Eating Disorders

Today’s yoga blog focuses on variations of a common pose taught in yoga: Downward-Facing Dog. Downward Dog is one of those poses many feel a love/hate relationship toward. I know the first time I did a Downward-Facing Dog and I heard the yoga instructor say “this is a resting pose” I almost laughed out loud!To me, it felt like anything but restful. It can be uncomfortable at first, to say the least. One way to curb the discomfort, but still receive the calming, grounding, and stretching benefits is by adapting the pose to meet your body’s needs. Meeting your body where it is and not where you think it should be can allow for building stability in the body and flexibility of the…

by Kitty Westin A reluctant advocate I never wanted to be an advocate. I did not train or study or seek out “master” advocates to mentor me. I did not go to school or attend workshops or listen to webinars about becoming an advocate. I had no intention of starting a movement, being drafted into an army of eating disorder activists or becoming the thorn in the side of insurance companies. However, on February 17, 2000, the day my beloved daughter Anna Westin died of an eating disorder, I was launched into a life that I could not have imagined. The day Anna died of anorexia was the day that my life changed forever and the day I found my purpose.Anna was a spirited, fully alive, amazingly talented…

by Kitty Westin May your voice never die Before I go into detail about the Anna Westin Act I thought it would be interesting for readers to learn how the “dream” of eating disorder legislation became a reality.Legislation was made possible through The Eating Disorders Coalition (EDC), an organization based in Washington D.C. that is on a mission to advance the recognition of eating disorders as a public health priority throughout the United States. The EDC was formed 16 years ago by a group of six organizations as a way to bring eating disorder issues to the attention of policy makers in our nation’s capitol. I am an original member, past president and current board member of the EDC. We are now a group with nearly…

by Maia Polson To those of us with eating disorders, the concept of loving our bodies is completely foreign. We all engage in some form of over and under-eating, abusive self-talk, and a denial of our body’s real needs. These behaviors seem so habitual that it’s hard to imagine doing it any other way, let alone practicing love. I personally assumed that recovery could get my body healthy, but would still feel miserable about it. I knew the crazy body-love that all these recovered people talked about wasn’t for me.Yet here I am today, able to say that I honestly love my body. I love it every day, all the time. Allow me to explain…Changing my relationship with my body was a…

This is one person’s story; everyone will have unique experiences on their own path to recovery and beyond. Some stories may mention eating disorder thoughts, behaviors or symptom use. Please use your own discretion. And speak with your therapist when needed. by Liz Rognes, a former Emily Program client in recovery. She is a teacher, writer, and musician who lives in Spokane, WA. Recently, I took my nearly two-year-old son for a walk in the neighborhood. It’s part of our routine to be outside together after I get home from work. But he has now entered the stage where he refuses to sit in his stroller; he wants to be on his feet, choosing his own pace, walking just like Mama. So, on this particular…

The Emily Program is starting a Client Advisory Board pilot program in Minnesota. The purpose of the board is to gather information about client experiences at The Emily Program specific to our services and programs.We are seeking a diverse group of adult clients, current or former, invested in their treatment and recovery, who are interested in the opportunity to have a voice in The Emily Program experience.Benefits include The Emily Program gaining a deeper understanding of the client experience, creating meaningful relationships with clients/former clients who will continue to provide feedback and the ability to elicit new ideas by running the group modeled on Sackett’s Evidence-Based Practice.Beginning in July 2016, the meetings, facilitated by TEP staff members Dirk Miller and Deb Schermann, will…

Telegraph.co.ukFood blogs and online exercise regimes fuel eating disorders, clinic warnsTelegraph.co.ukAlexia Dempsey, an eating disorders specialist at the Priory's Roehampton hospital in south-west London, said: “A common theme we are seeing is where school friendship groups decide to follow someone fashionable they see on Instagram or Facebook.and more »

Express.co.ukRecovering anorexic claims 'eating disorder' title is MORE dangerous than conditionExpress.co.uk“Having never skipped a meal, made myself vomit, or taken efforts to monitor my weight, I was under the illusion that I did not having an eating disorder as I simply didn't meet the criteria for Anorexia Nervosa. Some may say this denial is atypical of …

Huffington Post UKEmer Delaney :Dieticians, Dentists and Eating DisordersHuffington Post UKDid you know that over 1.6 million people in the UK are affected by eating disorders? These are mainly 14-25 year olds females; however, the incidence is definitely rising in men. 'Eating disorder' is an umbrella term used to describe Anorexia, Bulimia …

Irish Independent15 ways to help someone with an eating disorderIrish IndependentUp to 200,000 people in Ireland – mostly female – are believed to be affected by eating disorders, while an estimated 400 new cases emerge each year. Áilín Quinlan lists some ways to support a loved one who has issues around food …Recovery is possible after an eating disorder9NEWS.comDenver anorexia survivor wants to help others battling eating disordersThe Denver ChannelEating disorders big businessSarasota Herald-TribuneExaminer.com -PR Web (press release)all 10 news articles »

BBC NewsEating disorders: My son died – if he'd been a girl, he may have got help soonerBBC NewsLaurence Nugent died on the floor of his bedroom in the middle of the night, surrounded by his mother, father and brother. He was 24 and had suffered a heart attack after years of battling bulimia, anorexia and depression. Here, his mum Pam blogs about …and more »

Cosmopolitan UK11 little things you can do to help someone with an eating disorderCosmopolitan UKIf you had a friend, family member or colleague who you thought may be suffering from an eating disorder, would you know what to do? Writer Amy Pay, who has witnessed the effects of eating disorders, shares some helpful tips that could save a sufferer …Men need help as well as women with eating disorders, say medical expertsBBC NewsDoes your child have an eating disorder?Jamaica ObserverMen get eating disorders tooNetdoctorTelegraph.co.uk -HealthCanal.com (press release) (blog) -Examiner.comall 10 news articles »