It's All In The Journey's Food Fight

Anorexia Kills, Timberline Knolls Saves

2011-07-26T08:18:00.000-07:00

Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center is in the business of saving lives, because we've known for years what a recent study reported in the July issue of Archives of General Psychiatry supports: individuals who have eating disorders have an elevated mortality rate, especially those with anorexia nervosa. This is an important study, but it may not go far enough.

I think it’s always important to have studies which validate and quantify what we have seen and known for decades clinically. But this type of research needs to be expanded to include bulimia and especially EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified), which is by far the most common and least likely to be treated of the eating disorders. My guess is that it is just as deadly as anorexia, just over a much longer period of time.

In the United States, as many as 10 million females and one million males are fighting a life and death battle with an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia, and millions more are struggling with binge eating disorder, according to the National Eating Disorder Association, which makes this study all the more relevant and critical.

The deadliness of eating disorders can never be overemphasized, since so many people, professionals and lay people alike, are in denial about the morbidity and mortality associated with eating disorders. We have long been advocates at the government level, fighting for the passage of bills to support eating disorder parity, and hope studies like this help in this arena, holding insurance companies accountable for paying for the amount and length of services needed to save lives from these deadly diseases. Recovery is possible, and help is available, when these diseases are taken seriously and recognized as fatal.

First Community Walk in Chicago to Help Raise Eating Disorder Awareness, One Step at a Time

2011-06-13T12:42:00.000-07:00

Recovery from an eating disorder is a long and lengthy battle, and one that must be accomplished one step at a time. And on June 25, supporters and advocates will gather at 10:30 a.m. in Lincoln Park for the inaugural one-mile Chicago NEDA Walk, sponsored by Timberline Knolls.

The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) is bringing together the Chicago community to increase eating disorder awareness and raise funds to support individuals and families affected by eating disorders. Timberline Knolls is doing its part as the lead sponsor for the event and by forming its own walking team – The TK Trekkers – which will be led by me - with team participants that include staff, former residents, families and friends, and other behavioral health professionals. We have a goal to recruit 50 or more individuals to join its team for the event.

Awareness efforts are key in fighting eating disorders, and I hope many can join us on June 25, as we walk to raise awareness and help to fight these deadly diseases. If you can’t be there in person, any contribution will help NEDA continue to build on critical programs and services. We can all be part of the solution.

Chicago joins eight other cities around the country that will host upcoming walks in 2011: Napa, Calif.; Methuen, Mass.; Portland, Ore.; Florence, Mass.; Williamsburg, Va.; Charlottesville, Va.; Charlotte, N.C.; and NEDA’s largest walk will take place in New York City in October. Walks in other cities are continuously being added, which can be organized by anyone, anywhere. For more information on how to coordinate a walk in your city, visit http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/programs-events/neda-walk-coord.php.

You can pre-register for the Chicago walk online (http://neda.nationaleatingdisorders.org/site/TR?fr_id=1420&pg=entry) or in person beginning at 9:30 a.m. the morning of the event. Interested persons can join The TK Trekkers, form their own walking teams, or walk as individuals.

Eating disorders are serious, deadly diseases, but treatment is available, and lifelong recovery is possible for all those affected. We can all help to make a difference, one step at a time.

In the United States, as many as 10 million females and 1 million males are fighting a life and death battle with an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia, and millions more are struggling with binge eating disorder. This makes groups like NEDA all the more needed and important, and events to raise funds and awareness vital.

Bipolar Disorder, a Serious Psychiatric Disorder, Often Misdiagnosed By Professionals and Unrecognized by Loved Ones

2011-05-12T11:37:00.000-07:00

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depressive disorder or manic depression, is a psychiatric disorder that causes extreme shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out everyday tasks. It is a serious mental illness requiring specialized treatment, but the problem is that bipolar disorder often gets misdiagnosed by professionals and is unrecognized by loved ones.

Bipolar disorder commonly co-occurs with other illnesses and addictions, making it hard to diagnose without a thorough diagnostic workup that includes looking at substance/drug abuse and use, and an evaluation for possible early life trauma – both of which can produce symptoms that look like bipolar disorder. Many times, residents come to Timberline Knolls with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, but once evaluated are properly diagnosed with a drug abuse problem, which looks similar to bipolar disorder when an individual is going through stages of intoxication and withdrawal. Additionally, the diagnosis of bipolar disorder can be missed by professionals who think the patient is just suffering from substance abuse or dependence.

Not only do professionals miss the diagnosis, but loved ones and family members many times do not recognize the real problem – either because they do not know what bipolar disorder is, or because they are focused on something else, such as a co-occurring drug abuse problem.

Signs of bipolar disorder in its manic state include:

•extended periods of feeling overly happy or outgoing
•extremely irritable mood, agitation, or jumpiness
•being easily distracted
•little to no sleep for several days in a row without feeling tired
•having an unrealistic belief in one's abilities
•behaving impulsively
•suicide attempts

Signs of bipolar disorder in its depressive state include:

•isolation from friends and family
•loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
•feeling tired or slowed down
•having problems concentrating, remembering, and making decisions
•abuse of alcohol and drugs, especially cocaine
•dependence on sleeping pills

A correct diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and ensuring the appropriate treatment is offered, is critical for those who face and treat bipolar disorder and co-occurring disorders. People with this illness can achieve long-term physical, emotional and spiritual recovery. Everyone needs to remember this is a disease, and the individual did not choose to have the disease. Sufferers can choose to get treatment and recover. Help is available and manageability is possible when someone is connected to the right support system and specialized treatment is sought.

Self Injury a Growing Problem among Adolescents

2011-05-02T13:59:00.000-07:00

According to the Cornell Research Program on self injury, 12 to 24 percent of young people have self-injured. Self injury, such as cutting, scratching or burning, can be a way to release or relieve unmanageable feelings and express intense inner pain. It is a growing problem among young people that needs to be addressed. Parents are a first line of defense and a key part to seeking help and I understand that the first conversation between a parent and a child can be a difficult one.

Using a ‘I see, I think, I feel’ formula is an effective way to approach a complex and delicate subject, and it allows parents to remain on their side of the street. This formula can be applied by saying to your child: “When I see cuts on your wrist, I think ‘this is a problem, my kid is cutting,' and I feel scared.” But I encourage parents to make their own observations and speak from the heart as this formula is just an outline for that conversation.

Having an open and honest dialogue is key when parents suspect there is a problem. Many times parents are worried their child will be mad or upset about being confronted, but this formula makes it more about a parent’s concerns, rather than adding to the guilt or shame the child likely already feels for his or her actions. Help is available and it works - at Timberline Knolls, we focus on healing from the inside out.

More often than not, self injury is associated with another co-occurring problem like depression, trauma, eating disorders or substance abuse. These young adults need attention - sometimes medical, sometimes emotional, sometimes spiritual. It’s important to not only recognize the signs of self injury, but as a parent, to know what steps to take to get proper care for your child. These are serious and deadly diseases, but there is hope and life long recovery is possible.

By fostering an environment of acceptance and understanding, facilities such as Timberline Knolls provide a safe space where those facing self-injury and co-occurring disorders can heal physically, emotionally and spiritually.

New National Study Shows Deeper Issues in Teens Today

2011-04-12T08:05:00.000-07:00

A new report issued by The Partnership at Drugfree.org says teens today don’t see a big problem with downing five or more alcoholic drinks nearly every day and that there is an upward trend in marijuana and Ecstasy use among high school teens. I attribute this rise to the growing number of teens who identify themselves as “social” drinkers, denial in our society and deeper issues in teens today.

We see it extensively at Timberline Knolls in adolescents (and adults) who identify themselves as "social" drinkers but really have serious substance use disorders (abuse or dependence). But I say to the called "social" drinkers or drug users, please define social. Social to me means being fully alive and fully present to connect with loved ones and other people in our lives. I'm not sure what is social about pouring or snorting or inhaling or injecting a toxin into your body.

I also see denial as a part of the problem and call on parents to get involved. Some of denial and minimizing comes from families, especially if one or both parents drink or use "recreationally." Denial or blindness can also occur if the parent is not consistently emotionally involved with their teens, because they don't know how to be (their parents weren't) or they have their own substance/work/food/money/sex addiction.

The worst thing a parent can do is disconnect if they suspect a problem, and this can happen in the form of turning a blind eye, rationalizing it, or keeping it secret. Underage substance use is always a signal of deeper issues going on in a teen. Many times the issues are related to low-self esteem and trauma/abuse/neglect (including emotional neglect).

A kid that needs to turn to a substance to connect with other people or have fun has missed out on some important human relationship/connection skills. But it is critical these teens seek help and that loved ones help them do so. It's never too early to ask for help as a parent or teen and to get potentially life-saving treatment. Recovery is possible with the right treatment and support system.

Does Social Media Really Encourage Eating Disorders?

2011-03-23T11:49:00.000-07:00

With dozens of websites catering to the social media phenomenon, teenagers have a wealth of options to connect with each other online – and none is more popular than Facebook. But a new study reveals that the more teens use this platform, the more likely they are to develop an eating disorder. I have long warned against excessive use of social media and hope the new study will encourage more parental involvement in teens’ online activities.

Because Facebook has in some ways replaced interacting face to face with other people, we're becoming over-connected electronically and under-connected to the people around us. Social media can be an excellent tool for staying connected with friends and family when used in a balanced way, but like any tool, it can be abused.

The study also pointed to music videos, TV shows and fashion content as negative influences on teens’ eating habits. But there is hope; parents who get involved with their child’s surfing habits and make it a priority to discuss the content with them can reduce the risk of their child developing negative self body image and ultimately a negative relationship with food.

I'd like to offer the following advice to parents:

Time Out: Planning the time children have with their computers is crucial. Parents should limit the amount of time their children are allowed to be online recreationally. Whether the limit is 30 minutes a day or an hour a day, it is important to give children a set period of time. As time-consuming as this might be for parents, this activity must be monitored carefully.

Lights Out: Parents must also give their children boundaries on how late they can be online. The later the hour, the more likely parents will be asleep and unable to monitor the child’s online activities. It also is the time that objectionable pop up ads are most likely to appear. Worse yet, it is when online predators are scouring the Internet looking for victims.

Location, Location, Location: Time is not the only factor; parents need to know where their children are going on the Internet as well. Look at the site history on your computer. Find out what sites your child frequents and go to those sites to make sure they are appropriate. Prohibit children from visiting sites with objectionable content. If needed, purchase programs designed to block access to certain websites. Also, use a shared/family desktop computer and have it in a common area of the house like the kitchen or living room.

Stay in the Loop: Parents should also network with other parents and talk with them about what they are doing and seeing. Talk about children's patterns of computer use, what limits they set, and other ways they cope with use that may be unhealthy or unbalanced. Parents might also want to make sure their kids use a family computer, a desktop located in an open area of the house like the living room or kitchen where other family members are likely to be.

Keep Informed: Most importantly, parents need to explore what’s going on in their kid’s relationships and lives. If you notice an increase in isolated activities like being on a computer in place of spending face to face time with friends and family, there may be a deeper emotional or relational problem that is manifesting this way. Should you see this behavior, it’s always important to tell your child that you are concerned and seek help from a professional.

Facebook has dismissed the study saying, “Young people are surrounded by photo-shopped models in magazines and airbrushed film stars, but when they spend time on Facebook they're with their friends." But I'd like to counter these claims.

Teenagers will see in Facebook what they want to see. There are positive and empowering ways to use the site, but there are more sinister aspects. They might look at a picture of a friend and still see what they think is wrong with themselves. Frequently, girls and women with eating disorders use the site to post ‘skinny’ pictures of themselves when they are deep into their diseases. This can be triggering to other teens and also to themselves in their recovery. That’s why parental interest is crucial. But even the most involved and careful parent might miss small details that can become big problems in the future.

Learn more about eating disorders in teens from Timberline Knolls and Dr. Dennis.

New National Study Gives Parents an Urgent Topic for Discussion

2011-03-10T13:11:00.000-08:00

A government study has found that more than half a million teens have had an eating disorder, most commonly in the form of binge eating disorder and bulimia, and that most of the time these go untreated. How can we change this downward trend before it gets more out of control? At Timberline Knolls, we think it’s critical for parents to talk to their kids about eating disorders as early as possible, and be open to the possibility their kids (or they) may have an unhealthy relationship with food.

Parents don’t want to believe their child might have a fatal disease, especially when in a lot of cases the teen is still doing well in school and even excelling in sports. And when they suspect a problem, parents a lot of times think it’s ‘just a phase’ and are in denial it needs to be addressed. In addition to the critical need for parents to talk to their kids, is the need for all ‘first responders’ in a teen’s life to be aware of this growing problem. Pediatricians, primary care doctors, school nurses, teachers and coaches need to be educated as well, and not afraid to talk to teens about these issues; because early detection and treatment is critical to ensure a full and healthy life for these teens.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Web site, “Over one-half of teenage girls and nearly one-third of teenage boys use unhealthy weight control behaviors such as skipping meals, fasting, smoking cigarettes, vomiting, and taking laxatives.”

More programs need to be developed to go into schools to not only speak to the students, but also to the school nurses, teachers and coaches. And parents need to get involved and be educated on the seriousness of these diseases. I also encourage parents to listen to their gut and look for changes in behavior, including kids not eating with the family, frequent trips to the bathroom immediately after meals, changes in diet, and consumption of a large, unhealthy amount of food in one sitting.

More of these studies are needed to get our heads around the scope of the problem. I believe that eating disorders are far more widespread than anyone realizes. But recovery is possible when the right help is utilized and those most closely involved with these teens help them to get the help they so desperately need.

Calling All Colleges: Steps to Improve Emotional Health of Students on Campus

2011-02-15T07:21:00.000-08:00

According to a recent national survey, “The American Freshman: National Norms Fall 2010,” the emotional health of college freshmen declined significantly during recent years, with the number of students saying that their “emotional health was above average,” falling from 64 to 52 percent. This is the same downtrend I am seeing at Timberline Knolls in the women I treat on campus.

People have spent significantly less time interacting face to face with other human beings with technology today, and this has had a deep impact on peoples' hearts and souls. We're over-connected electronically and under-connected to the people around us.

Because of this, colleges today have more responsibility to step up to ensure the well-being of their students and they need to help stop this severe decline in mental health with five steps that could make a difference for students on their campuses.

Step one: Provide education on campus. Students need to know the effects of their weakened emotional state because as mental health declines, dangerous behaviors can increase.

Step two: Increase the support for accessible on-campus counseling centers.

Step three: Conduct aggressive awareness campaigns.

Step four: Staff on-campus counseling centers with experts who can diagnose early – or work directly with outside experts who can provide immediate and individualized help.

Step five: Understand the fragile state of many students, especially college freshmen, so that proactive measures and support are planned.

Many times college-aged women cope with their new surroundings through using alcohol, other substances, engaging in eating disorders, and getting depressed and/or suicidal. And we’ve seen an increasing number of college students with higher and higher levels of acuity, or the severity of their illness, before they get to residential care.

Colleges also need to be held responsible for the behaviors that take place on and around their campuses and should better uphold boundaries around underage drinking. They can also help by establishing sober dorms on campus, as well as providing support groups on campus that practice the 12-step methodology such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous and Eating Disorders Anonymous.

Access to information and help can be key in the battle against depression, eating disorders and alcoholism. Lifelong recovery is possible, but only if all of those in the mental health and education fields work together to share resources and information to better help those in need.

Timberline Knolls Responds to Washington Post Article on Food Addiction

2011-02-01T09:33:00.000-08:00

A recent Washington Post column introduces readers to 53-year-old Michael Prager, a 5’10” man weighing 210 lbs, and discusses the disease that took over his life: an addiction to food. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), the American Psychiatric Association’s guide of accepted psychological diagnoses, food addiction is not a recognized psychiatric disorder. But many eating disorder professionals, including myself, still view food addiction as an illness, not just a weakness in judgment, and appeal for its inclusion in the DSM-V Manual, due out in 2013.

Many times diagnostic restrictions, such as not including food addiction, limit access to treatment for those who need it most. If included in the DSM, food addiction would be legitimized and treatment would be covered by many insurance providers. It would also help treatment professionals work to accurately diagnose problems and provide appropriate treatment.

We need to treat these serious diseases whether they are listed in the DSM or not. But not being listed can make getting access to treatment difficult. At Timberline Knolls we are able to help many women and girls obtain recovery from unhealthy relationships with food, body and exercise who may not ever be diagnosed with a formal eating disorder in many other settings. But it is a serious obstacle when food addiction is not included in the DSM Manual, and we must fight for its acceptance as a real mental health disease. Stories like the Washington Post article echo the vital need for this.

Despite not being listed, many mental health professionals recognize and treat food addiction as they would treat other addictions such as drugs, alcohol and gambling. We see food addiction and treat it every day at Timberline Knolls. Most commonly we see it in the form of anorexia and bulimia, but we also treat a fair amount of binge eating disorders and other unspecified eating-related disorders. Many times this happens with adolescents and women who seek treatment primarily for depression or other addictions, and don’t realize overeating is a part of their disease.

Most people have difficulty seeing the impact of an unhealthy relationship with food, eating, exercise, or their bodies fully on their own. If not identified or treated during the early stages, eating disorders can become chronic, debilitating and even life-threatening. Professional help can lead to a greater sense of peace and manageability, and can save your life.

Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center Teams with “In the Wildflowers” Program to Help Trauma Victims Cope and Heal Through Prayer

2011-01-20T11:05:00.000-08:00

I wanted to let everyone know that Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center has partnered with producer Julie Woodley to present “In the Wildflowers” program. It's a 10-part DVD series aimed at educating and helping victims of childhood sexual abuse cope with their trauma as they heal in a safe and supportive environment. Julie is a member of the team here at Timberline Knolls and serves as the ministry outreach representative. She works to touch as many people’s lives as possible with the powerful and healing message offered in “In the Wildflowers” DVD series.

"In the Wildflowers” is set to spread its message throughout college campuses. Typically “In the Wildflowers” takes 10 weeks to fully experience, but the DVDs and accompanying curriculum was condensed into a one day and one night session for college-aged participants and will include a 3 ½ day training session led by Julie for those who want to learn how they can use “In the Wildflowers” to help others to heal.

The Wildflowers program is the brainchild of Julie, a victim of childhood sexual abuse herself, who developed the idea when she was stricken with cancer and wanted to take her own healing journey.

Julie began developing “In the Wildflowers” by journaling about her healing processes and reading almost 60 books dealing with the power of faith, prayer and healing.

Julie met, interviewed and filmed upwards of 40 professionals all specializing in various areas of Christian therapy and healing, as well as six women all from very different backgrounds in need of healing. She filmed the women’s progress over several years and was amazed at the strides they made in their own journeys.

MentorCONNECT’s Free Teleconference Presents Two of the Country’s Leading Eating Disorder Experts

2011-01-10T10:15:00.000-08:00

MentorCONNECT is a global online eating disorders mentoring community that provides individuals with the tools needed to break through the isolation of eating disorders and share in supporting relationships. Members are able to connect individually and in mentored groups to share experiences, provide guidance and help each other through the struggles and successes of their journey to recovery. In addition to these support systems, MentorCONNECT holds a free teleconference each month with nationally-recognized eating disorder experts and survivors.
This month, Dr. Stan Selinger, PhD, the family therapy coordinator, from Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center and I will make our treatment advice available online for free to the public in MentorCONNECT’s teleconference on Family Healing and Communication. We’ll discuss how patients can best communicate their needs for support to their loved ones, and how loved ones can best offer support to the patient during the recovery process. The teleconference takes place on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 from 8:00 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. (CST). To sign up for this free event, please visit http://familyhealing.eventbrite.com/.
I’ve always felt that teleconferences are a great way to talk to people who are looking for both information and guidance while working toward the lifelong recovery from their disease. They are also great ways to teach loved ones and family members about how to offer support in the best way possible for those coping with disordered eating.
One of the biggest roadblocks to recovery is the lack of support from loved ones, but many of those suffering from an eating disorder don’t understand how to reach out and ask for help, and on the reverse side – many loved ones don’t know how to help. Groups like MentorCONNECT provide survivors with an educational outlet like these monthly teleconferences, and I am happy to offer my own expertise on the subject.

Anorexic Model Isabelle Caro Showed Everyone the Reality of the Illness that Took Her Life

2011-01-05T14:39:00.000-08:00

The horrifying photos of Isabelle Caro first displayed in 2007 were her last message to the world about her disease. First appearing during fashion week in Italy, it was Italian photographer Oliviero Toscani's attempt “to use the naked body to show everyone the reality of this illness, caused in most cases by the stereotypes imposed by the world of fashion." But the fact that the "reality" didn't seem to stop Caro is hard to understand if you've never struggled with disordered eating.

It saddens me that she died of the disease. I admire her courage in exposing the disease on a public level. We need to acknowledge how serious this disease is. At the same time, for the women and their families who continue to struggle with eating disorders, I want to extend a message of hope. There are effective treatments.

This model took the first step of a 12-step recovery model. She admitted publicly that she was powerless over her anorexia, and it caused significant unmanageability in her life – losing teeth, hair, breasts for example. The healing steps and solution steps are outlined in the next 11 steps.

We facilitate this healing at Timberline Knolls. We are unique in using the powerful combination of 12 step facilitation therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to help women with eating disorders, which could kill them, not only to stay alive, but to recover and live happy, joyous, free and abundant lives.

As many as 10 million females and one million males are fighting a life and death battle with anorexia or bulimia, and another 25 million are fighting a binge eating disorder, according to the National Eating Disorders Association. Eating disorders are usually shrouded in secrecy, but those who are suffering need to know that reaching out for assistance is the first step to getting back on track.

Jenifer Ringer “Too Many Sugar Plums” Controversy Highlights Dangers of Body Image Obsession and Power of Recovery

2010-12-21T13:36:00.000-08:00

A November 28th performance of The Nutcracker by the New York City Ballet inspired controversy after New York Times critic Alastair Macaulay criticized dancer Jenifer Ringer, who is dancing the role of the Sugar Plum fairy, not for her performance, but for perceived issues with her weight, claiming she “looked as if she’d eaten one sugar plum too many.” But I believe the dancer’s eloquent and reasoned response to Macaulay provides a positive story of recovery.

Ms. Ringer spoke with such clarity and confidence, and with not an ounce of resentment in her demeanor. She demonstrates a healthy and rare ability to detach with love from the criticism of the critic. I agree with the ballerina that bodies that are starved cannot perform. The NYC dance troupe, which she asserts celebrates dancers’ bodies of all shapes and sizes, is truly to be commended.

"As a dancer, I do put myself out there to be criticized, and my body is part of my art form,” Jenifer Ringer, told The Today Show’s Ann Curry during an interview Monday. “At the same time, I am not overweight.”

Ringer has openly talked about her struggles with anorexia over the length of her ballet career. Timberline Knolls applauds her braveness. After Macaulay’s article received national attention, both the dancing community and online spectators rushed to Ringer’s defense. The dancer declined to ask for an apology while still firmly insisting her weight is healthy and in no way impedes her ability to dance.

Ms. Ringer nicely highlights how real change happens—by one woman in recovery sharing her recovery with others. That’s what she’s completed in her interviews, that’s what she does each and every time she dances with a healthy body. If we waited for the media and culture at large to initiate the change, we’d be waiting a long time, and the death toll associated with that wait would continue to rise.

Eating Disorders among Children Rising at an Alarming Rate

2010-12-09T13:46:00.000-08:00

A recent report published by the American Academy of Pediatrics shows hospitalizations for eating disorders in children under 12 increased 119 percent between 1999 and 2006. This is an alarming trend because small children develop their foundation of self worth and body worth in their early years (birth to five years old). This increase in hospitalizations show today’s children have distorted body image issues to such a degree it is causing unhealthy, even deadly, behavior.

According to the study, evidence of excessive weight concern, inappropriate dieting, or a pattern of weight loss in children requires further attention. Talking to the parent of a child may also yield information, however parents could be unaware, or even part of, the problem.

If a mother is anxious about eating, hates her body or has an unhealthy relationship with food, this can be directly transmitted to her children in deep, long lasting ways. The child absorbs and internalizes these same beliefs, regardless of whether or not they were ever explicitly communicated.

Often times, the media is blamed for portraying men and women unrealistically. Media is not going to change, but parents can.

The impact that one woman has on her children is exponentially more powerful than anything the media or culture can do to prevent eating disorders. Eating disorders are family diseases, and are best when treated as such.

Early treatment can not only save the individual, but also family members. We see it every day at Timberline Knolls. We are not only helping women save their own lives, but their recoveries have deep and healing influences on their children and other impressionable people in their lives, so recovery reaches more than just one person.

Helping Pain with Prescription Painkillers Can Lead to Addiction

2010-12-01T08:54:00.000-08:00

With as many as 50 million Americans suffering some kind of chronic pain at any one time, prescription painkillers like Oxycontin and Vicodin have an important role to play in the medical community. But I need to warn you that with prescription painkiller use both patients and doctors must be aware of the risks of addiction.

People who find themselves addicted to prescription medications often deny their disorder with statements such as: "It’s legal, isn’t it?" or "I get it from doctors." But many Americans have come to view pain killers as a harmless treatment for problems that go well beyond the physical pain for which it was originally prescribed.

According to the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), approximately 4.7 million Americans used prescription drugs nonmedically for the first time in 2002—2.5 million of those were opioid pain relievers like oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, methadone, and combinations that include these drugs. 5.0 percent of 12th-graders reported using OxyContin without a prescription in the past year, and 9.3 percent reported using Vicodin (one of the most commonly abused illicit drugs among teenagers).

However, despite its addictiveness many doctors continue to prescribe these opioids for pain, even though mild to moderate pain can be treated with physical therapy, acupuncture, or biofeedback. Research does suggest that opioids used for non-cancer pain both decreases the pain and causes a moderate improvement in function and quality of life, but this diminishes greatly for people who develop addictions to prescription pain medications – many of whom did not receive any warning of the drug's abuse potential.

Patients with histories of addiction can have a very difficult time distinguishing between taking the medication for the relief of physical pain from the escapist motives that characterized their addictions. Timberline Knolls recommends that patients have support with them when they need to take pain medication, that they not do it alone.

For many people, periodic use can lead to a compulsive need to use, particularly if the person is self-medicating. Any opioid prescribed carries an abuse potential, and patients and doctors need to be and stay aware of this.

Alcoholic Energy Drink Sweeping College Campuses, Along with Its Dangerous Side Effects

2010-11-16T10:18:00.000-08:00

Nicknamed “blackout in a can” or “liquid cocaine,” alcoholic energy drink Four Loko seems like the perfect cocktail because the combination of alcohol and caffeine can heighten the buzz for those drinking it. The mix can be especially tempting for college students, even more so if they have or are predisposed to alcoholism. But warns the effects can be seriously damaging to one’s health, and even deadly.

Colleges across the country are banning Four Loko after the recent events at Central Washington University, where a group of students "partying" with the drink began to pass out and suffer symptoms of toxicity. Over nine students were rushed to the hospital and more than fifty suffered serious illness.

This incident shows just how dangerous alcohol and caffeine mixes can be when taken rapidly and in excess. Students and college administrators need to recognize the added risks of products like this. One can of Four Loko contains 12 percent alcohol, significantly higher than regular beers, and then it adds high amounts of caffeine on top of that.

The caffeine in Four Loko can suspend the effects of alcohol consumption, allowing a person to consume more than usual without being aware of his or her level of intoxication. When the caffeine wears off the results can be deadly.

The caffeine masks awareness of the effects of the alcohol, even though the blood alcohol level changes with each drink. As a result, those drunk on energy drink and alcohol mixes are able to stay awake, even when their bodies would normally shut down from alcohol intoxication, which makes them more prone to health risks, including death.

A University of Florida study also showed that Four Loko drinkers are more inclined to attempt to drive after consuming the beverage in excess than those who consumed only alcohol. Alcohol poisoning is an issue we take very seriously at Timberline Knolls.

Once the caffeine wears off, the full force of the alcohol content will hit the body, with all of the physical ramifications. And with its low price point ($2.50 a can) the drink seems perfectly tailored to the college-age drinker that may not know when enough is enough. Regulatory bodies need to consider taking this off the market...college students die from alcohol poisoning regularly in this country using standard products alone.

When it Comes to PTSD in the Military, Sexual Trauma Can Cause as Much Damage as Combat

2010-11-12T08:35:00.000-08:00

Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, continues to inflict a mental and physical toll on America’s soldiers, leaving physical, emotional and spiritual scars long after these veterans have left their posts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Additionally, for female soldiers, sexual assault and rape can create similar, and many times more treatment-resistant, symptoms of PTSD.

It has been well-documented in research literature that women are already twice as likely to develop PTSD as men following a trauma. And in the military, women have to deal with increased rates of sexual harassment and assault. Recent studies have shown that even without exposure to combat, our female troops could have increased rates of developing PTSD following rape or sexual assault than they could after combat.

Sexual assault in the military has been a serious problem throughout history. Among those seeking VA disability following the first Persian Gulf War, 71 percent of women reported sexual assault during their military service. At present time, for women in the military, 21.5 percent suffer some kind of sexual trauma while serving, while among men the numbers are closer to 1.1 percent.

Trauma affects the brain’s ability to function and sexual trauma is particularly damaging. Trauma can lead in some cases to psychological reactivity, exaggerated startle response, symptoms of avoidance and numbing, and co-morbid mood, substance abuse and/or eating disorders. Post traumatic stress disorder can have devastating effects on all areas of a sufferer’s life…I see this daily in the girls and women at Timberline Knolls.

A Veterans Health Administration (VHA) outpatient survey discovered that 55 percent of women reported sexual harassment, and 23 percent reported sexual assault. A study of reservists found that 60 percent of female soldiers had been sexually harassed and 13.1 percent sexually assaulted.

Even though the numbers are staggering for our service women, there is hope. PTSD can be effectively treated with trauma informed interventions. By integrating mental health and trauma treatment approaches into counseling, greater improvements can be yielded than by just providing basic psychological treatments or several core therapies separately.

The Role of Trauma

2010-10-25T11:53:00.001-07:00

The 2010 NEDA Conference, held in Brooklyn, NY earlier this month (Timberline Knolls was one of the sponsors), used the theme of “Building Bridges to Recovery” to create dialogue among its attendees. To match this theme, I presented research on trauma’s role in later psychological damage, in particular its evolution into PTSD. I provided important information for NEDA about the demographics of trauma, how trauma changes the brain structure and the victim’s physical health, and the effective treatments available for PTSD which could help victims of sexual assault who display negative behaviors.

My previous research includes gender differences in the development of psychopathology and use of medication with family-based therapy for adolescents with anorexia nervosa, and during my presentation I outlined how the brain’s reaction to trauma (in particular sexual trauma) can result in the same post traumatic stress disorder that affects combat veterans.

Important topics in the presentation included:

Trauma exposure directly affects how the brain develops, especially in adolescents and children. As a child grows, his or her brain slowly develops different functions such as the regulation of anxiety or the capacity for abstract thought. If trauma occurs prior to one function’s development, then this part of the brain and all that follow may fail to develop in a healthy manner. Trauma in a mature brain can change it, but in children the brain’s entire organization can fail.

Trauma exposure can create a variety of negative mental health outcomes. Depression and substance abuse can follow a traumatic event. Some can develop PTSD, particularly when a woman has been exposed to rape or other sexual assault. PTSD in women can result in psychological reactivity, exaggerated startle response, symptoms of avoidance and numbing, and mood disorder. In the military, sexual assault can give women and men PTSD even if not exposed to direct combat.

PTSD has been treated using trauma informed intervention. A comprehensive, integrated, trauma informed and consumer involved treatment was tested on those suffering symptoms of PTSD. The study noted that after treatment a statistically significant improvement occurred in women’s trauma and mental health symptoms. Alcohol use significantly decreased and drug use trended in the same direction. The study concluded that outcomes for women with co-occurring disorders and a history of violence and trauma may improve with integrated treatment.

If you have any questions at all, or have topics you want me to address, please do not hesitate to email me at Dr.Kim@itsallinthejourney.com.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

2010-10-13T07:45:00.000-07:00

Many people have heard of obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD, but many do not know how serious it can be. The term is used lightly and/or as a joke: "Gosh, you're so OCD!" But a person with OCD feels driven to perform compulsive and repetitive acts in an effort to ease distress. Despite his or her efforts to stop them, the distressing symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder keep coming back, and this leads to a vicious cycle of ritualistic behavior - and one that is very frustrating for the sufferer.

OCD can consume a person's life, and cause them to do little else but spend time focused on their obsessions and compulsions. Their OCD can cause them to become isolated, as those around them don't know how to deal with the person's actions, and the person with OCD feels they cannot and are not able to stop them. It can become a very lonely situation.

But there is help out there, and it starts with acceptance that there is a problem. I encourage anyone who has OCD tendencies or thinks they do to talk about it. Verbalizing emotions is the first step in getting help. Anyone who has questions about OCD, or wants to understand the condition more, Timberline Knolls has plenty of information on its website. Timberline Knolls treats women with OCD, eating disorders, alcohol and substance abuse, and complex co-occurring disorders.

NEDA Conference October 8-10, 2010 - New York City

2010-09-30T15:00:00.000-07:00

The NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association) Conference is coming up next week (Oct. 8-10) in New York City with this year’s theme being “Building Bridges to Recovery,” and on behalf of Timberline Knolls, I will be presenting at the conference on the topic of trauma.

With this I wanted to educate everyone a little bit on some of the signs and types of trauma.

Signs of Trauma and PTSD:

PTSD symptoms may become disabling, particularly if the sufferer lacks adequate social support to allow them to voice their traumatic experiences. Once a person has experienced a traumatic event, many diverse warning signs of trauma can arise.

* Inability to trust others
* Difficulty concentrating / Easily distracted
* Depression / Anxiety
* Feeling uncomfortable in social situations
* Abuse of drugs
* Eating Disorders
* Self Injury
* Recurring thoughts from the trauma interfering with everyday life

Types of Trauma:

The National Co-morbidity Study recently identified four most frequently experienced traumas:

* Witnessing someone being badly injured or killed
* Being involved in a fire, flood, or natural disaster
* Being involved in a life-threatening accident
* Combat exposure

I encourage anyone and everyone to ask for help and ask me questions they have or voice concerns on this topic or anything else.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn Recognizes Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center with Statewide Proclamation

2010-09-21T10:48:00.000-07:00

In recognition of National Recovery Month, Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center has received a proclamation from the Illinois governor, Pat Quinn, recognizing the month of September 2010 as Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. I encourage everyone to use this time to celebrate the continued success of the many people in Illinois who have turned their lives around and achieved recovery, and a time focused on bettering the lives of those who are in need of treatment.

We want to express our deep gratitude to Governor Quinn for acknowledging the importance of Recovery Month among the citizens of Illinois. We urge all citizens to express support for those who are courageous enough to seek alcohol or drug addiction treatment and encourage and support others who search for help.

Approximately 23 million Americans are dependent on illicit drugs or alcohol, and of those 23 million Americans, less than 10 percent receive treatment. Recovery Month is sponsored annually by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment to raise awareness of both the scope of the problem, and the effectiveness of drug and alcohol addiction treatment.

We want the message to be clear: substance and drug abuse is preventable, addiction is treatable, and recovery is possible. The journey to recovery requires not only great fortitude, but also a supportive network. As we celebrate Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, we also express our appreciation for the family members, mutual aid groups, peer support programs, health professionals and community leaders who provide compassion, care and hope.

Yoga Therapy

2010-09-02T10:32:00.000-07:00

At Timberline Knolls, we've incorporated a new form of therapy into our treatment program, yoga therapy, known to help bring balance to the body and mind through an awakening of the spirit.

Here are some of the different kinds of yoga we are using:

Fitness Yoga - aims at working toward fitness related goals utilizing breathing techniques and yoga postures.

Yoga Therapy - facilitates the experience of a mind-body connection through yoga postures, relaxed breathing techniques, guided relaxation, breath and movement coordination and meditation.

Gentle Yoga Elective - while similar to Yoga Therapy, the movements are gentler and slower, the postural holds are longer and there is a greater overall emphasis on restoration, self-exploration and breathing techniques.

Yoga Therapy for Individuals - helps develop mind-body connection, increase body-awareness and self-awareness and learn proper breathing to regulate reactivity and self-control.

Has anyone used yoga as a form of therapy? I would love to hear your experiences.

Going Back to School Met with Mixed Emotions

2010-08-27T14:07:00.000-07:00

Millions of students at all grade levels, from elementary to high school to college, will head back to school – and many times this is met with mixed emotions. Not because the “summer fun” has ended, but because school adds new pressures into the mix, with many kids focusing on trying to be popular, and some just to even fit in.

Many times these pressures can manifest physically, with young men and women trying to be an ideal body size and weight, just like they see in the people they idolize in magazines and movies. I want to educate students and parents about potential problems and let them know assistance is available.

As many as 10 million females and one million males are fighting a life and death battle with anorexia nervosa or bulimia and another 25 million are fighting a binge eating disorder, according to the National Eating Disorders Association. And because of this, body image and eating disorders are growing concerns in schools around the country.

This is an especially critical time to be aware of potential problems and watch for warning signs. During this time when schedules change drastically with the start of school, and new pressures are added into the mix, children and young adults can be more susceptible to body image issues and concerns.

Warning signs that there could be a potential problem in a loved one include:
•refusal to eat
•difficulty concentrating
•denial of hunger
•obsession with body size and shape coupled with low self esteem
•skipping meals and making excuses for not eating
•eating only a few certain foods considered safe, usually those low in fat and calories

Recognizing these signs and symptoms in a loved one can be a critical first step in working to improve body image distortions. Through early intervention, treatment and therapy, a positive body image can be restored and a life free from the obsession of reaching an “ideal” body size and shape can be achieved.

Animal Assisted Therapy

2010-08-18T12:43:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share with you some ways in which Timberline Knolls involves animals to facilitate healing and rehabilitation. As a collaborative effort between Timberline Knolls staff and a professional handler, Timberline Knolls residents work with animals to realize individual treatment goals by addressing a variety of mental health and human development needs, including behavioral issues, attention deficit disorder, substance abuse, eating disorders, abuse issues, depression, anxiety, relationship problems and communication needs.

Canine Therapy
By building on the bond between dogs and humans, residents receive unconditional love and patience provided by special therapy dogs, which help increase the residents’ self esteem and motivation. Whether emotional or physical, goals are oriented toward growth on an individual level.

Equine Therapy at TK Ranch
Timberline Knolls offers equine-assisted psychotherapy, a powerful and effective therapeutic approach providing residents with an opportunity to work and care for horses. Certified by the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA), TK Ranch helps residents develop non-verbal communication skills, assertiveness, confidence, creative thinking, leadership and problem-solving skills, as well as teamwork and relationships.

Has anyone found that animal therapy helped them in their recovery? I would love to hear your stories.

Adderall a Miracle Drug to Students But Highly Addictive Nature Ignored

2010-08-12T07:41:00.000-07:00

Another issue I want to talk about with kids going back to school is adderall use. Adderall is a drug widely reported to increase alertness, concentration and overall cognitive performance, while decreasing fatigue – but it is also a drug widely abused across college and high school campuses. During exam time and throughout the year, students are consuming this highly addictive drug in order to study, as well as in many cases to lose weight due to the loss of appetite realized when adderall is taken.

It’s prescribed on a regular basis to treat ADHD and ADD, but adderall is being sold and handed out in mass quantities to individuals with no prescriptions. The problem is getting worse and the harmful effects and addictive nature of this drug ignored.

Adderall is over prescribed to all populations, by general psychiatrists and even addiction psychiatrists, without informed consent or understanding by the psychiatrist of dependency risks. Many people with addictions and eating disorders seek out psychiatrists who will give them adderall prescriptions with little to no therapy, diagnostic detail or consideration of non-medication alternatives.

The problem has been researched by The National Survey on Drug Use and Health, specifically with college aged kids, who in a 2009 survey found that, “full-time college students aged 18 to 22 were twice as likely as their counterparts who were not full-time college students to have used adderall non-medically in the past year.”

I believe the best medication for attention deficit disorder is ongoing, consistent and loving therapeutic attention. Due diligence must be done by professionals to decrease the amount of these prescriptions handed out, and subsequently decrease the amount of abuse widely seen on college and high school campuses. And education to students on the drug’s addictive nature is key to stopping the severity of abuse being seen.

Back to School: While a Fresh Start, College Also Can Trigger Harmful Lifestyle Choices

2010-08-05T11:48:00.000-07:00

I wanted to let everyone know about a book my colleague here at Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center, Jena Morrow, recently published: Hollow: An Unpolished Tale. This book details a battle with anorexia that begins in early childhood, and also one where college gave her the perfect opportunity to delve deep into her disease.

College is supposed to be an exciting time in a young woman’s life; a chance for a fresh start, the opportunity to make decisions that will impact the rest of her life. But for Jena, college life brought negative and harmful lifestyle choices into the forefront.

Jena found college to be the most opportune time to really elope in harmful behavior, a sickness that almost killed her – anorexia.

In college, Jena hid her disease because she was no longer under the watchful eye of her parents, high school teachers or long-time friends. She was able to lie and deceive those who did not know any better.

She even recounted this story for me: "At the beginning of college, my parents bought a meal card for me, but there was one catch: I had to sign a paper upon arrival to college to activate it. I just never signed the paper; my parents never knew, and I played it off as a dumb mistake to my new friends. It was easy to hide my disease from people at college because they didn’t know I ever had a problem. I would avoid social situations where I knew food would be present, and in a way, isolated myself.”

With help, she’s had the strength to recover, and one of her messages in the book is a powerful one: the stresses, freedom and autonomy of college combine to create the perfect opportunity to practice life skills, but it’s also an ideal time for negative influences to have an impact and cause unknown internal triggers to show up for the first time.

Jena did relapse later in life, but after becoming a mother she realized she had more to live for – and is now happily in recovery. Currently working as a behavioral health specialist at Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center, Jena wrote her book to give hope to others struggling with an eating disorder, as well as create awareness and open people’s eyes to the impact and prevalence of these diseases.

Successful Addiction Treatment is a Family Affair

2010-07-28T12:36:00.000-07:00

Active family engagement and commitment is one of the most underappreciated aspects of recovery from substance abuse and chemical dependency. From supporting a loved one in staying committed to treatment, to addressing rifts among other family members and building an atmosphere of healing that continues once their loved one returns home from an inpatient or residential treatment center, the family is an integral part to ensure lifelong recovery for those suffering from addictions.

Having a family member involved in the recovery process can often mean the difference between temporary and life-changing treatment. Family members are able to learn about and support a resident’s treatment goals, and patients learn about and support their families' goals, forming a shared mission.

At Timberline Knolls, we begin family treatment and therapy by phone almost immediately. This occurs in a variety of settings, including individual psychotherapy sessions, group therapy sessions for residents, and multi-family group sessions via conference call. Across each of these venues, family therapists work to increase awareness of ways that family dynamics may influence a woman’s behavior in ways loved ones don’t appreciate, and to enhance the woman’s confidence to voice her feelings about how the family affects her.

•Individual Family Therapy sessions are often conducted separately with the resident and with members of her family in order to allow all parties to speak openly and honestly. They provide perspective on the key family issues to address during residential treatment.

•Multi-Family Group is an educational forum for adult family members of all Timberline Knolls residents. Conducted by leading family therapy experts, it meets three times per month in order to increase family awareness of about how family dynamics can impact their loved one's illness and develop strategies for managing it. Given that most Timberline Knolls residents come from outside the Chicago area, this forum is conducted via conference call.

•Family Dynamics Group, for residents only, provides a similar in-person forum for residents to explore the 'inner workings' of their families. Residents hear the experiences of their peers and learn that they are not alone in their struggles. This group can often spur insight and breakthrough for addressing their family dilemmas.

Some rehab centers and treatment programs address family issues primarily in a single, on-campus family week. At Timberline Knolls we believe this short-changes the process that the family must go through while their loved one is in treatment. Over the course of several weeks, the examination of family roles and the process of clarifying boundaries and improving communication skills shows residents how to enhance their freedom and find joy within the family even during times of dysfunction or turmoil.

Because families are a part of their loved ones struggle with addiction, illness and problematic behaviors, they also need to engage in their own recovery and healing process. Research indicates a higher probability of their loved ones recovery when family members are a part of the process.

By integrating loved ones into focused family treatment sessions, patients and their families are able to increase communication and work together towards understanding and tolerance of each other's perspective, a major step towards an individual's acceptance of herself and a vital component to the healing process.

Mommy Not Always Dearest During Treatment For Eating Disorders

2010-07-22T13:34:00.000-07:00

One underlying cause that surprises many women during treatment for an eating disorder is the relationship an adolescent girl has with her mother. Young girls suffering with eating disorders often think the physical aspects of their disease call for the most healing, but in most all instances, girls have to recognize the psychological and emotional damage caused by anorexia or bulimia, too. It’s during this process that they often uncover unexpected root causes of their disease.

This happens because the mother-daughter relationship can be a complicated one. While relationships with friends and husbands begin in adolescence and adulthood, a mother's love begins before a child is born, and can create an unrealistic expectation that the connection between mothers and daughters will be as strong and free from limitations in adulthood as it was in early infancy.

At Timberline Knolls we endorse an introspective look at this unique relationship and believes temporary distance from family members allows many adolescent and teenage girls to feel safe exploring the mother-daughter relationship in ways they haven’t been able to during prior treatment for anorexia or bulimia. We work together to foster a nurturing environment that helps teen girls gain a realistic view of their relationship with their mothers. In turn, the girl and her mother are better equipped to support each other on their path to recovery.

Exploring relations with her mother in a residential setting also equips a young woman to place the relationship in a healthier social context. Because in reality, an individual's needs and fears are often informed by society's needs and fears, making this one of the most maligned of all human relationships. By identifying societal myths commonly found in these relationships, mothers and daughters can begin to build a stronger foundation – and one of recovery for those suffering from eating disorders and substance abuse.

There are several “perfect mother” myths that can create unrealistic standards for behavior that often strain the relationship and trigger feelings of shame:
•the measure of a perfect mother is a perfect daughter
•constant nurturing comes naturally to all mothers
•mothers are born knowing how to raise children
•mothers and good daughters don't get angry
These ideas contribute to mother-blaming when mothers don't match the myth and can create distance between mothers and daughters.

In the same way, there are “bad mother” myths that can lead mothers and daughters to feel like they are walking a tightrope where too much or too little love will push them over the edge. Damaging assumptions include:
•mothers are inferior to fathers as authority figures
•only experts know how to raise children
•mothers and daughters are bottomless pits of neediness
•mother-daughter closeness is unhealthy
•assertion of a woman's power is dangerous or unseemly
The impact of beliefs like these can keep a teenage girl from seeking support from her mother when she needs it, or from accepting her mother’s efforts to build a normal, healthy bond that will help her through adolescence.

Relationship myths can be particularly perilous for young girls who are struggling with body image issues. Given that a mother is often the first person to recognize signs and symptoms of an eating disorder, any reluctance to address her concerns in an open and honest way can impact her daughter’s chances of avoiding long term medical complications.

Through residential treatment and therapy this relationship can be explored and these young girls can come to better understand its affect on their diseases – and in turn help build a foundation for lifelong recovery.

Heroin Addiction Deaths Might Have Fallen, But Still A Problem

2010-07-16T13:55:00.000-07:00

A new study by Roosevelt University’s Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy shows deaths from heroin overdoses in Chicago’s Cook County fell 16 percent during the last decade, but the Chicago metropolitan region still ranks among the worst in the nation for heroin use. I see the use of heroin regularly from girls I treat at Timberline Knolls and know the importance of awareness and seeking help to overcome this addiction.

Heroin is exquisitely addictive, especially when injected, because the effect is euphoric, profound and immediate. There is a great need for individuals suffering from heroin addiction to seek treatment, and that many times starts with the family and loved ones of these individuals intervening when they suspect a problem.
Loved ones may notice a number of signs of heroin use, which are visible during and after heroin consumption:

•Shortness of breath
•Dry mouth
•Constricted (small) pupils
•Sudden changes in behavior or actions
•Disorientation
•Cycles of hyper alertness followed by suddenly nodding off
•Droopy appearance, as if extremities are heavy

But the above signs are not unique to heroin abuse. More definitive warning signs of heroin abuse include possession of paraphernalia used to prepare, inject or consume heroin, including:

•Needles or syringes not used for other medical purposes
•Burned silver spoons
•Aluminum foil or gum wrappers with burn marks
•Missing shoelaces (used as a tie off for injection sites)
•Straws with burn marks
•Small plastic bags, with white powdery residue
•Water pipes or other pipe

Loved ones must watch for these warning signs and for paraphernalia used in heroin abuse – and seek help immediately. Heroin use is associated with high risks of overdose and death, hepatitis and HIV transmission. But through treatment and therapy, lifelong recovery can be achieved.

Prevalence of Eating Disorders in Female Athletes Exacerbated by Need to Masculinize One’s Body

2010-06-29T13:51:00.000-07:00

Eating disorders and disordered eating are commonly experienced by female athletes, and are many times brought on by the pressure female athletes feel to masculinize one’s body. Right now, as the World Cup is going on and baseball is in full swing, I want to make young athletes and their coaches aware of this growing problem.

As I’ve seen in my own experience treating eating disorders in young women, the prevalence of these disorders in female athletes occurs at an even higher rate than the general population. They can be spurned by denial, perfectionism and psychosexual implications. Most athlete role models are men, with the exception of aesthetic sports such as dance, cheerleading and synchronized swimming and because of this many females think their bodies must match a male physique.

The psychosexual implications of being a female can contribute to this increased prevalence and risk of disordered eating among female athletes. Because most athlete role models are men there may be pressure to masculinize one’s body and become more muscular. They might also seek to avoid menstruation, with its inherent cyclical fluctuations affecting bodies and moods, since stability, consistency and control are important for athletic performance and success.

Early detection is key to fighting this deadly disease, which has a death rate twelve times higher than the death rate of ALL other causes of death for females between fifteen to twenty-four years old, and coaches and school administrators are sometimes the first line of defense in noticing key changes that could signal an eating disorder. There needs to be education around prevention and recognition of eating disorders, particularly to staff and coaches for female athletes and to the female athletes themselves. Coaches and school administrators must foster a culture of safety around the athlete so that they feel comfortable asking for help and expressing concerns about weight, as well as be able to make appropriate treatment recommendations. It is only through a combined effort on all fronts that we can stop this deadly disease and help young women find lifelong recovery.

As always, I encourage you to email questions you have about eating disorders or topics you would like me to address in an upcoming column to Dr.Kim@itsallinthejourney.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Timberline Knolls Helps Repair, Rebuild and Restore Health, One Meal at a Time

2010-06-14T12:38:00.000-07:00

At Timberline Knolls, incorporating nutrition therapy into an individual’s personal treatment program is not an option – it is critical to recovery success, and it follows the position of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) which states that, “nutrition intervention, including nutritional counseling, by a registered dietitian is an essential component of the team treatment of patients with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and other eating disorders during assessment and treatment across the continuum of care.”

At Timberline Knolls, registered dietitians are skilled counselors who conduct a complete dietary evaluation in relationship to an individual’s physical needs and act as a bridge from the unknown to a new education about what food and drink must be to physically meet the body’s needs. During treatment, residents are given personal meal plans, designed to repair, rebuild and restore a resident back to health. Registered Dietitians work with residents to come to an honest understanding of current food intake and emotional associations with foods – which is one of the most important steps in finding recovery.

Normalizing nutrient intake is critical to allow recovery to occur. Without a minimum intake of calories and nutrients, making the simplest decision can prove difficult and this can impede recovery because the human body can’t function properly.

Through a combination of meal support and planning, support groups and family involvement, Timberline Knolls’ registered dietitians are able to work with residents to provide encouragement in order to begin on the path to recovery. Our goal here at Timberline Knolls is to bring honesty and caring communication about eating to our nutrition therapy program, because it is only through this safe environment that recovery from eating disorders can happen.

I encourage all of you to ask questions about proper nutrition intake – and watch the behaviors of loved ones around you for disordered eating. Don’t be afraid to seek help or information. As always, I encourage you to email questions you have about eating disorders or topics you would like me to address in an upcoming column to Dr.Kim@itsallinthejourney.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Summer Weather Aggravates Negative Body Perceptions

2010-06-07T08:16:00.000-07:00

Summer is upon us - and this is a time we need to be especially aware of our own body image. During the warm weather season, negative body perceptions are aggravated for many people. Clothing is thinner and less substantial, increasing feelings of inadequacy which manifest as poor body image. It is during this time that men and women sometimes take drastic measures to try and get their bodies to an “ideal” size they feel comfortable showing off in the summer – and these drastic measures can lead to serious eating disorders.

People begin the warm-weather season thinking they need to lose a few pounds to look good. They may go on a crash diet or begin a cycle of binging and purging. Positive reinforcement of this sudden weight loss by peers could cause a person to feel like he or she must maintain that type of body to feel good about him or herself, and this can trigger or reinforce eating disorder behaviors.

But we must remember that even when someone does lose weight to fit into that swimsuit, if he or she is not comfortable from the inside out they will never feel good in anything they wear. As people continue to lose weight and receive praise, they feel they need to keep going and keep losing weight – which quickly turns into a full-blown eating disorder. Watching for warning signs of an eating disorder during these months leading up to the summer is crucial for loved ones and friends – and not being afraid to talk to someone if you suspect they have a problem. Anorexia nervosa has the highest premature mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder, so the earlier it is addressed, the more likely the individual is to find recovery and begin to work on their own self esteem and body image issues.

Many people who suffer from eating disorders are not clinically overweight – they simply see themselves in a distorted fashion – so it is best to consult with a doctor if you want advice about losing weight. Eating healthfully one day at a time is the only way to maintain consistent and healthy weight loss if a doctor determines you have a weight issue. Crash dieting because you have to fit into a swimsuit this summer is not healthy, nor is it safe. Just remember, it’s not about what you eat, but rather, what is eating you. You can learn by visiting the Timberline Knolls website.

As always, I encourage you to email questions you have about eating disorders or topics you would like me to address in an upcoming column or on this blog to Dr.Kim@itsallinthejourney.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Dr. Kim

Hello It’s All in the Journey Readers

2010-05-27T08:40:00.000-07:00

Thank you for coming to check out my blog and welcome! Due to the overwhelming support and attention to my Food Fight columns in It’s All in the Journey, I wanted to have another outlet to quickly and easily respond to feedback I receive from you all, the readers. I wanted to be able to offer additional advice and provide information for people to learn more about eating disorders and substance abuse and how to find help.

Please feel free to leave comments to items I post on here. I hope for this to be an interactive forum for people to engage and ask questions and seek out information. If there is a topic you want more information on, please let me know and we can discuss it here.
I look forward to hearing from all of you and educating along the way.
Please don’t hesitate to email me at DoctorKim@ItsAllInTheJourney.com.
Best,
Dr. Kim

Timberline Knolls