Eating Disorder Awareness Week

2/26/2024

By Megan Samuels, MSW, LMSW, Outreach Coordinator

This year, eating disorder awareness week is from Monday, February 26 to Sunday, March 3, 2024.

Eating disorder awareness week helps to promote education about eating disorders and get people connected with treatment options.

I wanted to provide some statistics to emphasize that eating disorders do not discriminate - they are happening all around us and they are impacting people of all races, ethnicities, religions, and sexual orientations. The second half of this blog will dive into warning signs and symptoms of eating disorders.

87% of LGBTQ youth report dissatisfaction with their body (The Trevor Project, 2022).
BIPOC individuals with eating disorders are 50% less likely to be diagnosed or receive treatment (Deloitte Access Economics, 2020).
Transgender college students are four times as likely to report an eating disorder diagnosis than cisgender college students (Diemer et al., 2015).
Black and hispanic people are more likely to suffer from Bulimia Nervosa than non-Hispanic and non-black individuals (Becker et al., 2003).
Asian American college students report higher levels of restriction, purging, and body dissatisfaction than their white or non-Asian peers (Uri et al, 2021).

These statistics help to illustrate that eating disorders don’t have a “look” and that there is no “right” or “wrong” way to have an eating disorder.

Eating disorder symptoms can also differ from person to person. A lot of people think of eating disorders as weight loss, restricting or purging, but there are many other warning signs that someone may be struggling with an eating disorder.

Some other common symptoms and symptoms:

Cooks meals for others without eating themselves
Overuse of condiments: i.e. mustard, hot sauce, etc.
Eating in secret or hiding food; eating alone out of embarrassment of amount of food; fear of eating in public
Recurring episodes of eating a large amount of food
Physical health symptoms such as G.I. issues, abdominal pain, cold intolerance, dizziness
High level of stress when foods their eating disorder deems as ‘healthy’ are not available
Maintains a strict exercise schedule and has trouble taking “rest” days from exercise/movement
Spending a lot of time and energy thinking about food and your body

These are some of the specific symptoms around food and body image that someone with an eating disorder may exhibit. One of the things that makes eating disorders unique and complex is that they often co-occur with another mental health disorder. For example, someone with an eating disorder may also be experiencing a mood disorder, OCD, trauma, or an anxiety disorder.

Finding a specialist who can treat both the eating disorder and the co-occurring disorders can be difficult to find. It’s so important to see someone who truly specializes in eating disorder treatment.

At The Eating Disorder Center, our clinicians can assess and treat eating disorders and some co-occurring disorders. We can provide a one time assessment or ongoing therapy or coaching services for yourself or for a loved one.

Please contact us today to see how we can help support your healing journey!

Schedule a free 15 min consult for eating disorder therapy in MD, VA, DC, NY, FL, or recovery coaching worldwide.

Click here.

The Eating Disorder Center is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin. We specialize in helping teens and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, OSFED, and body image issues. We provide eating disorder therapy in Rockville, MD, easily accessible to individuals in Potomac, North Potomac, Bethesda, Olney, Silver Spring, Germantown, and Washington D.C. We also provide eating disorder therapy in Arlington, Virginia and virtually throughout Virginia. Additionally, we offer eating disorder therapy virtually in New York (NYC), Florida, and California. We provide eating disorder recovery coaching via Zoom to people worldwide. Connect with us through our website at www.theeatingdisordercenter.com

*Disclaimer: The information is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for your independent medical decision-making nor a recommendation or endorsement for any particular treatment plan, organization, provider, professional service, or product. The information may change without notice. No claims, promises, or guarantees are made about the completeness, accuracy, currency, content or quality of information linked. You assume all responsibility and risk for any use of the information.

References:

Becker, A. E., Franko, D. L., Speck, A., & Herzog, D. B. (2003). Ethnicity and differential access to care for eating disorder symptoms. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 33(2), 205-212. doi:10.1002/eat.10129
Deloitte Access Economics. The Social and Economic Cost of Eating Disorders in the United States of America: A Report for the Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders and the Academy for Eating Disorders. June 2020. Available at: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/striped/report-economic-costs-of-eating-disorders/.
Diemer, E. W., Grant, J. D., Munn-Chernoff, M. A., Patterson, D. A., & Duncan, A. E. (2015). Gender Identity, sexual orientation, and eating-related pathology in a national sample of college students. Journal of Adolescent Health, 57(2), 144–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.03.003
The Trevor Project. (2022). Research Brief: Eating Disorders among LGBTQ Youth. Available at: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/research-briefs/eating-disorders-among-lgbtq-youth-feb-2022/. Accessed on December 14, 2023
Uri, R. C., Wu, Y., Baker, J. H., & Munn-Chernoff, M. A. (2021). Eating disorder symptoms in Asian American college students. Eating Behaviors, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2020.101458

Priorities when Struggling with Bipolar Disorder

2/1/2024

By Megan Samuels, MSW, LMSW, Outreach Coordinator

People struggling with bipolar disorder can experience mood fluctuations that may be severe and that can impair everyday functioning.

While we cannot prevent all contributions to clinically impairing mood fluctuations, such as a potential genetic predisposition, we can take a look at other areas of a person’s life to reduce the intensity or frequency of mood fluctuations. Some other factors that can contribute to the intensity and frequency of mood fluctuations in folks with bipolar disorder include stress, major life events or life changes, and lack of regular and plentiful sleep.

This blog will outline some priorities to focus on when it comes to reducing or maintaining symptoms of bipolar disorder.

Some priorities include:

Consistent medication management (if a part of the treatment plan): For people with bipolar disorder, medication can be a treatment option used to regulate mood and symptoms that can contribute to mood fluctuations. This typically looks like a medication or a combination of medications that is prescribed by a psychiatrist. It is important that the psychiatrist is educated about bipolar disorder and the treatment for it.
Stress management: Stress can be a trigger for people struggling with bipolar disorder. Stress management can be an important preventative tool for an escalation of mood symptoms. Stress management options can vary. Some examples are taking an anti-anxiety medication or practicing yoga or meditation consistently. Talking to a therapist who specializes in bipolar disorder can also help with stress management, as well as providing tools and tips for better managing and coping with mood fluctuations.
Increase sleep hygiene: A change in sleep patterns or a decrease in the amount or the quality of sleep can be a trigger for someone struggling with bipolar disorder. It can be important to have a consistent sleep routine that includes a relatively similar bedtime and wake up time each day.
Safety planning: For some people with bipolar disorder, safety may be a concern. Intense depressive moods may contribute to thoughts of not wanting to be alive. As these mood changes can happen fast, it is vital to have a safety plan for someone who may be struggling with bipolar disorder. This safety plan can include triggers, warning signs, coping skills, support people’s contact information, name and contact information of the therapist and psychiatrist, a list of current medications, and the nearest hospital location. A safety plan is recommended to be completed with a therapist or another mental health professional. The safety plan should be completed and distributed to team members (therapist, psychiatrist, etc.) and/or loved ones. This can make it easier for loved ones to support the person struggling with symptoms when symptoms arise. A safety plan can also give loved ones an idea of what symptoms are manageable on an outpatient basis and what symptoms may require more intensive care.
Social Support: It can be helpful to seek social support with other people who are struggling with similar symptoms. This can help to reduce stigma and feelings of shame or isolation. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance offers free support groups for people struggling with bipolar disorder and for family members of a loved one who is struggling with bipolar disorder. More information can be found on their website: https://www.dbsalliance.org/support/chapters-and-support-groups/online-support-groups/

These priorities can be things to think about or conversations to have with your loved ones and/or treatment team. Remember that no two people are the same, so these priorities may have to be shifted or altered to best support someone’s journey with bipolar disorder. My hope is that this provides a starting place for thinking through how to prevent and decrease triggers of bipolar disorder and live a more fulfilling life - with less mood swings that interfere with daily functioning.

Working with professionals who are highly knowledgeable about bipolar disorder can feel refreshing and hopeful.

Check out our other blog posts about bipolar disorder:

Our practice sees individuals with bipolar disorder for virtual therapy in Maryland, Virginia, and Florida.

If you are struggling with bipolar disorder click the link below to schedule a free 15 min phone consultation with a therapist.

Click here.

The Eating Disorder Center is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin. We specialize in helping teens and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, OSFED, and body image issues. We provide eating disorder therapy in Rockville, MD, easily accessible to individuals in Potomac, North Potomac, Bethesda, Olney, Silver Spring, Germantown, and Washington D.C. We also provide eating disorder therapy in Arlington, Virginia and virtually throughout Virginia. Additionally, we offer eating disorder therapy virtually in New York (NYC), Florida, and California, serving those in cities including Palo Alto, San Francisco, Newport Beach, Los Angeles, Woodland Hills, San Jose, and Beverly Hills. We provide eating disorder recovery coaching via Zoom to people worldwide. Connect with us through our website at www.theeatingdisordercenter.com

*Disclaimer: If you are having thoughts of death/harm to yourself or someone else, call 988 or text HOME to 741-741. If you need immediate assistance, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

*Disclaimer: The information is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for your independent medical decision-making nor a recommendation or endorsement for any particular treatment plan, organization, provider, professional service, or product. You assume all responsibility and risk for any use of the information.

Eating Disorder Awareness Week

Priorities when Struggling with Bipolar Disorder

The Eating Disorder Center

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Eating Disorder Awareness Week

Priorities when Struggling with Bipolar Disorder

The Eating Disorder Center

Archives

Categories

Contact Us*For emergencies, please contact 911 or your local emergency number.

Phone

Email

Location

Contact Us

*For emergencies, please contact 911 or your local emergency number.