Christina February 14th, 2010
Figure skater Jenny Kirk offers a rare, brave and compassionate insider’s perspective on an eating disorder crisis threatening the future of her sport. Thanks to Colleen Perry for the find!
edrecovery January 18th, 2010
By Jeanne Rust, PhD
Body dissatisfaction: it’s not just for teens and young women anymore.
Eating disorders are on the rise among middle aged and older women. And they are often misdiagnosed — not only because they’re unexpected — but because weight loss and changes in appetite can also occur as a result of illness or medication.
Our culture’s obsession with youth, thinness and looking good can cause many older women to experiment with compulsive exercise or dieting to ward off the signs of aging.
Older women may also experience increased trauma as the result of the death of a spouse, divorce, children leaving home, menopause or a combination of sources. For some women, even natural aging can be traumatic. They look in the mirror and no longer see the bright, hopeful face of their youth.
When a traumatic event occurs, some women may choose to focus on the things they can control — like their eating, weight and fitness — rather than experience the pain of events that are completely out of their control (like the aging process).
A recent study in Austria is one of the first to look at poor body image and eating disorders in older women. The study included a random group of 475 women between the ages of 60-70.
90% of the women in the study felt fat, and 60% were dissatisfied with their bodies! Over 80% of the women made great efforts to maintain or lose weight. 4% of the women had clinical eating disorders, and another 4% had at least one symptom of an eating disorder, such as abuse of laxatives, diuretics, vomiting, bingeing, or compulsive exercise.
edrecovery January 15th, 2010
Mirasol is proud to announce that Christina Weiss Bennison will be joining our team as Director of Clinical Outreach and Marketing. Before joining Mirasol, Christina worked as the Director of Clinical Outreach for a leading adolescent eating disorder and dual diagnosis program in California. There she successfully assisted with the opening of two new facilities and the acquisition of an adult program, as well as a re-branding campaign.
Christina brings over 10 years of experience in marketing, communications and public relations in the health care, technology and nonprofit industries. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Business from the University of Southern California (USC) and her Masters in Public Health Communication from Annenberg at USC. She will be instrumental in helping Mirasol develop a Relationship Marketing Department and assisting in strengthening our professional partner network.
DrSharon December 9th, 2009
Since 2005, Mirasol and its clients have benefited greatly from the dedicated service of Dr. Sharon Meglathery, a talented young doctor with training in both internal medicine and psychiatry. In the following article, Dr. Meglathery describes her first days at Mirasol, and her voyage from reliance on traditional medical-model treatment to the discovery of the efficacy of holistic treatment of eating disorders.
By Dr. Sharon Meglathery
I am a traditionally trained, East Coast physician with board certification in both internal medicine and psychiatry. However, when I arrived at Mirasol, I knew little about complementary, alternative or naturopathic medicine, and essentially nothing about holistic treatment of eating disorders. I had been taught that eating disorders were very dangerous and difficult to treat, and that other than fluoxetine (Prozac) for bingeing and purging, off-label use of atypical antipsychotics for irrational thinking and appetite stimulation, and topiramate for appetite suppression, no medications have proven very effective for treating these dangerous conditions.
Arriving with an open mind, I was greeted during my first psychiatric evaluation by a very guarded, hostile young woman who quickly informed me that she had chosen Mirasol because she never again wanted to be controlled or tortured by psychiatrists in a “so called treatment center,” and that there was no way she would take any medication. My floundering attempt to extract any useful information — I had given up on any chance of prescribing anything — was dramatically interrupted by the screeching of another patient who had accidentally sprayed liquid soap into her eye. My attempt to help by providing a bowl of water for irrigation of the eye was immediately rejected as a reckless attempt to cause further harm by infecting the eye. Caring attention from both staff and other patients had little effect on the inconsolable crying which was punctuated by demands to be taken to the emergency room. As I cycled through feelings of helplessness, anger, and frustration, I remembered what had been repeated over and over during my psychotherapy residence: the emotions provoked in the provider by the patient often reflect what the patient is experiencing. My initial impulse to retreat was replaced by intrigue and a sense of challenge. It was going to be very enlightening to see how the other providers worked with these women. It was going to take more than behavioral modification and 15-minute med checks to effect lasting change.
jrust December 3rd, 2009
This is the second article in a series about holistic treatment. In this article I will discuss neurofeedback which — probably more than any other modality — dramatically illustrates the mind/body connection.
By Dr. Jeanne Rust
Thousands of people have benefited from neurofeedback, a therapeutic training tool that is very effective in the treatment of ADD, ADHD, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, head injury, substance abuse, eating disorders and chronic pain. Not only does neurofeedback alleviate a variety of emotional problems and physical ailments, but it does so without invasive procedures or the need to take expensive and potentially addictive medications.
Neurofeedback improves the formation of essential neuro-pathways in the brain, actually reconditioning and retraining brainwave patterns. Psychological testing and brain mapping (QEEG) show any abnormalities in brain function. During the training sessions, clients learn to normalize their brainwave patterns through feedback, coaching and practice.
During typical neurofeedback training, sensors are placed on the scalp and/or ear lobes. An EEG unit provides instantaneous audio and visual display of brain wave activity. This “feedback” allows the individual to alter brain activity, increasing or decreasing certain frequencies in order to function most efficiently for the task at hand. The client literally learns how to train the brain to function with greater control and stability through self-regulation.
jrust November 8th, 2009
Lately several women have asked me to include information in my blog that could be helpful for someone who wants to recover from an eating disorder. I thought we could start at the beginning with the Helicopter Story. The Helicopter Story was written by the Reiffs — brilliant nutritionists in Washington State — and I have used it with my clients for almost 18 years. It is by far the most accurate and provoking explanation I’ve ever read of the causes of an eating disorder. I invite all of you to read it and let me know what you found out about yourself!
The Helicopter Story
“Why don’t you just stop?” This is the question with which people with eating disorders are confronted again and again by parents, spouses, friends, and themselves. Costly experiences with programs promising an end to the food behaviors once and for all frequently lead to brief abstinence followed by devastating resumption of old and familiar patterns. Regardless of whether the person starves, binges, binges and purges, abuses laxatives, compulsively overeats, gains weight, or loses weight the story of a roller coaster experience with behavior changes is all too common. Until the behaviors in an eating disorder are viewed as the symptoms rather than the problem, the focus of recovery remains in the wrong place, and the person is likely to experience limited success in attempts to recover.
jrust August 23rd, 2009
Discovering your passion will almost guarantee your recovery. It’s pretty hard to be living a heart-centered life which is full of everything you intensely love, while you’re continuing to throw up and/or not eat.
I received by email this morning a beautiful piece by Dr. Neil F Neimark from the The BodySoulConnection. I want to share this with all of you!
What Is Your Passion?
Developing a passion for doing good in the world is one of the keys to living a vital and healthy life. But just how do we go about doing that? And just what does it mean to be passionate?To answer this question, let’s look at the meaning of the word, “passion.” The Latin root for the word “passion” means “to suffer.” In this sense, true passion means that in pursuing our own fullness of expression, we may suffer (by experiencing failure, rejection, loss or pain).
But, really, who among us wants to suffer?
No one really, but the key is this: It is only in our willingness to suffer (struggle) in pursuit of our values and dreams, that we unlock the hidden strength and vitality that helps us find meaning and fulfillment beyond our suffering.
Let me illustrate for you the healing power of living passionately with an inspiring story told by Bernie Siegel M.D., in his book Peace, Love & Healing.
jrust August 20th, 2009
A Beautiful Way of Honoring the Integrity of the Body, Clarity of the Mind, and Beauty of the Soul
This is the first of a series of articles where I will explain the types of alternative therapies that are used in the holistic treatment of eating disorders, why they’re used and, their effectiveness.
I have worked in the field of treating eating disorders for almost 18 years. In those 18 years I have experienced times of great joy as I’ve watched the miracle of a patient’s healing unfold before my eyes. I have also had times of deep sadness as I watched hundreds of women with eating disorders relapse repeatedly. Treatment teams are frequently dismayed, families are in debt for thousands of dollars, and patients themselves feel as if they’ve failed yet one more time.
I became aware early on as an eating disorder therapist that the medical model of treatment, which is cognitive-behavioral therapy and nutritional education with some equine therapy tossed in occasionally, simply doesn’t work. Stuart Agras (1993) stated that only 32% of all people who have had eating disorder treatment are eating disorder free after a year. This is simply not good enough!
It was when I was studying for my PhD at Saybrook in San Francisco that I finally figured out what was missing. Attention to what I call my holy trinity – mind, body, spirit was missing. In the medical model of eating disorder treatment, the body and the spirit were left out!
jrust August 7th, 2009
What a dilemma! Now I’m reading in my local paper today (8/7/09) that despite the dramatic upsurge in obesity over that last 20 years, only 17% of all Americans thought obesity was a major problem. 33% claimed obesity was a minor problem and 49% claimed that it was no problem at all!
The CDC said that only one state, Colorado, has a prevalence of obesity of less than 20%. 32 states had prevalences of 25% or greater, and 6 of those states had 30% of their population qualifying as morbidly obese. Statistics also show that almost 63% of all Americans, while not obese, are overweight!
These discrepancies make me wonder if I’m going crazy! With a full 82% of the population believing that obesity is either not a problem or maybe a minor problem, I’m filled with a kind of hopelessness.
Education has always been thought to be the answer, according to 75% of the population. This means that the nutritional educational programs that are in schools, health clubs, workshop programs at hospitals, girl scouts and boy scouts, and many other venues are either not working or are not bringing the kind of public awareness to the population that is needed for a change to occur.
On the same internet page where I found the today’s article were five ads for different diets and treatments to lose weight. We know that diets don’t work. It seems that education isn’t working very much either.
DrDawn July 30th, 2009
By Dr. Dawn Bantel, Medical Director, Mirasol Eating Disorder Recovery Centers
I don’t think that I’ve ever met an eating disordered client that didn’t struggle with digestive issues. The digestive tract is directly affected by binging, purging and restricting. The discomfort from digestive problems is a common obstacle to recovery. It’s such a challenge for women to adhere to their meal plans when their bodies are rebelling.
Women with eating disorders often experience heartburn, indigestion, gas, bloating and constipation. Fortunately, naturopathic supplements are very effective in assisting efficient digestion. Using digestive enzymes with meals assists in the breakdown of foods. A probiotic supplement can reduce gas, bloating and constipation. Drinking aloe vera juice can calm heartburn. And I often prescribe a magnesium citrate supplement to ensure regularity.
The whole foods approach is healing in itself. Whole foods supply needed fiber. Many people have too little fiber in their diets. I may encourage the use of ground flax meal to increase one’s fiber intake. Water is important for regularity, especially in the desert environment. A minimum of half your weight in ounces should be ingested each day.
Finally, the most important “supplement” is reducing stress and anxiety. Our program emphases the creation of stress-management tools for each client. Yoga, bodywork and healthy exercise are encouraged as lifestyle changes. I also help women train their bodies by allowing regular bathroom time. These are all important and effective components of healthy digestion.