commission.

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How to Create Your Own Meditation Space in Your Home

Recharging your body and mind, improving your focus and boosting clarity are all great reasons to meditate – but what if you could improve on what you’re already doing?

What if you could create the perfect meditation space in your home?

Carving out a private enclave for meditation doesn’t have to be tough, whether you’re living in a studio-sized condo or a spacious estate with a dozen spare rooms you’ve never used. With a few simple tips, you can transform any space into a private nook where you can disconnect from daily stresses, internal dialogue and negative experiences.

What is a Meditation Space?

A meditation space is a sacred spot where you can release stress, find serenity and center yourself. Sacred doesn’t necessarily mean religious or spiritual; in this context, it means you only use the area for meditation, yoga, rest or stillness. It’s your own personal retreat within your home, and you can designate a corner, a partitioned space, or even an entire room to it as long as you feel good about your choice.

Exceptional Spots for a Meditation Space in Any Home

This is your space, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all spot that works for everyone. Ideally, you’ll be able to walk through each room in your home and narrow down your choices to rooms you absolutely love – those that make you smile, relax you, and give you a sense of peace. As you search for your perfect meditation space, be mindful that:

• Facing a southeast corner will bathe you in early morning light, which may be perfect for dawn meditation.
• Facing a northwest corner will let you bask in the sun’s waning rays, which could be ideal if you’re an evening meditator.
• Facing due east emulates Buddha, who sat beneath the Bodhi tree and meditated directly toward the early morning sun.

Where to Meditate in a Small Home

If you don’t have much room to spare, a terrace, patio or corner of a room in a condo or townhouse might be the perfect spot to set up your meditation space. Add a privacy screen or hang billowing curtains from a single point on the ceiling to shut out the world while you connect with your inner self, or clear out a closet for instant (and expense-free) privacy. Although it’s tough to find spare square footage in a condo, apartment or studio, you can make extra room by:

• Swapping out your sofa for comfy chairs
• Installing a loft bed in a room with high enough ceilings
• Storing non-essential accessories and furnishings rather than trying to cram them all into your space
• Using wall cabinets rather than freestanding bookshelves in your décor

Where to Meditate in a More Spacious Home

Create your private paradise in a quiet corner, in an enclosed room or the garden to find your inner peace. One of the keys to successful meditation is carving out a distraction-free environment where you can get comfortable.

Spots to Avoid

Steer clear of high-traffic areas or those where distractions are likely to pull you off the path to Nirvana. Try to avoid the kitchen, the living room or anywhere too close to a lavatory, the front door or a space that faces a street. Your home office may drag your mind toward work, and a place that makes you want to nap rather than meditate (like your bedroom) might be a little too relaxing.

Meditation Room Ideas

The more peaceful, relaxing and beautiful your meditation room is, the more time you’ll want to spend there. You’ll feel it pulling you in before you start your day, each time you need a break and when you wind down for the night.

The Perfect Room Décor in a Meditation Space

Designing your Zen meditation space for self-help and personal development requires you stick to a few principles:

• Keep your space clean and clutter-free.
• Only include items you love and that contribute to your happiness and peace.
• Add natural elements where possible, such as living plants and stones.

The Bare Essentials

You don’t have to dedicate an entire room and a month’s salary to creating your meditation space. The simplest – and sometimes most effective – meditation spaces feature only the bare essentials, such as:

• Meditation cushions or a soft spot to sit
• Natural light
• Something with personal significance, like bells, crystals or affirmation stones
• Fresh air

If you can, spring for a serene color palette in the room. Neutrals, which are the most popular (think earth tones and off-whites), are what you’ll find in monasteries and professionally designed meditation spaces, but here’s where you can make it interesting. Dark colors make a room feel smaller, which is ideal if you want to feel enveloped in your space, and pastels lend an airy, open feeling to any room, which could be perfect if you prefer a sense of freedom while you meditate. Bright, glossy white that produces glare is generally off-limits, though, because it’s too harsh for the serene environment you’re trying to create.
Pro tip: If natural sunlight hits the wall and makes you squint, the paint color is wrong for your meditation space.

Zen Touches

Your meditation room can be as simple or as elaborate as you want it to be. A few carefully chosen elements can turn any space into a soul-nourishing haven. Consider adding décor such as:

• Attractive incense burners
• A fountain for the sight and sound combination
• Singing bowls
• Decorative cushions
• A Zen sand table
• Aromatherapy diffusers
• Adjustable lighting
• An altar
• Candles

Bare wood floors can add a sense of authenticity to your meditation room, and they can make the room appear (and feel) larger – but they’re not necessary as long as you have the proper posture. A plush area rug or tatami mat on top of carpet can carve out a private space where you can meditate, practice yoga or rest without costing you a fortune.

Best Plants for Meditation Spaces

Most people find that having at least one living plant makes a huge difference in the quality of a meditation space. They’re essential for pulling volatile organic chemicals out of the air and allowing you to commune with natural, earthy elements. Plants that thrive in low light and contribute to Zen include:

• Philodendron
• Pothos
• Sansevieria
• Echeveria
• Monstera Deliciosa

What Not to Put in Your Meditation Space

Few things are more distracting than clutter, so your meditation room needs to be light on things that can counteract your Zen. Avoid electronics (the TV has to go!) except for music players or electronic aromatherapy diffusers, and banish toys, paperwork or other distractors that will prevent you from connecting with yourself.

Bonus Tips for the Perfect Meditation Room

• Buy plug protectors in case you’re tempted to bring in electronics (other than that music player). They’ll serve as a gentle reminder that technology is unwelcome in your space.
• If your window has a bad view, use Japanese rice paper or privacy glass decals to shut out the world without compromising your natural light.
• This room is your escape, so nothing that pulls you back into your everyday existence belongs there.

What’s Your Dream Meditation Space Like?

With a little planning and a dash of inspiration, anyone can create a spectacular meditation space – and we’d love to hear about what you’ve already done.

Written By: Alejandra Roca
To read original posting click here.
To learn more about how The Meadows uses meditation, click here.

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Trauma Therapy in Eating Disorder Treatment

Eating disorders often co-occur with another diagnosis such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As program director for an eating disorder center, I’m often asked if it is clinically appropriate to do trauma therapy such as EMDR, TF-CBT, and SE while patients are working on their eating disorder. The answer that I continuously give is that it is very much individualized to each person. No treatment approach is the same, just as not everyone has the same response to trauma.

If you are struggling with an eating disorder as well as a past trauma experience, what could you expect when addressing that trauma in treatment? First, you should understand that no matter which type of trauma therapy you and your clinical team decide is best suited for you, you would notice that it gets worse before it gets better. By this, I refer to the fact that since you are working on processing a traumatic life event, it is very normal to experience the same emotions you felt during that time which then increases your defense mechanisms. Oftentimes, people will try to avoid trauma therapy because it is emotionally very difficult and can create heightened physical discomfort. However, in order to heal the wounds, you will need to work through the trauma and not around it. A quote that I like regarding this process is, “The only way out is through.”

There are many benefits to completing trauma therapy while in a residential eating disorder treatment program such as Remuda Ranch at The Meadows. First, because it is difficult to process trauma, which could increase emotional instability and eating disorder thoughts and behaviors, it is imperative to have round-the-clock supervision. The caring staff at Remuda Ranch are by your side 24/7 to provide support and keep you on track with your recovery. Additionally, so often when you only work on one issue at a time, the other issue heightens and vice versa. Therefore, working on your trauma and eating disorder concurrently at a specialized treatment center like Remuda Ranch will build a strong foundation for lasting recovery.

How We Can Help

At Remuda Ranch at The Meadows, we work to meet the needs of the individual patient. Our goal is for patients to process the traumas and recognize the impact on their lives, which may manifest in any number of ways including, but not limited to, eating disorder behaviors. We see patients as complex individuals with common needs of nurturance and respect. Our staff strives to support each patient in learning to live in peace with others, with food, and with themselves. We find that a solid foundation in recovery is possible using the multitude of resources made available to those who seek treatment at Remuda Ranch.

For more information, please call us at 866.330.1456.

Edle Aasland LPC, Program Director, Remuda Ranch at The Meadows

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Why Comprehensive Eating Disorder Treatment for Teens is a Must

Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, are complex mental disorders that can be potentially fatal if left untreated. Although eating disorders are associated with damaging physical, emotional, and psychological consequences, many women are unable to connect to the help and treatment that is needed for recovery.

Eating disorders, like other mental conditions, are often stigmatized, which can make it more difficult for someone to reach out for help. When it comes to teenagers, it can be especially painful to confront an eating disorder, for both the individual and their loved ones. Many teens who experience an eating disorder may not understand what they are struggling with, and parents can feel helpless when it comes to knowing how to best support their child. 

The Nature of Eating Disorders

If your teenager is suffering from an eating disorder, you may likely feel overwhelmed about how to help them through these struggles. In order to know how to best help your teenager overcome and heal from an eating disorder, it is first important to understand the nature of these conditions. In doing so, you can feel better equipped in knowing how to support their eating disorder recovery.

To begin, it is crucial to understand that the eating disorder was not your causing and that parents are not to blame. Research has identified that eating disorders develop as a result of many complex factors, including biological components, environmental conditions, and psychological influences. There is no single thing, person, or factor that can be said to have caused an eating disorder, as these diseases develop from the cumulation of many different components. As a parent, you may feel a degree of responsibility when it comes to your teenager having an eating disorder, but removing blame from your mind can better empower you to support their recovery.

It is also important to understand that eating disorders are severe and chronic illnesses with biological underpinnings. This means that an eating disorder is not simply a fad or tactic to change one’s body size or a rebellious phase that will pass over time. If left untreated, eating disorders can cause damaging consequences and become potentially fatal. While it is difficult to confront the reality of an eating disorder, ignoring these serious conditions can be harmful. If you are aware that your teenager is struggling with an eating disorder or feel like something may not be right, it is crucial to seek out professional help and intervention as quickly as possible.

Why Comprehensive Treatment is Necessary

Because of the nature of eating disorders in teenagers, comprehensive and professional treatment is absolutely imperative for healing and recovery. Researchers have also found that eating disorders in teenagers are associated with other complex conditions, including mood disorders, role impairment, and substance abuse addiction [1]. In one survey of teenagers with eating disorders, researchers found that the majority also met criteria for at least one other psychiatric disorder, such as depression. In addition, eating disorders were associated with higher levels of suicidal thinking compared to those without an eating disorder [2].

Conditions that co-occur with eating disorders can and should be addressed simultaneously within the context of professional treatment to help a teenager find complete healing and recovery. Comprehensive treatment for eating disorders effectively treats all aspects of the disease with an evidence-based approach toward healing. This means encompassing medical, nutritional, and psychological care in a manner that promotes recovery on a holistic level.

In many cases, eating disorders may also be influenced by underlying trauma, which can also add to the complexity of these mental illnesses. If unresolved trauma has contributed to the development of an eating disorder in a teenager, it is necessary to address this accordingly within comprehensive eating disorder treatment.

How Remuda Ranch Can Help

At Remuda Ranch at The Meadows, we believe that lasting recovery from an eating disorder is possible with the right treatment and professional intervention. Seeing someone you love struggle with an eating disorder is overwhelming. By offering evidenced-based medical and psychiatric care, nutritional rehabilitation, experiential therapy, culinary arts and more, Remuda Ranch provides the safe, healing, compassionate and nurturing environment for eating disorder recovery to occur.

Remuda Ranch also believes that families are an essential part of the healing journey. We embrace the whole family from the beginning of treatment and provide a five-day family week devoted to building healthy family relationships. We teach patients and their families to understand one another through effective communication and assist family members in practicing validating healthy behavior. This approach helps nurture their relationships in an effort to build interpersonal trust and confidence.

If you or a loved one is struggling with anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder, please feel free to give us a call at 866-239-7381 or send us a message online. Our intake specialists talk to people every day who are in various stages of eating disorders and are happy to answer any questions you may have.

References:

[1]: National Institute of Mental Health, “Most Teens With Eating Disorders Go Without Treatment”, https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-news/2011/most-teens-with-eating-disorders-go-without-treatment.shtml Accessed 29 December 2017.

[2]: Swanson SA, Crow SJ, LeGrange D, Swendsen J, Merikangas KR. Prevalence and correlates of eating disorders in adolescents: results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication Adolescent Supplement. Archives of General Psychiatry. Accessed 29 December 2017.

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