June 2 marks World Eating Disorders Action Day when members of the eating disorder community – affected individuals, families, friends, professionals, researchers, and policymakers – unite virtually to increase access to accurate information, debunk myths and advocate for resources and policy change. This year, the focus is “Eating Disorders Can’t Afford to Wait” and we are joining in on the conversation.
Every day, Americans are inundated with approximately 4,000 media messages. Many of the messages target our kids with distorted ideas about how they should look and act. Kids of all ages and adults often perceive messages and images on social media as authentic, rather than taking into account that many of these photos have been filtered, digitally altered, or worse, completely distorted.
This month marks the 70th annual Mental Health Awareness Month, a time when mental health allies nationwide come together to raise awareness for and educate the public about mental illnesses, the realities of living with a mental illness, and strategies for attaining mental health and wellness.
If you’ve ever met Dr. Preeti Matkins, then you know how fortunate we are to have her at the helm of Veritas Collaborative’s Charlotte Clinic. As an expert in adolescent pediatrics, Dr. Matkins is committed to her patients’ recovery from eating disorders and relies on a 26-year career of science-based practice to create positive outcomes for families. It’s that passion for adolescent health that inspired her to give back to the medical community as a contributing author to the seventh edition of Blueprints Pediatrics, a review book for medical students.
We sat down with Dr. Matkins to find out more about her work as a contributing author.
Nutrition is a hot topic year-round, however, come January it seems the presence of the newest nutrition fads take over social media, bookstores, news articles, and general conversation. It’s not uncommon to hear comments about “good foods vs. bad foods” as you’re checking out at the grocery store from a cashier, who then proceeds to go on about their newest diet plan. Amongst all these food “beliefs” it raises a question that we hope everyone would take a moment to consider – what is balanced eating for health?
Despite common misconceptions, eating disorders can affect anyone regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, body shape or weight, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. They are serious illnesses, and an individual is not able to choose whether or not they develop an eating disorder. Unfortunately, societal misunderstandings, pressures, and stigmas often deter accurate diagnosis and prevent access to care.
While the holidays are a time most people look forward to, they can often magnify personal struggles for people with eating disorders. The combination of dealing with the anxiety of being around extended family, and the accentuated focus on food, can be a major trigger for many.
No age or gender is immune to eating disorders. Eating disorders can flare up repeatedly throughout a person’s life, or even make a first-time appearance at middle age. In fact, at Veritas Collaborative, we are seeing an increase in people at midlife and beyond seeking treatment for disordered eating.
It can be mighty frustrating to be a male with an eating disorder. On top of battling a life-threatening illness, you’re faced with limitations in treatment options, stereotypes from the general public, and a lack of understanding that males suffer from eating disorders, too.
Whether you are in recovery from an eating disorder or someone simply entering college for the first time, the first year of university life can be a scary and stressful experience.
During the summer, the patients at Veritas Collaborative enjoy watching the metamorphosis of caterpillars to butterflies. These furry little creatures go through a great deal of change in two short weeks, similar to the remarkable changes our patients make during their recovery process here at Veritas.
Veritas Collaborative welcomed Holly Rogers, MD, Staff Psychiatrist at Duke University’s Counseling and Psychological Services, to share the principles outlined in her and Dr. Margaret Maytan’s new book, Mindfulness for the Next Generation: Helping Emerging Adults Manage Stress and Lead Healthier Lives. The book is an easy-to-use guide detailing a four-session mindfulness-based program called ‘Koru,’ the symbol for mindfulness practice benefits – simultaneous growth and stability toward satisfaction in daily life.