Inspiration for the Holidays - 7

"Come to the edge, He said.
They said: We are afraid.
Come to the edge, He said.
They came. He pushed them,
And they flew..."

Guillaume Apollinaire

Inspiration for the Holidays - 6

"No man ever became great or good except through many and great mistakes."

William Gladstone

Inspiration for the Holidays - 6

"It is always too soon to quit!"

Norman Vincent Peale

Inspiration for the Holidays - 5

"You can be anything you want to be, if only you believe with sufficient conviction and act in accordance with your faith; for whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve."

Napolean Hill

Inspiration for the Holidays - 4

"It's time to start living the life you've imagined."

Henry James

Inspiration for the Holidays - 3

"You only have control over three things in your life - the thoughts you think, the images you visualize, and the actions you take."

- Jack Canfield, The Success Principles

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a safe and happy Holiday!

"Whatever affects one directly affects us all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality."

- Marting Luther King, Jr.

Inspiration for the Holidays - 2

"People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is... to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child - our own two eyes."
- Thich Nhat Hanh

Inspiration for the Holidays

Since this week is Christmas week, which can be a difficult time for a lot of people, I thought I'd share some inspirational quotes. I hope you enjoy and feel a little bit of inspiration for the day!

"When our inner nature is truly free, we find within ourselves a wealth of treasure: love, joy, and peace of mind. We can appreciate the beauty of life, taking each experience as it comes, opening our hearts to it and fully enjoying it."
- Tarthang Tulku

Dental Complications from Eating Disorders

Another great resource for information on diagnosing and treating eating disorders is the National Eating Disorder Association.

Dental Complications of Eating Disorders: Information for Dental Practitioners

The frequent vomiting and nutritional deficiencies that often accompany eating disorders can have severe consequences on one’s oral health. Studies have found that up to 89% of bulimic patients show signs of tooth erosion.

Did You Know?

It is often the pain and discomfort related to dental complications that first causes patients to consult with a health professional. Dental hygienists and dentists are often the first health professionals to observe signs and symptoms of disordered eating habits.

However, recent studies cite two deterrents to dental practitioners addressing eating concerns with their patients:

• Lack of knowledge of the scope and severity of eating disorders, and
• Lack of comfort in discussing their concerns or suspicions.

In spite of these deterrents, the role of dental practitioners in early detection, identification, and intervention is crucial. This information is being provided to enable dental practitioners to recognize the effects of eating disorders and talk with their patients about these concerns.

Signs and Symptoms

• Loss of tissue and erosive lesions on the surface of teeth due to the effects of acid. These lesions can appear as early as 6 months from the start of the problem.
• Changes in the color, shape, and length of teeth. Teeth can become brittle, translucent, and weak.
• Increased sensitivity to temperature. In extreme cases the pulp can be exposed and cause infection, discoloration, or even pulp death.
• Enlargement of the salivary glands, dry mouth, and reddened, dry, cracked lips.
• Tooth decay, which can actually be aggravated by extensive tooth brushing or rinsing following vomiting.
• Unprovoked, spontaneous pain within a particular tooth.

Changes in the mouth are often the first physical signs of an eating disorder. If you notice any of these symptoms, please talk with your patient about ways to care for their teeth and mouth.

What Should I Say?

The following script provides basic guidelines for dental practitioners to initiate a conversation with a patient presenting signs of disordered eating.

Introduce the Issue

• I am noticing (name the conditions) on your teeth, gums, tongue, throat, etc.
• This is something I have seen in individuals who engage in (name the behavior: e.g.: vomiting, consuming excessive diet soda, etc.).

Ask for More Information

• Can you tell me about any behaviors you may be currently engaged in that could be having this effect on your mouth?

Provide Resources

• Are you currently seeking professional help related to these behaviors?
• Because eating disorders impact your oral, mental, and physical health, it is very important to seek professional help from a counselor, medical doctor, nutritionist, support group, or some combination of these. For eating disorders information and treatment referrals, contact the National Eating Disorders Association at 800-931-2237 or visit www.NationalEatingDisorders.org

Discuss Next Steps

• While you are seeking help and establishing healthier eating behaviors, I would like to suggest some immediate options for improving your oral health (i.e. mouth guards, avoid brushing immediately after vomiting, etc.).

Katie Goode, LMFT
www.HolisticTherapyOC.com

Creating Affirmations

I've been reading "The Success Principles" by Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup for the Soul) and I really liked his guidelines for creating affirmations. I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking to improve their life. The book gives step-by-step suggestions for creating and achieving your vision (it's not just for career, it's for every aspect of your life).

Here's the info on affirmations:

The Nine Guidelines for Creating Effective Affirmations
By Jack Canfield, “The Success Principles”

1. Start with the words I AM. The words I am are the two most powerful words in the language. The subconscious takes any sentence that starts with the words I am and interprets it as a command – a directive to make it happen.
2. Use the present tense. Describe what you want as though you already have it, as though it is already accomplished. (Instead of “I am going to get…” say “I am enjoying my new …”)
3. State it in the positive. Affirm what you want, not what you don’t want. State your affirmations in the positive. The unconscious does not hear the word no. That means that the statement “Don’t slam the door” is heard as “Slam the door.” The unconscious thinks in pictures, and the words “Don’t slam the door” evoke a picture of slamming the door. The phrase “I am no longer afraid of flying” evokes an image of being afraid of flying, while the phrase “I am enjoying the thrill of flying” evokes an image of enjoyment.
4. Keep it brief. Think of your affirmation as an advertising jingle. Act as if each word costs $1,000. It needs to be short enough and memorable enough to be easily remembered.
5. Make it specific. Vague affirmations produce vague results. (Instead of “I am driving my new red car” use “I am driving my new red Porsche 911 Carrera.”
6. Include an action word ending with –ing. The active verb adds power to the effect by evoking an image of doing it right now. (“I am expressing myself openly and honestly,” not “I express myself openly and honestly.”)
7. Include at least one dynamic emotion or feeling word. Include the emotional state you would be feeling if you had already achieved the goal. Some commonly used words are enjoying, joyfully, happily, celebrating, proudly, calmly, peacefully, delighted, enthusiastic, lovingly, serenely, and triumphant.
8. Make affirmations for yourself, not others. When you are constructing your affirmations, make them describe your behavior, not the behavior of others. (“I am effectively communicating my needs and desires to Johnny” instead of “I am watching Johnny clean up his room.”)
9. Add or something better. When you are affirming getting a specific situation (job, opportunity, vacation), material object (house, car, boat), or relationship (husband, wife, child), always add “or something (someone) better.” Sometimes our criteria for what we want comes from our ego or from our limited experience. Sometimes there is someone or something better that is available for us, so let your affirmations include this phrase when it is appropriate.

A SIMPLE WAY TO CREATE AFFIRMATIONS
Visualize what you want to create. See things just as you would like them to be. Place yourself inside the picture and see things through your eyes.
Hear the sounds you would be hearing if you had already achieved your vision.
Feel the feeling you want to feel when you have created what you want.
Describe what you are experiencing in a brief statement.

Katie Goode, LMFT
www.HolisticTherapyOC.com

Noticing the Signs and Symptoms

More details on the signs and symptoms of eating disorders. This is from www.something-fishy.org a great resource on eating disorders.

BE AWARE: A sufferer DOES NOT need to appear underweight or even "average" to suffer ANY of these signs and symptoms. Many men and women with Eating Disorders appear NOT to be underweight... it does not mean they suffer less or are in any less danger.

Anorexia/Bulimia

1. Dramatic weight loss in a relatively short period of time.
2. Wearing big or baggy clothes or dressing in layers to hide body shape and/or weight loss.
3. Obsession with weight and complaining of weight problems (even if "average" weight or thin).
4. Obsession with calories and fat content of foods.
5. Obsession with continuous exercise.
6. Frequent trips to the bathroom immediately following meals (sometimes accompanied with water running in the bathroom for a long period of time to hide the sound of vomiting).
7. Visible food restriction and self-starvation.
8. Visible bingeing and/or purging.
9. Use or hiding use of diet pills, laxatives, ipecac syrup (can cause immediate death!) or enemas.
10. Isolation. Fear of eating around and with others.
11. Unusual Food rituals such as shifting the food around on the plate to look eaten; cutting food into tiny pieces; making sure the fork avoids contact with the lips (using teeth to scrap food off the fork or spoon); chewing food and spitting it out, but not swallowing; dropping food into napkin on lap to later throw away.
12. Hiding food in strange places (closets, cabinets, suitcases, under the bed) to avoid eating (Anorexia) or to eat at a later time (Bulimia).
13. Flushing uneaten food down the toilet (can cause sewage problems).
14. Vague or secretive eating patterns.
15. Keeping a "food diary" or lists that consists of food and/or behaviors (ie., purging, restricting, calories consumed, exercise, etc.)
16. Pre-occupied thoughts of food, weight and cooking.
17. Visiting websites that promote unhealthy ways to lose weight.
18. Reading books about weight loss and eating disorders.
19. Self-defeating statements after food consumption.
20. Hair loss. Pale or "grey" appearance to the skin.
21. Dizziness and headaches.
22. Frequent soar throats and/or swollen glands.
23. Low self-esteem. Feeling worthless. Often putting themselves down and complaining of being "too stupid" or "too fat" and saying they don't matter. Need for acceptance and approval from others.
24. Complaints of often feeling cold.
25. Low blood pressure.
26. Loss of menstrual cycle.
27. Constipation or incontinence.
28. Bruised or calluses knuckles; bloodshot or bleeding in the eyes; light bruising under the eyes and on the cheeks.
29. Perfectionistic personality.
30. Loss of sexual desire or promiscuous relations.
31. Mood swings. Depression. Fatigue.
32. Insomnia. Poor sleeping habits


Compulsive Overeating/Binge Eating Disorder

1. Fear of not being able to control eating, and while eating, not being able to stop.
2. Isolation. Fear of eating around and with others.
3. Chronic dieting on a variety of popular diet plans.
4. Holding the belief that life will be better if they can lose weight.
5. Hiding food in strange places (closets, cabinets, suitcases, under the bed) to eat at a later time.
6. Vague or secretive eating patterns.
7. Self-defeating statements after food consumption.
8. Blames failure in social and professional community on weight.
9. Holding the belief that food is their only friend.
10. Frequently out of breath after relatively light activities.
11. Excessive sweating and shortness of breath.
12. High blood pressure and/or cholesterol.
13. Leg and joint pain.
14. Weight gain.
15. Decreased mobility due to weight gain.
16. Loss of sexual desire or promiscuous relations.
17. Mood swings. Depression. Fatigue.
18. Insomnia. Poor Sleeping Habits.

Katie Goode, LMFT
www.HolisticTherapyOC.com

Eating Disorder Links and Resources

AED Academy for Eating Disorders
For E.D. professionals; promotes effective treatment, develops prevention initiatives, stimulates research, sponsors international conference and regional workshops.
Website: http://www.aedweb.org

National Association of Anorexia Nervosa & Associated Disorders
Distributes listing of therapists, hospitals, and informative materials; sponsors support groups, conference, research, and a crisis hotline. Quarterly newsletter.
http://www.anad.org/ANAD

EDA Eating Disorders Anonymous
A "balance, not abstinence" 12-step fellowship. Free literature available.
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Eating Disorder Coalition for Research, Policy and Action
Advances the federal recognition of eating disorders as a public health priority.
http://www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org

Eating Disorders Information Network
Atlanta-based resource and referral resource. Quarterly magazine, speakers bureau, curriculums, school outreach programs, EDAW events.
http://www.edin-ga.org

Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center
Provides free information and treatment referrals for all forms of eating disorders.
http://www.edreferral.com

Help Guide
Support groups help patients and families talk about their experiences and help each other get better. If you have an eating disorder, a support group is a great way to gain support, find ways to improve your self-concept, and know that you are not alone in the struggle!
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/eating_disorder_self_help.htm

IAEDP International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals
A non-profit membership organization for professionals; provides certification, education, local chapters, a newsletter, and an annual symposium.
http://www.iaedp.com

MEDA Massachusetts Eating Disorders Association, Inc.
Newsletter, referral network, local support groups, educational seminars and trainings, speaker series.
http://www.medainc.org

National Eating Disorders Association
NEDA is dedicated to expanding public understanding of eating disorders and promoting access to quality treatment for those affected along with support for their families through education, advocacy and research.
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

NEDSP The National Eating Disorders Screening Program
Eating disorders screening, education, and outreach programs.
http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org

Katie Goode, LMFT
www.HolisticTherapyOC.com

Eating Disorder Group - Irvine California

EATING DISORDERS GROUP

Tuesdays
6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

This weekly process group is ideal for adolescents and women struggling with Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating, and Body Image issues at all levels of recovery.

Often people with eating disorders do not talk about their disorders because the subject carries too much shame.

This group helps to lift the shame and reduce negative symptoms by providing mutual support and increasing understanding of the emotional issues associated with eating disorders.

The focus of the group includes:

• Self-Knowledge and Acceptance
• Improved Body Image
• Coping with Negative Media Influences
• Interpersonal Relationships Skills
• Emotion Regulation
• Distress Tolerance and Coping Skills
• Mindfulness
• and Relapse Prevention

To register, or for more information, call (949) 395-7161

Katie Goode, LMFT
Http://www.HolisticTherapyOC.com

What Level of Care to Choose

According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) www.NationalEatingDisorders.org
choosing a level of treatment should be based on the following:

Intensive Outpatient/Outpatient
Medically stable

• No longer needs daily medical monitoring

Psychiatrically stable

• Symptoms in sufficient control to be able to function in normal social, educational, or vocational situations and continue to make progress in recovery

Partial Hospitalization
Medically stable

• Eating disorder may impair functioning but not causing immediate acute risk
• Needs daily assessment of physiological and mental status

Psychiatrically stable

• Unable to function in normal social, educational, or vocational situations but not suicidal
• Daily bingeing, purging, severely restricted intake, or other pathogenic weight control techniques

Residential

• Medically stable so does not require intensive medical interventions
• Psychiatrically impaired and unable to respond to partial hospital or outpatient treatment

Inpatient
Medically unstable

• Unstable or depressed vital signs
• Laboratory finding presenting acute risk
• Complications due to coexisting medical problems such as diabetes mellitus

Psychiatrically Unstable

• Symptoms worsening at a rapid rate
• Suicidal and unable to contract for safety

NEDA has also published an "Eating Disorders Survival Guide" which includes additional useful information.

Katie Goode, LMFT
www.HolisticTherapyOC.com

What Are Eating Disorders?

An eating disorder is marked by extremes. It is present when a person experiences severe disturbances in eating behavior, such as extreme reduction of food intake or extreme overeating, or feelings of extreme distress or concern about body weight or shape.

A person with an eating disorder may have started out just eating smaller or larger amounts of food than usual, but at some point, the urge to eat less or more spirals out of control. Eating disorders are very complex, and despite scientific research to understand them, the biological, behavioral and social underpinnings of these illnesses remain elusive.

The two main types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. A third category is "eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS)," which includes several variations of eating disorders. Most of these disorders are similar to anorexia or bulimia but with slightly different characteristics. Binge-eating disorder, which has received increasing research and media attention in recent years, is one type of EDNOS.

Eating disorders frequently appear during adolescence or young adulthood, but some reports indicate that they can develop during childhood or later in adulthood. Women and girls are much more likely than males to develop an eating disorder. Men and boys account for an estimated 5 to 15 percent of patients with anorexia or bulimia and an estimated 35 percent of those with binge-eating disorder. Eating disorders are real, treatable medical illnesses with complex underlying psychological and biological causes. They frequently co-exist with other psychiatric disorders such as depression, substance abuse, or anxiety disorders. People with eating disorders also can suffer from numerous other physical health complications, such as heart conditions or kidney failure, which can lead to death.

For more information, visit http://www.nimh.nih.gov

Katie Goode, LMFT
www.HolisticTherapyOC.com

Inspiration - Full Flower

We grow at the rate we grow. Some of us are morning glories, some giant pines. Each step of the way has it's beauty and meaning; there is no rushing the process of coming to full flower. As my garden taught me twenty years ago, the only place we'll find the seeds that grow us are inside ourselves. To be with ourselves in that discovery process is to be still and open, curious and attentive, receptive without expectation, without preconception, without judging what we find in our hearts, minds, bodies, and spirits. When we're constantly reacting, it is not possible to notice or to choose appropriate action. - Arlene Bernstien

Katie Goode, LMFT
www.HolisticTherapyOC.com

Early Signs of Bulimia

What are the early warning signs of Bulimia?

• Finding evidence of laxative, diuretic or diet pill use.
• Complaints on a regular basis of “stomach flu” or that certain foods “don’t sit right.”
• Complaints of heartburn-type symptoms, chronic sore throat, hoarseness, difficulty in swallowing.
• Puffy face or swollen cheeks.
• Frequent trips to the bathroom immediately after meals.
• Evidence of large quantities of food being consumed with no weight gain.
  
• Redness or calluses on the back of hands.
• Redness around the mouth from exposure to stomach acid.
• Small red blood spots around the eyes, or bloodshot eyes (resulting from the pressure of self-inducing vomiting).
• Dental exam reveals a large number of cavities with previously history of good dental reports.

Katie Goode, LMFT
www.HolisticTherapyOC.com

Early Signs of Anorexia

What are the early warning signs of anorexia?

• When regular well-child assessments show failure to gain weight or a weight loss.
• Denying obvious thinness or weight loss.
• Complaints of being cold all the time, or wearing lots of layers of clothing.
• Hands and feet are cold to the touch much of the time and may be bluish in color.
• Evidence of increased hair loss; more hair on the pillow or in brushes. Hair looks thinner and drier.
• Lanugo hair on face or body (similar to body hair found on newborns).
• Crying without producing tears (due to dehydration).
• Yellowish skin tone due to elevated levels of carotene (caused by eating excessive amounts of vegetables and/or poor liver function).
• Complaints of dizziness.
• Fainting
• Restricting fluids.
• Preparing foods for others but not eating it.

Katie Goode, LMFT
www.HolisticTherapyOC.com

Eating Disorder Early Signs

What are the early warning signs of an eating disorder?

• Obvious changes in weight, both up and down.
• Going through puberty early, or being bigger or taller than average size.
• Going on a diet
• Pickiness in food choices, fear of fat in food.
• Sudden interest in nutrition and healthy eating.
• Interest in food labels, especially fat grams and calories.
• Deciding to become a vegetarian.
• Avoiding desserts.
• Skipping meals, especially breakfast.
• Drinking excessive amounts of water, diet soda, coffee, or other non-caloric drink.
• Frequent complaints of feeling full or bloated, constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.
• Lying about food intake.
• Refusal to eat in public.
• Rituals around food (i.e., food can't touch, must be cut a certain way, etc)
  
• Seems distressed, anxious, or guilty about eating.
• Spends a lot of time worrying about size and shape.
• A newfound interest in sports, or exercising in addition to sports practice.
• A drive to excel in sports.
• Involvement in “thinness demand sports” such as dance, ballet, gymnastics, figure skating.
• Involvement in sports with weight classes such as wrestling or some martial arts.
• Involvement in sports in which weight can affect performance, such as running, cross-country skiing.
• A tendency to be a perfectionist.
• Low self-esteem.
• Development of moodiness, seems less happy in general.

Katie Goode, LMFT
www.HolisticTherapyOC.com

Types of eating disorders

The most common eating disorders are anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder.

• Anorexia – People with anorexia starve themselves out of an intense fear of becoming fat. Despite being underweight or even emaciated, they never believe they’re thin enough. In addition to restricting calories, people with anorexia may also control their weight with exercise, diet pills, or purging.
• Bulimia – Bulimia involves a destructive cycle of bingeing and purging. Following an episode of out-of-control binge eating, people with bulimia take drastic steps to purge themselves of the extra calories. In order to avoid weight gain they vomit, exercise, fast, or take laxatives.
• Binge Eating Disorder – People with binge eating disorder compulsively overeat, rapidly consuming thousands of calories in a short period of time. Despite feelings of guilt and shame over these secret binges, they feel unable to control their behavior or stop eating even when uncomfortably full.

Katie Goode, LMFT
www.HolisticTherapyOC.com

Teenage Dieting

According to the CASA Report: Food for Thought: Substance Abuse and Eating Disorders (2003):

While only 15% of teenage boys and girls can be classified as overweight:

Girls Boys
62.3% 28.8% Report Trying to lose weight

58.6% 28.2% Are Actively Dieting

68.4% 51% Exercise with goal of losing weight or to avoid gaining

19.1% 7.6% Have Fasted for more than 24 hours

12.6% 5.5% Use Diet Pills, powders, or liquids

7.8% 2.9% Vomit or take laxatives to lose weight or avoid gaining

Katie Goode, LMFT
www.HolisticTherapyOC.com

Eating Disorder Prevalence

How Prevalent Are Eating Disorders in the US?

Consider these very serious statistics:

* Research reveals that 40-60% of girls in high school perceive themselves to be overweight and are actively trying to lose weight.
* Approximately 10-15% of these girls can be considered “chronic dieters,” two-thirds of whom are not overweight.
* Ninety percent of eating disorder sufferers are female.
* Girls are particularly vulnerable to the development of body dissatisfaction, unhealthy dieting behaviors and eating disorders.
* An estimated 10 million American women and girls and 1 million men and boys have active, destructive eating disorders — including anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder.
* Eating disorders are serious health conditions with and anorexia has one of the highest death rates of any mental illness.

Katie Goode, LMFT
www.HolisticTherapyOC.com