For many, summer is the best season of the year, with a break from school, warmer weather, and fun vacations. However, for people who are struggling with an eating disorder, the summer months present new challenges in managing symptoms and maintaining recovery. Understanding why summer may be more challenging can help individuals who are struggling, … Read More
We are an overstimulated society. American adults spend an average of 10.5 hours per day in front of some kind of screen. On top of that, we live in a culture obsessed with productivity, our lives move at a fast pace, and the most common answer to the casual “How are you?” Is usually (and … Read More
Eating disorders frequently co-occur with addiction, and stimulants are among the many substances people turn to when they are struggling with these devastating conditions. Understanding Co-Occurring Stimulant Addiction Stimulants include illicit drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamines and prescription medications such as Adderall and Ritalin. Every person has unique experiences that influence why they start … Read More
Pregnancy and childbirth are typically joyful times. But when you have a mental health disorder, it can keep you from truly experiencing that joy. For some women, a history of eating disorders may increase their risk for developing depression after having a child — even years down the road. Research Finds New Link Researchers from … Read More
Drunkorexia is a term used to describe disordered eating behaviors involving heavy use of alcohol. While drunkorexia isn’t a clinical term or formal diagnosis, it shares traits with several recognized eating disorders as well as alcohol use disorder. Drunkorexia could affect college women the most, with many of its traits and other eating disorder habits … Read More
Almost no one enjoys pain. In fact, many distorted patterns of behavior that can become serious mental health conditions begin with the very normal desire to avoid feelings of pain – physical or emotional. As humans, so much of what we do on a daily basis is either to avoid pain or maximize pleasure. These … Read More
Scrolling through TikTok offers a welcome escape during the pandemic, something more adolescents than ever have been doing to stay connected with friends. But the video content the social platform serves its users is not always harmless entertainment. Many adolescents are seeing videos that promote eating disorders, and the impact on their mental health can … Read More
With the added stress, grief, and, at times, boredom that has come from the COVID-19 pandemic, alcohol and drug use has spiked. We’re starting to see the dangerous effects of increased alcohol use, particularly in women, as more and more young women are being diagnosed with alcoholic liver disease. While liver disease still affects more … Read More
I learned the HALT acronym early in my recovery process, and while it is easy to remember, and logical in its construction, it was one of the most challenging tools for me to learn how to use. The word “halt” actually translates to “stop” in German, and is a technique used to remind us to … Read More
If there is one thing we can all relate to at the present moment, it is that in many ways, our lives have gotten significantly more uncomfortable in the year 2020. Insecurity and uncertainty brought about by the pandemic, coupled with economic fragility, unemployment, and major shifts in education, healthcare, not to mention travel and … Read More
