Are you wondering "Does my child have an eating disorder?" Maybe you have noticed that your child has been behaving differently around food lately. Maybe you've noticed changes in how your child eats. Or maybe you just have a sneaking suspicion that your child is keeping something secret from you. The bottom line is that … Continue reading Does My Child Have an Eating Disorder Quiz
When your child has an eating disorder, it can feel as if your world has been turned upside down. Your child's eating disorder is a signal that an internal struggle is taking place, and your parenting can make a huge impact on your child's recovery. Eating disorders are based on a complex ecosystem of factors … Continue reading How to stay zen when your child has an eating disorder
A new report from Blue Cross Blue Shield shows that major depression is on the rise among Americans from all age groups, but is rising fastest among teens and young adults. [1] In a report issued May 10, 2018, BCBS announced the following important data: 1. The number of people of all ages and genders … Continue reading Major depression is on the rise for adolescents and young adults – here’s what this means for parents
Taking a vacation with an eating disorder in the family can be a challenge, but it is also entirely possible with a little bit of planning. First things first, here are a few fundamentals to consider: 1. Take into account the timing of your trip. If your child is in early recovery, you may need … Continue reading How to enjoy a vacation when your child has an eating disorder
Your family may appear to be very happy. Everyone sees you as a cohesive and loving family unit. Your children are polite, perform well in school or sports (or both), and at least one parent shows up to school events. You maintain a nice home, good jobs, and enjoy spending time with a social, religious, … Continue reading The unintended consequences of a “too-nice” family culture
Over the span of 8 years, I kept my eating disorder a secret, from my parents, best friends, boyfriends, and everyone in between. I thought that one day I would be able to just stop. I would binge and purge and just say to myself βitβll be okay tomorrow, this wonβt happen again.β Well, that … Continue reading I wanted someone to notice, by Amanda Kulanda
The textbook definitions of eating disorders mainly relate to how a person eats food. For example, someone who has an eating disorder typically restricts food, binge eats, and/or purges in an attempt to negate caloric intake. A person who has an eating disorder is often dedicated to hiding these eating symptoms in order to avoid … Continue reading 3 defining symptoms of eating disorders that everyone overlooks
There is significant science proving that 1) diets typically result in weight gain, 2) diets are bad for our health, and 3) diets lead to eating disorders. However, the $70 billion diet industry spends a tremendous amount of money convincing us otherwise. Dieting is a cultural obsession and is something that doctors regularly prescribe without … Continue reading The truth about diets that parents need to know to prevent eating disorders
Many parents who have children who have eating disorders are surprised to discover that their child's disorder is about emotions, not food. While a person who has an eating disorder has symptoms related to food, the underlying issue that needs to be addressed is their emotional wellbeing. This is why it's common during eating disorder … Continue reading How to handle yelling, crying and arguments during your child’s eating disorder recovery
As eating disorders and other disordered methods of processing emotions become more prevalent, we must look collectively at our cultural norms and rules that may be contributing to these disorders. Although no disorder is ever a parent's fault, and parents alone cannot prevent all eating disorders, we do have tremendous opportunity to prevent and heal … Continue reading Parenting myths you should ignore immediately to prevent eating disorders