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By Megan Samuels, MSW, LMSW, Outreach Coordinator  1. Your teenager has been eating less food. Have you noticed that your teenager is restricting food intake? This typically means that they are not eating as much as they usually do. This may look like skipping meals or eating less during mealtimes. There may be multiple reasons why your teenager has been eating less food, however, it can be a warning sign for disordered eating and should be taken seriously. 2. You have noticed that your child only eats certain foods. Have you noticed that your child is a picky eater and only has a small list of foods that they eat? Or has your child been cutting out certain foods that they normally eat, such as carbs or fat? Either of these can be a sign of an eating disorder. 3. Your teenager spends a long time in the bathroom after meals. Purging, a common symptom of some eating disorders, can include self-induced vomiting. Oftentimes, purging happens after meals. If you notice that your teenager is spending a lot of time in the bathroom after meals, it may be a sign that they are engaging in purging behaviors. 4. Your child is eating food in secrecy. Is your child hiding food? Do you find empty wrappers of food in their room or in their backpack? This may be a sign that your child is feeling ashamed when eating food or certain types of food. Additionally, this may mean that your child is consuming large amounts of food in secrecy. These can be warning signs that your child may be struggling with restriction or binge eating. 5. Your teenager talks about not liking the way that they look. Do you notice your teenager making comments about not liking certain body parts (such as their stomach or thighs)? Does your teenager talk about wanting to lose weight to look a certain way. These can be warning signs that your teenager is struggling with body image. Body image distress is often tied to someone’s relationship with food. 6. You have noticed a lot of laxatives missing. When someone is struggling with food or body image, some people attempt to compensate calories by misusing laxatives. If you notice your teen or child using more laxatives than prescribed by a physician, it may be a sign that they are using laxatives as a tool to control the amount of food they consume or the way that they look. 7. Your teenager has been spending more time than usual exercising. Has your teenager been exercising more than usual? Does their exercise routine feel “rigid” or “compulsive?” Do they continue to exercise through injuries or have trouble taking days off or rest days? These can be signs that your teenager is struggling with their relationship with movement. This is often tied into their relationship with food and body image as well. Check out this blog to help your teenager assess if their relationship with movement is healthy. Check out this blog on recovering from compulsive exercise in an exercise-focused world. 8. You have noticed that your child has been counting calories or only buying foods that they think are “healthy” or “clean." Have you noticed that your child has been trying to eat only a certain amount of calories each day? Are they cutting out foods that are “processed” or “unhealthy?” These can be forms of restriction, which could indicate some sort of disordered eating pattern. Check out this blog on “clean eating.” 9. Going out to restaurants is stressful for your teenager. Does your teenager struggle with going out to eat at restaurants? Is it stressful for them to pick out something to eat on the menu? Do they look at the calories listed on the menu before choosing what to eat? This can be a sign that they could benefit from learning to have a healthier relationship with food. If you think that your teenager may be struggling with food or body image, we can help! We have eating disorder therapists and coaches who can support your child’s healing journey from disordered eating, eating disorders, and/or body image distress. Curious as to what will happen when you reach out to us for help? Check out this blog that explains the intake process! Additionally, this blog outlines some important details on why your child should see an eating disorder specialist if they are struggling with food and/or body image. Schedule a free 15 min consult for eating disorder therapy in MD, VA, DC, NY, FL, or recovery coaching worldwide. Click here. *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. 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
By Caroline Roberts, EDC Intern  Dear Athlete, Congratulations on making it to this level in your athletic career! Congratulations on all your hard work paying off to get you to this moment. Congratulations on being part of that (approximately) 7% of high school athletes that move on to play at the college level. Congratulations, you deserve to take pride in this accomplishment. However, with this experience, please be sure to reflect and stay informed about the less glamorous territory that may come with being a collegiate athlete. I know putting in hours of additional work after your mandated practice time may seem like the secret to success at this level, however it is not. I know only eating “clean” foods in order to “stay lean” may seem like the secret to success at this level, however it is not. Restricting caloric intake in order to lose weight so that you “move faster” may sound like a productive approach, however it is not. At times during your sport, it may seem appropriate to base your worth on your success on the field, court, track, etc., however it is not. The secret to being a successful college athlete is finding a healthy balance. When you enter the collegiate level of any sport, the expectations of your coaches, teammates, and even family members seem to be much higher than they were at any point in your athletic career prior. It’s very easy to want to exceed all these expectations by utilizing whatever your version of “the secret to success” is, yet this distorted approach can oftentimes create an unhealthy mindset that can lead to anxiety, depression, and/or eating disorders. So how do you find a healthy balance for both your mental and physical health? Well first, you must reflect. It can be difficult to acknowledge or even realize that your behavior could be potentially harmful to your health, but there are many signs that your body and brain display that can be clear indicators. 1. Your body is in constant pain or you constantly obtain overuse injuries While it is normal to play through some minor aches and soreness, if your body is constantly hurting this could be a red flag. As an athlete it is crucial to take care of your body so that you cannot only thrive as an athlete but as an individual as well. Injured athletes are impacted far beyond the quality of their physical state. Being injured greatly increases an athletes’ risk of developing anxiety and depression due to not being able to perform in their sport. So, listen to the aches of your body in order to protect both your physical and mental health! 2. You feel extremely fatigued all the time Feeling tired is different from feeling fatigued. If you are taking proper care of yourself, i.e., getting sufficient rest and nutrients, it is likely that you may still feel tired due to the amount of physical activity that athletics demand, but you should not feel fatigued. You may feel tired from an early morning lift, or a late-night training session, however fatigue is feeling constantly tired and weak. Fatigue can be a symptom of anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. If you notice you are feeling this way, reflect on your moods and eating habits, and if necessary, reach out to a family member, friend, or doctor for support! 3. Your weight fluctuates greatly in the downward direction in a short duration of time Weight fluctuation is normal, especially as an athlete. This fluctuation can oftentimes be due to loss of water weight through sweating, or a gain in weight due to gaining muscle. However, if you are noticing that your weight is trending down at a rapid rate, it may be time to reflect on your eating habits! With the increased exercise load that athletes endure, it is crucial to properly fuel your body. The notion that “if you are thinner or leaner you will perform better” is FALSE. This is a common misconception for athletes that leads to unhealthy disordered eating. Thinking with this mentality, combined with other overwhelming anxieties that may come with playing sports, can lead to disorders such as orthorexia nervosa or anorexia nervosa. If you notice that you are struggling mentally and physically with your relationship to food, reach out to a loved one or doctor for support! And remember, your weight has nothing to do with your performance, as long as that weight is appropriate for your body! 4. You no longer enjoy something you once loved This may be the biggest indicator your behaviors surrounding your athletic career are at an imbalance. This is the game you are supposed to love, so if you find yourself no longer excited to play your sport, then you may be experiencing burnout. This is a condition in which athletes no longer enjoy their sport, often feeling fatigued and showing a decline in their performance. While burnout can occur just from a college athletes’ busy schedule, the severity of it is often amplified by overtraining or the toxic misconceptions surrounding “the ideal athlete”. This condition tends to lead to anxiety and/or depression. If you find yourself feeling this way, don’t panic! Sometimes the solution is just a break or some time away from your sport. Another solution may be reaching out to your schools’ Sports Psychologist. College is supposed to be fun! Playing your sport is supposed to be fun! Creating a healthy balance to ensure optimal mental and physical health, will help you not only find success in those endeavors, but also allow you to have fun while doing so. So remember to reflect on your behaviors, and listen to your body if you experience constant injury, fatigue, or burnout! These signs should not be dismissed as normal occurrences, but rather reminders to take care of yourself. Want more? 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
By Megan Samuels, MSW, LMSW, Outreach Coordinator  Looking for extra recovery support in between therapy or coaching sessions? Maybe you are a clinician looking for activities to incorporate into sessions with folks struggling with disordered eating. This blog outlines three different eating disorder recovery activities that may be helpful.
Want more? The therapists and coaches at The Eating Disorder Center often uses creative interventions during sessions to support eating disorder recovery. Contact us today for a free 15-minute consultation to see if we would be a good fit to support. Are you a clinician looking to increase your skills or knowledge about treating folks with eating disorders or body image disturbance? You have come to the right place! We offer clinical consultations and trainings to support each clinician’s unique learning journey. Contact us today for more information on these services. *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. You assume all responsibility and risk for any use of the information. 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
By Caroline Roberts, EDC Intern  Please note that the person interviewed for this blog post is a personal contact of the author and not a current or past client of The Eating Disorder Center. I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with a current college student, who shall remain anonymous, who is in recovery from an eating disorder. This individual struggled with anorexia throughout the duration of their high school career, and has experienced relapses in the form of binging and purging episodes and restrictive habits along the way. However difficult their battle with their eating disorder has been, and continues to be, they have made immense progress in overcoming their disorder. Now, as a college student, they are learning to adapt to the challenges that this new environment poses to them and their eating disorder. And they have some advice to offer from their experience thus far! *For the sake of this blog and the requested anonymity we will refer to the interviewee as Jane* This wasn’t so much an interview (or if it was, it was the world’s shortest one), as I simply posed one question to Jane: Based on your experiences battling an eating disorder in a college environment, what advice do you have for someone who is in a similar position?” To this prompt, Jane responded with many helpful tips, derived from their own experiences. Disclaimer from Jane: “Well I think it’s important to first acknowledge that I by no means have been perfect in my recovery. Recovery isn’t linear and that is one of the hardest parts of battling an eating disorder.” This is extremely important for anyone struggling with an eating disorder and for someone who is supporting a loved one through recovery. It is easy for someone in either of these positions to get discouraged from one bad day after a streak of progressive days, however, every day in recovery (good, bad, or in between) is all part of the process! Tip #1: “Surround yourself with people who care about you, and who you can trust” Jane explained that they realize this is applicable to all eating disorder recovery, whether you are attending college or not, however they expressed that it’s even more important to find that support system while away at school. They explain that it was both relieving and unnerving to no longer be surrounded by people that knew about their condition. Relieving to not be “known for” someone that has an eating disorder, but unnerving to no longer have their parents, siblings, and close friends holding them accountable. Jane quickly learned that they would not be able to maintain their recovery journey alone, and found support for their eating disorder after confiding in friends and even some faculty members on campus. Having support made the recovery process seem so much more attainable, because they weren’t fighting this on their own. Tip #2: “Keep a journal to write your thoughts in” Once again, Jane acknowledged that this is a pretty typical exercise that therapists recommend to their clients, but further expressed that they, personally, had never taken journaling “so seriously” until they were “on their own." As Jane mentioned earlier, they did find comfort in the friendships they made so it wasn’t actually as if they were “on their own," yet sometimes their eating disorder would make them feel as if they were alone. Toxic and irrational thoughts would develop in regards to food, body image, and self worth. Thoughts that were beyond the scope of what Jane felt comfortable sharing with their new peers. So, journaling became somewhat of a safe haven. They explained they would write down whatever terrible things they were thinking on a piece of paper and then crumble the paper up, as a way to release their negative thoughts. Tip #3: “Prioritize all forms of self care” Jane expressed that college can be chaotic with classes, a social life, obligations to sports and clubs, etc. These commitments combined with trying to set up your entire future can be overwhelming, to say the least. Amidst all of the chaos, it can be easy to have an inconsistent sleep schedule because of going out with your friends or spending hours in the library studying. However, they explained that once they started prioritizing their health in these ways, it allowed for a healthier relationship with food to develop as well. When Jane created a routine and did things that helped them to feel healthier and happier as a person, like going for walks outside or putting time into ‘hair care,’ it put into perspective that food would also make them feel that way. Jane explained that these hygienic habits also acted as a distractor from toxic and irrational thoughts. Going away to school is overwhelming for any individual, regardless of their relationship with food. It can mean being around new people, having more responsibilities, and sometimes being hours away from home. It’s scary! The added stress of having to battle an eating disorder can seem paralyzing. Jane says to “take it one day at a time.” They still face daily battles with their eating disorder, but the tips they mentioned above help them to keep battling and to keep moving in the direction of recovery. 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
 Sarah Baginski is an eating disorder recovery coach who has a passion for helping people to recover from eating disorders and body image issues after having personally recovered herself. She provides eating disorder recovery coaching, with a specialty in working with teens and adults struggling with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, body image issues, disordered eating, and athletes. She works with people virtually worldwide. Sarah graduated with her Master’s in Clinical Social Work and has prior experience working in an outpatient clinic and a group practice as a psychotherapist providing individual and couples therapy. As a therapist she is a certified Dialectical Behavioral Therapy practitioner. She gained experience in individual coaching and recognized she was passionate about this area as well. She also holds a certificate in coaching from The Institute For Integrative Nutrition. Additionally, she has completed numerous trainings in the treatment of eating disorders. Sarah loves helping clients to recover and reclaim their lives from eating disorders-to connect to their true values. We provide eating disorder recovery coaching via video to folks worldwide. Eating disorder recovery coaching serving clients in all states including, Maryland, Virginia, New York, California, Washington D.C., Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, New Jersey and Michigan. The Eating Disorder Center has some of the top eating disorder therapists based in Rockville, Maryland. However we are able to work with clients virtually throughout Maryland.
We love working with children (age 5+), teens, and adults who are tired of feeling trapped by an eating disorder, exhausted from constantly thinking about food and their body, and hate what they see when they look in the mirror. You don't have to continue to feel so trapped! The Eating Disorder Center provides virtual eating disorder therapy in Maryland for children, teens, and adults with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, OSFED, orthorexia, ARFID, and compulsive exercise serving clients in Rockville, Bethesda, Potomac, Gaithersburg, Olney, North Bethesda, North Potomac, Annapolis, Clarksville, Cabin John, Bel Air and virtually throughout Maryland. Freedom is possible. We offer a free 15 min phone consultation to see if it's a good fit! By Megan Samuels, MSW, LMSW, Outreach Coordinator  I had the pleasure to sit down with one of our fabulous recovery coaches, Javoni Cobb! One of the many things I love about Javoni is her passion and dedication for supporting people in recovery from an eating disorder. She provides eating disorder recovery coaching, with a specialty in working with children, teens and adults struggling with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, body image issues, compulsive exercise, and anxiety. You can read more about her here! Megan: Tell me a little bit about yourself and what fueled your interest in helping people to recover from eating disorders? Javoni: I was born and raised in Florida and I grew up exploring all things dance, theatre, sports, and singing! I love to explore new things and try things that scare me, which was part of my introduction to working with people struggling with eating disorders. As a student in graduate school, my internship was at an eating disorder recovery center, which was very scary because I didn’t know much about the population. The clinical director took me under her wing and gave me as much information as possible and I became interested in the recovery journey that I saw client's on. I was then conducting individual sessions and meal support sessions for clients with eating disorders. I really enjoy working with this population because I learned so much about myself, my strength, and how I can pull strength from my clients in their darkest moments. I stuck with this population and grew to respect, learn, and then love working with eating disorders. Megan: What would you say are some common misconceptions when it comes to eating disorders? Javoni: The most common misconception is that eating disorders have a look. I really struggle with hearing that a lot of clients or prospective clients neglected treatment because they didn’t look like they had an eating disorder; or they had been turned away from treatment for the same reasons. Another one is that one diagnosis is more "unhealthy" or "worse" than the other. I believe that people have a hierarchy that comes from diet culture, which is the same standard that they give to eating disorders, which can be very dangerous when you hear the terms "sick enough". Another misconception is that eating disorders are only about food. It is so much more than food for many people. It's about trauma, it's about fear, it's about feeling and hearing that a person isn't good enough so often that they begin to believe it. Megan: How would you describe your approach as an eating disorder recovery coach? Javoni: My approach as an eating disorder recovery coach incorporates making sure every client has an individual plan based on their experiences. I focus on gradual change and use DBT and CBT skills to challenge unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Due to my background in higher levels of care I can see the negative impact of expecting someone to change everything all at once, so I try my best to implement small changes over the course of treatment. I think a good pace helps with consistency which is so important in the recovery process. CBT and DBT are some of my best tools as they help clients to make sense out of their experience, and I also work to incorporate new coping skills for clients that are specific to their life and experience. Megan: Do you subscribe to a health at every size approach? Javoni: I subscribe to a health at every size approach because it is important to accept the diversity of body sizes but also teaching that a different body doesn’t mean an unhealthy body, an unloveable body, or an unworthy body. The health at every size (HAES) approach helps clients to learn that their body is enough and that they are fine where and how they are. Megan: What would you say are some of the biggest challenges and most rewarding aspects of your job? Javoni: The biggest challenge of my job is accepting when clients are not ready for the recovery journey - even when I want recovery so badly for them. I also understand that people recover when they are ready and have a mindset for change. The most rewarding aspect is seeing clients live the life that they once thought was impossible. For example, if a client goes to a restaurant and orders what they want without thinking about how it impacts their body, a reward of doing this work is them telling me how freeing that experience was for them. Megan: What is one piece of advice that you would give someone who is struggling in their recovery? Javoni: One piece of advice that I will give someone struggling in recovery is to identify one small thing that they are willing to change and focus on that for as long as they need to. I would also tell them to surround themself with people or an environment that is conducive to the recovery that they want. Megan: What are your biggest pet peeves about diet culture? Javoni: My biggest pet peeve about diet culture is that it is everywhere. This means that someone in recovery may have to navigate the world knowing they will often be exposed to so many triggering things. Another pet peeve is the lack of research behind so many aspects of diet culture. One thing I've learned about my work is that people want to know that it is evidence-based. Diet culture and dieting have so many disadvantages, but some people are so desperate for the results that theses disadvantages are overlooked. I hope that people will begin to question the information they receive around food and body image and learn to create an understanding that makes sense for their life and experiences, as every relationship with food and body image is individual. Megan: What would be a few of your tips for someone who is struggling with negative body image in recovery? Javoni: For the person struggling with body image, I would tell them that their body belongs to them and is not the property of our society. That being said, whatever you have been told about your body remember that it is yours, and it is okay to find new ways to like it, love it, and live with it. I would also tell them that body acceptance may feel far from where they are, but that doesn't mean that it is impossible to reach. I use skills and tools in session that I've found to be really helpful in terms of helping client to improve their relationship with their bodies. Want more? Check out this blog that explains what recovery coaching is and how it can benefit your recovery journey! 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, as well as in D.C. 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
By Megan Samuels, MSW, LMSW, Outreach Coordinator  Orthorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder that is characterized by an obsession to eat “clean” or so called “healthy foods”. The diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders - fifth edition (DSM-5) does not formally recognize orthorexia nervosa as an eating disorder, however it has been on the rise for decades as new diets have evolved and that there has been more emphasis to eat “clean” or “healthy”. Not having a diagnostic criteria can make it difficult for people to be diagnosed and treated with orthorexia nervosa. Similar to anorexia nervosa, orthorexia nervosa includes restriction of food groups, rigidity around food, potential weight loss, potential health impacts, and body image disturbance. Note: Just being orthorexia nervosa is not in the DSM-5, does not make it any less dangerous of an eating disorder. Many people struggling with orthorexia nervosa suffer emotional, physical, and psychological consequences as a result of this disorder. If you think you are struggling with orthorexia nervosa, you deserve help and treatment! What does eating “clean” mean? Ultimately this is mainly a diet culture buzzword that has many definitions, however one definition of eating “clean” includes eating whole foods that are not processed or already prepared. This can also include eating whole grain pasta or bread and organic fruits and vegetables. The assumption is that other foods that are not “clean” are “dirty, “bad,” or “unhealthy” (which is totally false). Signs of Orthorexia Nervosa
How do you know if you struggle with orthorexia nervosa? If you experience any of the signs of orthorexia nervosa that are listed above, you may be struggling with orthorexia nervosa. The first step is to talk to an eating disorder therapist or dietitian who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders. There is often an overlap of orthorexia nervosa and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) because of the rigidity around food and the obsession with eating certain types of foods and having them be prepared in particular ways. So, how is this treated? Similar to other eating disorders, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) can help. Medical interventions and monitoring may also be needed. The therapists at The Eating Disorder Center have trainings in these therapeutic modalities to support the recovery journey for someone struggling with orthorexia nervosa. You can read more about Dialectical Behavior Therapy as a treatment modality for eating disorders here. *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. You assume all responsibility and risk for any use of the information. Schedule a free 15 min consult for eating disorder therapy in MD, VA, 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
By Megan Samuels, MSW, LMSW, Outreach Coordinator  After numerous applications and interviews, we are thrilled to announce a new recovery coach to our team! Enjoy this interview with Sarah to get to know her more. She is currently taking new virtual recovery coaching clients. Reach out to us to schedule a free 15-minute coaching consultation with Sarah! Megan: Tell me a little bit about yourself and what fueled your interest in helping people to recover from eating disorders? Sarah: My interest in helping people to recover from eating disorders stems from my personal struggle with an eating disorder. At the time, I couldn’t imagine a life without these disordered thoughts/behaviors consuming every waking minute of my day. I felt hopelessly trapped. Looking back, I am so grateful for my friends and family, who pushed me to get the help I needed, yet did not feel worthy of it for so long. Finding and working with my own therapist, who had recovered from an eating disorder herself was a pivotal moment in my own recovery. She showed me that full recovery was and is possible. I am so grateful I reached out for help and held on. It is my passion to hold space for people navigating recovery from eating disorders and body image issues because I know firsthand that true recovery is possible! Megan: What would you say are some common misconceptions when it comes to eating disorders? Sarah: There are so many misconceptions when it comes to eating disorders. To name a few:
Megan: How would you describe your approach as an eating disorder recovery coach? Sarah: My approach is client-centered and empowering. I meet my clients exactly where they are in recovery, and hold space for their feelings, while firmly challenging them to examine their beliefs and behaviors from a place of self-compassion. Megan: Do you subscribe to a health at every size approach? Sarah: Yes, I work within the framework of health at every size. This approach accepts and respects the inherent diversity of body shapes and sizes, and rejects the idealizing or pathologizing of specific weights. My role is to help my clients understand that their purpose in life is not to lose weight or look a certain way in order to have value in this world. HAES means prioritizing your well-being above all else! Megan: How is your life as a recovered person different from your life in an eating disorder? Sarah: There is so much freedom, joy, and room for spontaneity in my life as a recovered person! Recovery has allowed me to connect to my personal values and true self in an entirely new way. I’ve uncovered new passions and hobbies, formed new and tended to old relationships and connections, and re-discovered a love for ALL FOODS (notably ice cream and pizza). Megan: What is one piece of advice that you would give someone who is struggling in their recovery? Sarah: Be gentle with yourself as you go through the healing process; recovery is not linear. There will be victories and moments of discomfort. My piece of advice is to lean into the moments of discomfort, even if you don’t feel “ready”. Give yourself grace when you are all down, and know that each and every time you get back up, you’re choosing recovery. You got this! Megan: What are your biggest pet peeves about diet culture? Sarah: One of my biggest pet peeves about diet culture is the normalization and glorification of disordered tendencies in the pursuit of “health”. Diet culture is sneaky. It tells us there is a “right” and “wrong” way to eat. It normalizes eating disorder behaviors like restriction or excessive exercise. It tells us that a thin body is the epitome of health. This messaging is everywhere from social media to grocery store aisles or casual conversations with coworkers over the most recent fad diet. As a result of these messages and societal expectations, it can be difficult to differentiate between a health-conscious behavior and an eating disorder behavior. When the line between health and eating disorder gets blurry, take a step back and ask yourself: Does this satisfy ME or my eating disorder? What is my motivation behind this food choice or behavior? Megan: What would be a few of your tips for someone who is struggling with negative body image in recovery? Sarah: My first tip for someone who is struggling with negative body image in recovery is to stay off the scale! The number on the scale does not define your worth, and can be incredibly triggering! Instead, think about and celebrate all of the amazing things your body does for you—dancing, breathing, laughing, dreaming, etc. Your body is a vehicle to carry you through life- not a metric of self-worth! My second tip is to set goals for your body image journey that have nothing to do with the physical size/shape of your body. Words that may resonate with you include trust, respect, compassion, gratitude, neutrality, and acceptance. Get clear on what it is that you want out of recovery, and remember that trust in your body is important to fully embrace recovery! My third tip is to be gentle with yourself! Do something nice for yourself — something that lets your body know you appreciate it. Put lotion on yourself, make time for a nap, or find a peaceful place outside to relax. When you’re struggling, try to lean into self-compassion. Here are some of my favorite self-compassionate statements to consider:
My fourth tip is to ask yourself what might be underneath your bad body image. Often it's easier to say "I hate my thighs" than "I feel lonely and alone." Trying to figure out the underlying emotions can be so helpful in addressing what is actually going on-and helping you to realize that often folks use their body as a punching bag for other issues in their lives. Want more? Check out this blog that explains what recovery coaching is and how it can benefit your recovery journey! 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, as well as in D.C. 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
By Jennifer Rollin, MSW, LCSW-C As a therapist who specializes in both eating disorders and mood disorders (including bipolar disorder and depression) based in Rockville, Maryland, I find that there are many therapists who are not knowledgeable about bipolar disorder and that there is also a lot of stigma surrounding it.
The following are a few tips for coping if you are struggling with bipolar disorder. You can thrive in your life with a bipolar diagnosis, despite popular misconceptions and stigma. 1. Find a therapist and treatment team who specialize in bipolar disorder. It's so important to find a therapist who specializes in bipolar disorder if you are struggling with it, as there are many factors that are important to address and most graduate programs do not spend time discussing specifically how to treat bipolar disorder. You wouldn't see a primary care physician for brain surgery. Additionally, medication can be helpful for many individuals with bipolar disorder. It can be helpful to find a psychiatrist who is well versed in bipolar disorder and who you can reach out to for intervention if you notice that your mood is shifting. It's important to note that SSRIs and SNRIs on their own can lead to hypomanic and/or mania for many individuals with bipolar disorder so typically if someone with BP is on one of those medications a mood stabilizer will be added. 2. Track your mood, triggers, and symptoms. In order to learn how to better cope and manage mood episodes, it can be helpful to begin by tracking your mood states, as well as various triggers and symptoms for a few weeks. While sometimes moods can shift with no obvious triggers, there are other times where you may notice that things externally can contribute. This can help to cultivate an awareness of how to better manage triggers. It can also be helpful to start to be able to recognize subtle shifts that could indicate the beginning stages of a depressive, hypomanic or manic episode-that way you can hopefully intervene before it becomes a full blown episode. Examples of some common potential triggers for mood state shifts include: -medication changes -a reduction in sleep/sleep changes in general -stressful life circumstances -for some folks seasonal changes 3. Once you have a better understanding of some of your warning signs of the development of a depressive, hypomanic, or manic episode-it can be helpful to develop a plan for how you will cope if you notice warning signs and to share this document of warning signs and a coping plan with loved ones. Some examples of potential coping strategies could include: -When feeling hypomanic or manic, running any major life decisions by a friend or partner before acting (and potentially giving credit cards to a loved one as well). -Behavioral activation strategies for depression. -Calling your psychiatrist when you notice yourself going into a hypomanic, manic, or depressive episode. 4. Work to find a sense of community. Living with bipolar disorder may feel isolating. So it can be helpful to find community of others with the diagnosis either online or in person. It can also be helpful to further educate yourself about bipolar disorder and listen to stories of others. There are a few good podcasts on the topic. One that I was a guest on which is a great podcast is called Live Well Bipolar. The Bottom Line While living with bipolar disorder can present challenges, you can learn how to better cope, manage triggers, and develop a great treatment team, which can enable you to thrive and live a life according to your true values. Book Your Free 15 min Consult for Therapy for bipolar disorder (co-morbid with an eating disorder or on it's own) in MD, VA or FL. 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, as well as in D.C. 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 |
The Eating Disorder CenterWe are a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center in Rockville, Maryland. Archives
November 2023
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