New Year’s Resolutions get a lot of love and hate this time of year. The diet and other “self-improvement” industries know they can make a lot of money off of people’s insecurities and cash-in, offering promises for dramatic changes (often to one’s external appearance) that disappoint and leave customers feeling like it wasn’t the diet … Read More
The holiday season used to be my favorite time of year. Other than the time I spent struggling with an eating disorder, most of my memories of Thanksgiving and Christmas from childhood are filled with trips to the mall to pick out gifts, hearing Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” endlessly on … Read More
Your loved one has finally agreed to get treatment. After years of watching them struggle and possibly deny the presence of an eating, substance abuse or mood-disorder, they are now embarking on the journey to hope and healing. Of course, this feels like a relief and is cause to celebrate, but in some ways, it … Read More
Forgiveness is one of those stubborn things that is much easier said than done. It is impossible to go through life without being wronged by someone, and without, knowingly or not, hurting others. We can choose to handle these experiences by holding on to bitterness, regret and shame, or choosing to forgive. But, in order … Read More
The illusion of perfectibility is hard to escape. The message “be better,” “do more,” “you’re not good enough,” is littered across the advertising landscape, and in our fast-paced modern world, the competition to be busy and never content with who you are and what you have is ubiquitous. The idea that one must keep pursuing … Read More
Denial is one of the biggest challenges to overcome in early recovery. But once the decision is made to face, head on, the enemy that is the eating disorder or addiction, the path forward becomes clearer, though not always easier. Once there is admission that we no longer want to struggle with the illness and … Read More
Life is full of good gifts: things to be enjoyed, experiences to be had, pleasures to be tasted, sense to be stimulated. But, our desire for and experience of good things can be twisted, distorted, perverted by a combination of genetic predispositions and external triggers. Enjoyment can become obsession, indulgence can become addiction, stimulation can … Read More
The old ritual will soon be upon us. As January 1st approaches, the topic of “New Year’s resolutions” fills conversations at home and in the office. After all, this is the leading story on every morning television show as products promising resolution success are rife on social media feeds and influencer accounts. New Year’s resolutions … Read More
We all have faith in something. Don’t believe me? How do you know when you get out of bed in the morning that your feet will hit the ground… and stay there? Because you have faith in gravity, even though some of the most brilliant scientific minds still lack a definite explanation for what gravity … Read More
Weight restoration can be one of the most difficult parts of recovery from an eating disorder. There can be numerous medical challenges to overcome during the process, especially with more severe cases of anorexia nervosa, such as refeeding syndrome, among other issues. However, the struggle is not only biological or physical. It also can be … Read More
