Eating Disorder Hope Monthly Newsletter

By Kimberly Dennis, M.D.
Medical Director of Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center

I am sure most of us at one time or another has felt guilty for going back for a second or third serving of food, whether or not we are still hungry. During a holiday party or special occasion, it's common to "overindulge." It is probably the most socially-sanctioned way to escape or medicate the tensions that arise during hectic holiday times at family gatherings. It also happens to be one of the least acknowledged ways to stuff intense emotions that might otherwise surface in such settings. This speaks to the depth of denial that we have on a societal level about how people "use" food—the same denial that exists as a major symptom in other addictions to a lesser extent.

Millions of Americans engage in overeating on a daily basis and have a relationship with food that is shrouded in secrecy and shame. While most people identify anorexia or bulimia as eating disorders, the most common eating disorder is the least talked about--binge eating or compulsive overeating. Officially referred to by the medical community as Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (ED-NOS, which includes binge eating disorder), it is the most common eating disorder in the United States, affecting more than 20 million Americans.

Millions of individuals use food as a substance in the same way that others with the disease of addiction use alcohol or drugs. When some people repeatedly consume large amounts of food, their brains receive a relaxed or calming feeling similar to the feeling alcoholics or substance abusers receive when they use. This is related to a similar reaction in the brain's reward circuitry. For some people it's brought on by using food and for others it's alcohol, work, sex, self-injury, gambling, drugs, and/or combinations of any of the above....

Finish reading article

Not All Black Girls Know How to Eat: A Story of Bulimia (Lawrence Hill Books, an imprint of Chicago Review Press, August 2009)

by Stephanie Covington Armstrong.

A raw, compelling memoir that describes the author's struggle as a black woman with a disorder that is consistently portrayed as a white woman's problem. Not All Black Girls Know How to Eat traces Armstrong's upbringing during the 1970s in the rough Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. She grew up poor and hungry in a single-parent household, and foster care, sexual abuse and overwhelming insecurity defined her early years.

"Covington Armstrong's story emboldens women of all colors who might otherwise haveremained quiet to voice their lived experiences with food." —Ms. Magazine

Enter Drawing Here!

"It's Time to Talk About It!" National Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2010 is February 21-27, and registration is FREE! NEDA invites you to do just one thing to raise awareness about eating disorders in your community. Register today to access NEDA's free online resources and networking group; download the electronic Educator Packet; sign up to be or host a Volunteer Speaker; post your event on NEDA's Website; and get discounts on the NEDAwareness Week Kits and Resource and Planning Guide CD-ROM by visiting our website.

NEDA Laugh? Everyone does! "NEDA Laugh" will be a night of comedy bringing laughter and joy to a rather serious topic – eating disorders. Join us for entertainment provided by comedians Jay Hitt and Stephanie Wichmann and a silent auction and help raise eating disorders awareness in Seattle. The event takes place Thursday, February 18, 2010, 6:00 – 8:30 pm at the See Sound Lounge (115 Blanchard St.) in Seattle. Purchase tickets at www.firstgiving.com/neda or contact Jessica Silye: jsilye@myneda.org, 206-382-3587, ext. 22.

Speak at the NEDA Conference in NY! NEDA's Annual Conference for Families and Professionals is entitled "Building Bridges to Recovery" and will take place in NY in October. Submit your presentation proposal online by February 15, 2010. Visit our home page for more info.

NEDA's STAR Program (States for Treatment Access and Research) advocates across the country are actively fighting back against eating disorders by working with state legislators to improve access to treatment and to promote early intervention and prevention programs. To find out about the current initiatives, or how to start advocating for change in your state, visit our website and click on Programs & Events to find out more or email star@myneda.org.

Get Help Today. Call NEDA's toll-free helpline (1-800-931-2237) or visit our website to get confidential referrals to treatment providers, advice on how to navigate the insurance system and more. If you are a treatment provider and would like to be listed on the NEDA website and in treatment referrals that are emailed, faxed and mailed to clients, visit our website or contact Jessica Silye (above) for more info.

National Eating Disorders Association

Klarman Family Foundation Grants Program in Eating Disorders Research ~ Klarman Research Grant for Eating Disorders
The Klarman Family Foundation is interested in providing strategic investment in translational research that will accelerate progress in developing effective treatments for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. The Program's short-term goal is to support the most outstanding science and expand the pool of scientists whose research explores the basic biology of eating disorders...

Announcement: RESEARCH STUDY FOR GIRLS WITH EATING DISORDERS ~ Telephone Number: 212-543-5316
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center are trying to understand the causes of Bulimia Nervosa. We are recruiting girls (13-19 years) who have problems with binge-eating and purging...

Binge Eating Disorder Research Participants Needed
People with binge eating disorder (BED) are needed for a research study in the area of Boston, MA. In this study we are testing whether enhancing brain activity using noninvasive brain stimulation can improve core symptoms of BED and examine the mechanisms involved....

Participants Needed for Online Research Study on Women with a History of Anorexia Nervosa
conducted by a clinical psychology doctoral candidate at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, CA. My research study examines various aspects of internal and external control as they relate to eating attitudes and recovery. I am currently recruiting participants who have recovered from anorexia as well as those who remain symptomatic. If you are a woman between the ages of 18-45, who was initially diagnosed with anorexia nervosa between the ages of 13-25...

More Research Information

Eating Recovery Center

Join the team at the innovative Eating Recovery Center in beautiful Denver, Colorado founded by well-known experts and Certified Eating Disorders Specialists, Dr. Ken Weiner and Dr. Emmett (Rick) Bishop.

www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com

The Following Clinical Positions are Currently Available:

Clinical Program Director: Full-time salaried position, Provides Clinical and Administrative supervision of the clinical program and staff. Puts systems in place that support efficient and effective delivery of services. Ensures ERC treatment philosophy is cohesively presented throughout the program. Participates with Executive Management to ensure quality of services, develop and maintain clinical budget and contribute toward strategic planning initiatives. Develops and implements training protocols. Ensure clinical department's compliance with HIPPA and JCAHO. Is a liaison to other internal departments and to the larger community of Eating Disorder Professionals. Requirement: Licensed MA degree in Counseling Field, understanding of clinical treatment of Eating disorders and minimum of two years management experience

Milieu Supervisor/Clinician: Salaried position 24-30 hours per week supplemented by clinical work seeing patients or families (some weekend availability). Clinically and administratively supervise all Program Therapists. Provides leadership and support to program including review and monitoring of program rules and processes (passes, meal supervision, outings, facilitation of psycho-ed and experiential groups). Ensure quality treatment programming by assisting in development of thorough, written curriculum. Schedule clinical training opportunities and maintain internal clinical training handbooks for Program Therapists. Participates as part of clinical leadership to ensure quality and effectiveness of treatment program. Requirement: Licensed MA degree in Counseling Field, understanding of clinical treatment of Eating disorders and minimum of one year management experience.

Primary Therapist: Full-time salaried position (some weekend rotation). Coordinates the treatment of patients in Inpatient, Residential and Partial Hospitalization levels of care, part of interdisciplinary team, facilitates individual therapy, group therapy and participates in supervised meals. Maintains an average caseload of 6 patients. Completes charting requirements, treatment planning, etc. Coordinates treatment efforts between clinical, dietary and nursing departments for each patient. Provides training inservices to other colleagues according to skill set and needs. Requirement: MA degree in Counseling Field, understanding of clinical treatment of eating disorders and minimum of two year experience.

Questions and resume to: Trudy Brown, HR.
e-mail: tbrown@eatingrecoverycenter.com

NEDA Laugh? Everyone does! "NEDA Laugh" will be a night of comedy bringing laughter and joy to a rather serious topic – eating disorders.

Join us for entertainment provided by comedians Jay Hitt and Stephanie Wichmann and a silent auction and help raise eating disorders awareness in Seattle.

The event takes place Thursday, February 18, 2010, 6:00 – 8:30 pm at the See Sound Lounge (115 Blanchard St.) in Seattle. Purchase tickets at www.firstgiving.com/neda or contact Jessica Silye: jsilye@myneda.org, 206-382-3587, ext. 22.

Buy tickets

@ Rader Programs

Forks scrape the faces of plates; bare tines are pulled through their lips. The sounds and smells of food hang heavy in the air. Dinner disappears from in front of family members; his disperses over the patient plate; spread out and mashed and sliced and diced, but there, still there, again. Shifting uncomfortably in his chair, knowing they know he's not eating, his eyes sink into spaghetti. His parents and siblings share sharp worried glances. Fear for his health, happiness, and life, his father finally erupts, "Why can't you just eat?!"

The Rader Program can assist with this delicate process at: http://www.raderprograms.com

Finish article at Jen's Blog

"Planting Insidious Seeds"
@ Rader Programs

Standing alone, beside bright white lights affixed around a mounted mirror, the soft, silky fabric flows down her legs to the tops of her toes. The dress is breathtaking. Pale pink with tiny, shiny beads threaded along the hem. The muscles in her arm begin to burn from tugging, yanking, pulling at the stubborn zipper. It does not budge. Over her shoulder, she stares at her back in the mirror, catching her breath and resting her arm before attempting again. The deep, open V exposes her skin.

From the dressing room beside her, derogatory comments dart through the door. "Oh my God, I have gained so much weight! I hate my thighs/hips/stomach! I can't believe I don't fit into a size x anymore!! I need to go on a diet. I'm so fat!"

Discontent with different body parts drips down the walls, into each and every room. Hearing these words, feeling them seep through the space just below the ceiling, invading her privacy, the open zipper suddenly seems like a personal failure. Maybe it was not that the dress did not fit, maybe she did not fit into the dress....


The Rader Programs, which includes Body Image and Sexuality Groups, addresses how our culture and society can affect our relationships with food, our bodies, and eating disorders.

Finish article at Jen's Blog

I have always had a strange fascination with day planners. There is something so mesmerizing about those leather bound books holding page after page of scheduling possibilities. In fact, I've been known to make quite the splurge on these little black books. I may or may not have rushed out to buy the "perfect" day planner a few months ago. And I may or may not have filled in a week's worth of activities and then let it sit on my dresser for decoration.
I see New Year's resolutions like my new (though quite dusty) planner. It seemed like a good purchase in the moment, but the reality of keeping up with such a commitment only added stress to my already jam-packed day. Instead of rejoicing over pages filled with scheduling reminders, I flipped through the blank pages with utter disappointment.
In myself, that is; not the planner.
January is the "month of resolutions". This is the month people vow to eat healthier, act nicer, and kick those bad habits. It's the month recovery takes a super-charged step toward freedom and makes all sorts of promises that seem too good to be true (mostly because they are too good to be true).
Then February comes along and instead of rejoicing over the progress we made, we feel discouraged by our lists still awaiting completion. So we file our "Recovery Plans" away in the drawer of "Wishful Thinking" and revert back to old habits and thoughts. The dust builds up on our goals, making February the month of the first dusting session. (I kid you not- I dusted my planner).
Eating disorder recovery should not fall into the same category as New Year's resolutions. Recovery is not something you pick up on January 1st and discard on February 1st. It is not a dust laden book; rather, it is a spiral filled to the brim with changes toward freedom.
Recovery, in a word, is active.
I know people who live as though eating disorder recovery requires no effort. "It's just not working," they complain as they buy a new calorie counting book. "I can't stop," they say as they stand in line, ready to buy their next binge food. "The thoughts just won't go away," they say as they gaze at pictures of models too thin to portray reality. The actions don't change because recovery is looked at as a goal to be checked off a list rather than a life to be lived.
Recovery should never be a checklist of "Do's and Don'ts". It shouldn't even be a resolution. Recovery should be a way of life that you and I strive for everyday.
This year I'm not making any resolutions. I'm not making vows that will harm my health, nor am I joining the bandwagon of obsessive thinking. I am looking forward to the freedom I have gained and have yet to gain, no strings attached.
And I refuse to feel guilty for the blank pages in my planner. That just means I'm out in the world living my life, free from all those constrictive bindings.

Bio
Alexis Sommer is a nineteen year old writer who refuses to let her past define her. She walks in freedom today after having battled anorexia and bulimia for five years. The best day of her life is the day she chose freedom, and now her life is dedicated to showing girls and women the truth about eating disorders and beauty.
Contact Alexis at: alexissommer8@yahoo.com

Check Back Soon for Alexis' new blog!

I. Eating Disorder Hope proudly announces the new 2010 Platinum Sponsorship of Timberline Knolls. We are honored to welcome Timberline Knolls and greatly appreciate their support!

II. Binge Eating Disorder documentary is seeking participants! If you (or someone you know) would like to share your story about binge-eating in a documentary to help high school students, here is your chance. Participants must fit the following criteria:
1.) 25 or younger (give or take a few years). Under age 18 requires parental permission.
2.) Specifically struggled with binge-eating. (Since binge-eating is often a precursor to other eating disorders, you may have struggled with other eating issues as well.)
3.) willing to be videotaped
4.) must be in a good place to talk about the experience with perspective
If you are interested, please contact John, who works at Human Relations Media and is producing the story: jgyoung@hrmvideo.com --- Please let him know a little bit about your story --- highlighting your struggle with binge-eating, how you got help, and how you are doing now.

Is America Obsessed with Beauty? Check out these upcoming screenings, with guest appearances by the Director ~ Darryl Roberts, of this fascinating documentary or order your own DVD copy at: http://americathebeautifuldoc.com/

January 23, 2010 - Dallas, TX
Elizabeth Hughes Screening

February 1, 2010 - Chicago, IL (NOT CONFIRMED)
University of Illinois - Chicago

February 3, 2010 - Clinton, NY
Hamilton College

February 4, 2010 - Brooklyn, NY
Brooklyn Public Library

February 7, 2010 - Liverpool, NY
Ophelia Place Fashion Show

February 18, 2010 - Champaign-Urbana, IL
University of Illinois - Champaign

February 22, 2010 - Evanston, IL
Northwestern University

February 23, 2010 - Daluth, MN
University of Minnesota

February 24, 2010 - Hoffman Estates, IL
Alexian Brothers

February 27, 2010 - Long Beach, CA
Shoreline Treatment Center

February 28,2010 - Reno, Nevada
University of Nevada - Reno

America The Beautiful