Self-care can sometimes function as self-preservation; in your recovery, practicing self-care is a necessity and a healthy way to find peace and joy. In fact, regular self-care is critical to sustaining recovery from an eating disorder.
It happens every January, almost without fail: the hyper-focus on losing weight and getting in shape can make the early months of the year difficult for anyone to navigate. This social pressure to engage in weight-related New Year’s resolutions can make the start of the year a particularly complicated time for those in eating disorder recovery and their loved ones. Taylor Rae Homesley, LPC, CPCS, CEDS-S, Clinical Director at our Child, Adolescent & Adult Hospital in Atlanta, encourages us to proactively rethink the way we approach long-term goal setting, reject diet culture, and reclaim the start of the year as a time for renewal and recovery.
For children and young adolescents with eating disorders, families play an important support role in eating disorder treatment. Families make up the primary therapeutic team for a long time, especially for patients who have a lot of growth, development, and maturing to do in recovery.
Nutrition is not about dieting. That’s the mission Leah Graves is on — to correct the misconception that diets and nutrition are one and the same.
Navigating the holiday season can create challenges for individuals struggling with or recovering from an eating disorder. It’s completely normal for individuals to face obstacles during the holiday season, but ongoing support can make all the difference in maintaining their eating disorder recovery.
Family and friends can play an important role in identifying eating disorder behaviors and symptoms. Although it is not always easy to discuss eating disorders, expressing your concern is instrumental in getting your loved one the care they need.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when talking to a loved one.
As our day to day life may look different for the next few weeks, we have compiled a list of recovery-focused activities.
As our world navigates the impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, one thing is certain – we are in uncharted territory. This is an unprecedented time, and we may not know how to respond. We may feel worried because there is no way to anticipate what may be coming next. It is only human to feel anxious and scared! During uncertain times we may feel a loss of control, on edge, and more vulnerable to negative emotions.
Hi, I’m Dad Versus Eating Disorder and I use a lot of metaphors.
I mean, metaphors are great and all. Every writer should have a trunk full of them. I have a few trunks full. Along with a few closets and storage units.
The holiday season is a wonderful and exciting time for families and friends to celebrate together. While many people look forward to the holiday season, this time of year can cause added stressors for individuals who are in recovery from an eating disorder.
The holiday season is a wonderful and exciting time for families and friends to celebrate together. While many people look forward to the holiday season, this time of year can cause an increase in stressors for individuals who are in recovery from an eating disorder.
Here are five important tips to help you effectively navigate the holidays while maintaining recovery.
There are areas of ocean near the equator known as the doldrums. Known for stagnant, humid, and windless weather interrupted by erratic storms. In the age of sailing, sailors could be adrift for days or even weeks on end, waiting for the wind. Sails flat. Wake non-existent. Adrift.
As the parent of a child with an eating disorder, I have been on that boat. Adrift. Days running together. Small victories. Marginal setbacks. A sudden storm that vanishes as quickly as it appeared. Just waiting for the wind.
A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to share my story as a caregiver at the Veritas Collaborative community event in Atlanta, GA.
During the question and answer, a parent of a child with an eating disorder shared their experience – mentioning several times how scared they were and how they wished they were “brave like me”.
Although in many parts of the country it still feels like summer, fall has officially begun! While many people look forward to the fall season, the seasonal change and the season itself can cause an increase in stressors for individuals who are in recovery from an eating disorder.
Here are five important tips to help you effectively navigate the seasonal change in recovery.
This is written by the parent of a child with an eating disorder. The author walked with his child through treatment at Veritas Collaborative and is now on a mission to give a voice – and an honest perspective – to eating disorder recovery.
Recently my daughter has had some setbacks in her recovery.
This is normal. Very normal.
It was an evening in January. A school night. I cooked an Italian dish, I can’t remember exactly what it was.
It was medicine.
I knew my daughter was developing an eating disorder. Her therapist thought so too. I had read several books, consulted websites, and even had a long phone conversation with a noted author and parent who had fought this battle before.
After her diagnosis and once we knew her admission date into residential, my daughter asked one question.
“When can I come home?”
