Blog
Find information on eating disorders, mental health, nutrition, and other topics in our blog below. For additional information or resources, reach out to us anytime.
Find information on eating disorders, mental health, nutrition, and other topics in our blog below. For additional information or resources, reach out to us anytime.
Can you overcome an eating disorder using willpower alone? With over 25 years of experience, Focus therapist, Missy Cohen, LCSW, tackles this question.
There is no question that overcoming any type of addiction is hard. Thankfully, with the treatment options available today, recovery is possible and so worth it.
When used responsibly, social media can be a great tool for raising eating disorder awareness and providing encouragement.
The road to recovery is paved with many good things, like goals, healthy habits, and knowledge that motivates positive changes. When recovering from an eating disorder while also managing ADHD, understanding how to navigate both can lead to a richly fulfilling life.
Like many mental health issues teens and adults face, eating disorders have a genetic component to them. However, that doesn't mean that adolescents who have parents with eating disorders are destined to inherit one at some point in their lives. Eating disorders are complex with many different factors that can contribute to the onset of anorexia, bulimia, and other types of eating disorders.
Eating disorders can affect the brain in several ways. This includes negatively impacting mental health and overall emotional well-being for teens and adults.
We are born into the world knowing that we eat when we are hungry and we stop when we’re full. We quickly learn what foods we enjoy and what foods we don’t. As we continue to grow, our taste buds evolve, busy schedules and routines affect our meal times, and messages of what’s healthy and what’s not fill our minds.
When seeking out a professional to provide nutrition counseling or meal planning help, the options can be overwhelming! Should you look for a dietitian or nutritionist? Here are some quick facts to help guide you in your search.
You may not always feel compassionate toward yourself, but learning to treat yourself with kindness is an imperative part of recovery. Practice use of kind words, kind actions, kind imagery, and compassionate touch.
Emotions are instinctually designed to protect us from harm. They also give us clues to what we care about/value in life. Begin to recognize and honor your own emotional needs (emotional hungers).
Remember to trust that your dietitian has developed a meal plan and/or eating goals that are optimal for your recovery. Food is medicine.
Speak your truth in an effective and respectful manner. State your needs clearly and without blame, passive-aggression, or self-martyring behaviors.
We often respond to the shame associated with eating disorders by avoiding emotional and physical connection with others. Learn to allow yourself to be supported by others (family, friends, co-workers, etc.).
Identifying values can give meaning/purpose to your recovery. Examples of valued life domains include: family, relationships, career, leisure, health, etc.
Use techniques like diffusion, expansion, mindfulness, and observing self to increase non-judgmental awareness of present moment and create patterns of sustainable behavior change.
It is necessary to set goals that are attainable, not expecting perfection from yourself.
If you're struggling with an eating disorder or an addiction to alcohol or drugs, please know recovery is possible. Our Chattanooga, Tennessee location, Focus Treatment Centers, offers compassionate and comprehensive treatment options. Please visit the website below to learn more.