A teen may try to keep a wide array of secrets from her/his parents. There are secrets they may want to keep from everyone. An eating disorder is often one such secret. Parents must learn the warning signs and develop ways to communicate about them. You didn’t choose the path on which your teen has…

If someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder, it’s important for them to get help as soon as possible. Encouraging medical treatment and therapy is one of the best things you can do when supporting a loved one with an eating disorder. Also, there are additional ways you can assist their journey to…

Check your news feed. Scan the headlines. Listen to any health-related conversation. Chances are you’ll hear references to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (or ADHD). Another common topic of discussion is weight gain — along with intertwined issues like obesity. ADHD and overeating are, of course, two dangerous and growing public health concerns. For most people, however, they…

Emotional eating usually involves a powerful urge. This urge can remain quite compelling unless and until we are able to put a space between it and the action of eating. Getting help to stop emotional eating will often begin with learning how to take such a pause. While this can be a challenging task, it…

You are what you eat. We all know this cliché and, needless to say, the food we choose to ingest is important. What we eat is essential but what about how we eat? How much? How often? And yes, how quickly? Which brings us to why we eat. Exploring this aspect of our life is…

It’s not uncommon to hear someone say that they’ve been “bad” for having had a breakfast doughnut or a bowl of ice cream for a snack. Others may pat their bellies after a big meal and note that they’ll have to hit the gym for an extra hour the following day. Although those kinds of remarks are often…

Bouncing back after binge eating begins with an acceptance of our imperfection. It also requires a belief in our ability to recover. Living fully, striving for improvement, means we must risk imperfection. So, for example, one of your goals might involve recovering from an emotional condition or self-harming pattern. A self-loving perspective allows for the…

More and more people are stress eating. If you’ve been reaching for the Ben & Jerry’s more often lately, you’re not alone. Overall, our lives seem busier, more rushed and more stressful. Food is a common go-to for coping with feelings of stress and overwhelm. It may seem difficult to stop turning to food for…

Limiting Beliefs and Binge Eating The causes of binge eating disorder are not well understood. Some see it as an addiction. Some think it’s rooted in psychological disorders like depression. Some suggest that binge eating is related to PTSD and a history of trauma. Whatever the individual cause, binge eating is a way of coping…

What is night eating syndrome? Night eating syndrome (NES) is not very well known, even among people who have it! Many therapists and dietitians have patients come to them, describing NES symptoms, without knowing that NES is an eating disorder. Patients speak about how hard it is to lose weight, how they never feel hungry…

A few months ago, Alejandra went back to school to finish her degree. She was excited about the challenge and changes that returning to her studies would bring into her life, but she didn’t anticipate the stress. It feels like there isn’t enough time in the day to do all that’s required of her at…

Guest Blog By Andrea Wachter, LMFT Is Your Child Eating More Than Their Body Needs? There are many complex reasons why your child might be eating more food than their body needs. Stuffing down difficult emotions is a top contender. Believing unkind thoughts can also cause overeating, in an attempt to quiet the busy mind. Some…

Guest Blog Post By Andrea Wachter, LMFT I began hating my body when I was 12. I then proceeded to spend a couple of decades lost in food and weight obsession. I eventually got help and unraveled the roots of my chaotic relationship with food, feelings and my body. It seemed only natural that I would…