-
Weight restoration
It is important for the patient to be linked to a nutritionist and physician to increase weight. In some cases, depending on severity, hospitalization may be required.
-
Problem solving
This involves identifying the problem, understanding the causes, which would lead to resolution.
-
Group therapy
Group therapy can be a good forum to educate patients on important topics that may not be addressed elsewhere, such as nutrition, medical consequences of laxative abuse, or assertiveness techniques. This saves individual therapy time for more personalized and deeper issues. Group members also educate each other from their varied experiences in identifying and solving problems.
Posts under ‘Difficult Issues’
3 Treatment Techniques for Eating Disorders
3 Treatment Techniques for Eating Disorders
-
Distress Tolerance
This is used to help patients modify risky or unhelpful behavior patterns. As extremely high levels of anxiety are very common amongst eating disorder sufferers, distress-tolerance skills are used to help cope with this symptom. Some tools include distraction and self-soothing techniques.
-
Assertiveness Training
Assertiveness involves speaking up for one’s feelings and needs. This is a skill that is characteristically very difficult for individuals who struggle with eating disorders.
-
Guided imagery
A model of guided imagery therapy suggests that imagery therapy has multiple levels of action and can assist these patients in the regulation of affect by providing an external source of soothing and also by enhancing self-soothing.
3 Treatment Techniques for Eating disorders
-
Cognitive Restructuring
This is the process of learning how faulty thinking can promote negative outcomes. Therapist teaching the client to change such irrational beliefs and substitute more rational ones. This is accomplished in teaching the patient with eating disorders how to challenge their detrimental thought habits and substitute life-enhancing thoughts and beliefs.
-
Expressive writing
Those patients with eating disorders often come from a traumatic background, it is important to allow the patient to express past traumatic events in such safe settings as writing.
-
Food records
This allows for therapists and patients alike to see the types of food the patients are eating.
Literature Resources for parents with loved ones suffering from eating disorders
My Kid is Back: Empowering Parents to Beat Anorexia Nervosa
Help Your Teenager Beat an Eating Disorder
Eating Disorders: A Parents’ Guide, Revised Edition
Help for Eating Disorders: A Parent’s Guide to Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
When Your Child Has an Eating Disorder: A Step-By-Step Workbook for Parents and Other Caregivers
Literature Resources for Bulimia
How to identify symptoms of bulimia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is where one has recurrent episodes of binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors. The following are common signs and symptoms:
-
Swelling of hands and feet
-
Weakness and fatigue
-
Weight fluctuations
-
Headaches
-
Nausea
-
Enlargement of salivary glands
-
Hyperpigmentation
-
Dental erosion
-
Cavities
-
Seizures
-
Muscle weakness
-
Electrolyte inbalances
How to identify symptoms of anorexia nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa is the refusal to maintain body wait at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height. There are a variety of risk factors attributed to anorexia nervosa. here are some common signs and symptoms to look for:
-
Weight loss/extreme thinness
-
Preoccupation with food
-
Lack of energy
-
Amenorrhea
-
Constipation
-
Dry skin and hair
-
Brittle nails
-
Headaches
-
Hypothermia & cold intolerance
-
Hypotension
-
Abdominal complaints
-
Bradycardia
-
Postural dizziness and fainting
Risk Factors for Eating Disorders
Recently I attended a seminar on eating disorders. In the U.S. it is estimated that 81% of 10 year olds are afraid of becoming fat.91% of college women surveyed in 2001 had attempted to control their weight through dieting. Annually, Americans spend over $40 billion on dieting and diet-related products.
-
Cultural
There are cultural values that may emphasize self and body. One may equate thinness with beauty and happiness.
-
Family
One may develop eating disorders if there is a family history of it. The family as a whole may be overinvested in food, diet, weight, appearance, or physical fitness.
5 ways to emotionally survive a divorce
Divorce is difficult for the couple and children. These are 5 ways to begin to emotionally survive a divorce.
-
Understanding feelings
Recognize your feelings of anger, worry, depression, sadness, frustration, and loneliness. Know that these are all normal. Find positive ways to deal with them.
-
Utilize your support network
This is the time to reach out to those closest to you, as well as your community (whether it be religion or support groups that deal with divorce).
-
Take care of your body
Health is important. Make sure you have adequate sleep, nutrition, laughter, and exercise.
