Pursuing treatment for an eating disorder or another mental health concern can be incredibly difficult, especially for mothers who may be facing leaving their children and families for the first time. The complexity of this decision can be compounded by the demands of motherhood, which often include sleepless nights, postpartum adjustments, and relationship changes. Timberline … Read More
“Black girls don’t get eating disorders.” At least that’s what author and journalist Anissa Gray told herself, even though she had been struggling with purging behaviors for years. Gray is among the many Black women across the country who have suffered from an eating disorder in silence. There is a misconception that eating disorders are … Read More
Taking part in residential treatment can be an essential step toward recovery from an eating disorder. But a person’s recovery journey doesn’t end when they transition out of residential care. The day an adolescent girl or adult woman enters the residential program at Timberline Knolls, we begin planning for her eventual discharge. We want to … Read More
Eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) both involve intrusive thoughts, fear, and ritualistic behaviors. The two disorders often occur together, and mental health experts continue to study their relationship to determine if one might cause the other. Regardless of the answer, there is ongoing evidence that links the two conditions, so treatment should address both … Read More
“One day at a time.” If you’ve been through treatment for any sort of life controlling issue or addiction, you have likely heard this phrase and committed it to memory. Perhaps you repeat it to yourself daily as part of your affirmations. But exactly how we spend each one of those days, taken as they … Read More
The coronavirus pandemic has impacted virtually all aspects of life in the United States. According to a recent study from researchers at Mayo Clinic, the effects of this ongoing public health crisis include changes in mental well-being and certain types of substance use among young adults. The study found that alcohol use among young adults … 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
Bariatric surgery is becoming more and more common, with approximately 200,000 people electing to undergo this procedure each year. Bariatric surgery has one goal: weight loss. This is accomplished primarily through restriction of gastric capacity, which means people simply cannot eat as much as before. Another strategy is restriction combined with bypassing a portion of … Read More
A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reveals that a large segment of the US population has experienced a sharp spike in the death rate since 1999. Moreover, the key causes of those increased deaths are seemingly self-imposed: alcohol, drugs, and suicide. This increasingly at-risk group is middle-aged white people. Prior to 1999 the mortality rate for this population was decreasing, reflecting decades … Read More
It has long been known that eating disorders have both psychological and physiological components. However, new research indicates that the physical aspect may be more complex than previously thought and what is transpiring in the intestines of those with anorexia may have psychological ramifications. Researchers at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in … Read More
