Written by Tamara J. Aitken, RN, MSN, Kimberli McCallum, MD, CEDS, FAPA, and Ginger Nicol, MD Bulimia Nervosa: The Basics Individuals who suffer from Bulimia Nervosa (BN) struggle with recurrent episodes of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors to reverse or avoid weight gain. Binge eating is defined as consumption of a large amount of food – as much as a whole day’s worth of calories or more – in a discrete period of time (perhaps over 2-3 hours). Binge episodes are associated with emotional distress, shame, and most of all are associated with a loss of control over eating. Compensatory behaviors can include self-induced vomiting or misuse of laxatives, periods of fasting or restricted food intake, and excessive exercise are also common. The diagnosis of BN
Tag: therapy
Ecotherapy with Eating Disorders
Written by Cliff Hamrick, LPC, McCallum Place Austin In his book, Biophilia (1984), biologist E. O. Wilson suggested the biophilia hypothesis, which states that humans have a natural affinity towards other living systems. These living systems include large systems such as forests, oceans, and fields, but can also include smaller systems such as leaves, feathers, and spider webs. But, considering that living systems exist alongside non-living systems, this affinity can be extended to include mountains, rocks, streams, and weather. In his books, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder (2008) and The Nature Principle: Reconnecting with Life in a Virtual Age (2012), journalist Richard Louv suggested nature-deficit disorder to explain a variety of mental and physical health
Male Runners and Eating Disorders
Written by Ron A. Thompson, PhD, FAED, CEDS Eating disorders are more prevalent in “lean” sports than “non-lean” sports. Lean sports have traditionally included weight-class, aesthetic, and endurance sports. Distance running has been included with endurance sports, although the term “endurance” has recently been replaced with “gravitational.” Gravitational sports are those in which moving the body against gravity is an integral part of the sport (Sundgot-Borgen et al., 2013). In discussing risk factors for male runners, it is important to understand that the sport of running is not the problem, but rather some of the attitudes, beliefs, and practices often associated with the sport. The specific risk associated with distance running is that a lean body is believed to provide a biomechanical advantage
Self-Soothing Techniques when Feeling Traumatized
Written by Cristina Smugala, LPC When a person experiences trauma, their body decrease the ability to control their emotions. As Mollon’s research suggested, the experience of trauma deregulates the individual’s ability to regulate emotional experience and manage physical arousal (Mollon, 2005). This process may leave the trauma survivor very attune and vulnerable to any emotional, physical, and sensory cues that remind the individual of the trauma. When a trauma cue is present, the mind and the body become activated similarly to being exposed to the actual threat (Van der Kolk, 2002). This experience of hyperarousal makes it important for trauma survivors to build skills that will strengthen their ability to not only regulate emotions, but increase their ability to experience safety in the present moment. Grounding Skills
Food Journals, Food Records, and Self-Monitoring
Food journals solve mysteries and suggest solutions.
I Am Afraid of Food—Can You Help Me?
There are plenty of things to be of afraid (e.g., global warming, war, famine), but food isn’t one of them.