Welcome

We previously discussed research on “fitspiration” and the association between disordered eating and social media use, which suggests there is a relationship between social media and eating disorder behaviors. In a similar line of inquiry, a recent study looked specifically at fitness trackers (those trendy apps people use to record things like steps, calories, and heart rate) and eating disorder thoughts and behaviors.

Thank you for being a support person. For understanding. For speaking up. For listening without judgment. For learning about a complex illness. For being there to make someone laugh during a tough moment. For just being there.

by Monique DesChane, Site Director – Seattle Residential

Nestled in the quiet Fremont neighborhood along the shore of the famous Lake Washington Ship Canal is our new Seattle Residential Treatment Center—open for business!

It takes a multidisciplinary team to treat eating disorders, and each member plays a vital role in getting clients on the road to recovery. That’s why we’re highlighting the various roles within our care team in this blog series.

Our residential treatment center in Seattle is officially open! We have been hard at work for many months creating a warm, welcoming environment for our clients to begin to heal. Our team of experts, including a full medical staff, therapists, and dietitians will be working around the clock, offering compassionate, clinically robust treatment to our clients requiring 24/7 care.

Previous research suggests an early response to eating disorder treatment predicts better outcomes, both at the end of treatment and at follow-up appointments. What do we mean by “early response”? The definition varies, but a recent research study exploring the time-sensitivity of eating disorder treatment response defines early response as “a clinically meaningful improvement in behavioral symptoms within the first weeks of treatment.”

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 Rebecca Haerin Erickson, MA, former Emily Program client continuing her recovery process. Rebecca is pursuing her license in Marriage in Family Therapy in Minneapolis, MN.

Food is a part of my brain and is always on my mind. In 2012, I was diagnosed with an eating disorder—compulsive overeating. I would sit in front of Netflix and eat bowls and bowls of Ramen noodles. I would also finish off an entire economy-sized bag of cereal in one sitting. I usually ate because I was burying a terrible feeling: loneliness. Sometimes I ate not because of loneliness, but out of boredom, or stress, or hatred for my body. I gained a lot of weight, but my eating was also a gradual decay of my spirit and my self-worth. I could never numb myself enough. I never became bulimic, but I did go through moments where I restricted food intentionally.

Kent State University Independent Films (KSUIF), a student-run production company in Ohio, recently released a public service announcement about the eating disorder thoughts that can take over a person’s life. Writer Rachel Ramras said that the inner monologue in the film was pulled from her personal experience.