The Role of Family Members in Eating Disorder Treatment

Thrive • Aug 26, 2021

UNDERSTANDING EATING DISORDERS AS SEVERE PSYCHOLOGICAL ILLNESSES

Without clinical support, it can be difficult for family members to understand their loved one’s eating disorder and all that it encompasses. These severe psychological illnesses are complex, dangerous, and can coincide with other mental health struggles. To make things even more complicated, there are many different kinds of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder – all of which are unique and require specialized treatment. Left untreated, eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa can cause their victims to systematically starve themselves, which can lead to malnutrition and related health issues.

Thrive Sacramento’s Clinical Director, Dr. Tony Paulson, Ph.D., began studying and treating eating disorders over three decades ago after leading an eating disorder support group. Reflecting on his initial experience with eating disorder treatment, he said, “In essence, the individuals in the support group were dying, and they couldn’t do anything about it. My driving force became to learn as much as I could and develop programming that meets the complexities of these illnesses.”

PROMOTING FAMILY EMPATHY DURING EATING DISORDER TREATMENT

The severity and complexity of eating disorders can be overwhelming and even traumatic for families, leaving them unsure of where to even begin when supporting their loved one’s recovery. Through eating disorder treatment that involves the family as a whole, family members are able to develop a better understanding of their loved one’s eating disorder, learn their active role in aiding their loved one’s recovery, and foster healing for themselves as well as the entire family.

During family therapy and psychoeducation sessions, families can come to accept that although genetic and environmental factors can play a role in the development of an eating disorder, no one is to blame for their loved one’s eating disorder. Additionally, family members can better grasp how eating disorders and their corresponding behaviors change the victim’s brain — cognitively, psychologically, and emotionally. As a result, family members can more easily practice patience with their loved one’s mental, emotional, and physical states as they experience and heal from the illness.

Throughout eating disorder treatment, family members can also come to discern how their loved one uses eating disorder behavior as a means of coping with emotional pain. Dr. Paulson said, “People respond to emotional pain differently. Some starve themselves, some binge and purge, some self-abuse, but pain is pain. We can all relate to human pain.” Once family members have increased insight into their loved one’s eating disorder, they can take a more empathetic role in their loved one’s recovery.

CREATING A STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM FOUNDED IN FAMILY

Eating disorder treatment can empower family members to support their loved one’s recovery. By creating barriers to the eating disorder, families can help curb and correct their loved one’s eating disorder behaviors with clinical guidance. From there, clinicians are able to dive into the psychological factors that are contributing to the eating disorder. Together, the family and clinicians can form a strong support network as they work to help the individual achieve lasting recovery.

“Humans are social beings. My philosophy in life is that you can’t avoid emotional pain. You can only try to collect a little more love to offset the pain. Once you open yourself up to that love from your community and family, it makes the emotional pain more tolerable and manageable.” said Dr. Paulson.

Thrive supports clients and their families throughout eating disorder recovery. You can learn more about our eating disorder treatment programs and family support by reaching out to us .

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Clean House, Healthy Mind: Spring Cleaning Benefits for Mental Health

By Sage Tippie • 23 Apr, 2024

Spring Cleaning Benefits for Mental Health Spring is a time of new beginnings, change, and transitions, including in our homes. With the warmer weather kicking motivation into high gear, Spring can be a prime time to do a deep clean. Not only is a clean space aesthetically pleasing to the eyes, but it can also help to improve your mental health. Learn about how tidying up your space can also tidy up your thoughts below along with tips for cleaning when you’re struggling with your mental health. 4 Reasons Why Cleaning is Beneficial to Mental health 1.Decreased Stress Not only does an uncluttered space provide a sense of calm, but the physical act of cleaning can release feel-good endorphins, reducing feelings of stress and anxiety. As you cross tasks off your checklist, your body also releases Dopamine. Also known as the “happy hormone”, Dopamine provides a sense of accomplishment and pride that can promote motivation in other areas of our lives. 2. Improved Focus Studies have shown that an uncluttered space can also lead to an uncluttered mind. Your focus can be drawn away from important tasks by a chaotic, messy space. Research has also shown a connection between procrastination and clutter, as an unwillingness to tackle larger chores like cleaning can translate over into various areas of our lives. By keeping your space tidy, it can inspire you to stay on top of other major tasks like work and school assignments. 3. Regulated Emotions According to this 2015 study , cleaning can function as a practice in mindfulness, providing an increased sense of calm and inspiration. Slowing down while cleaning gives you room to relax and free your mind of burdens, stressors, and irritants that can affect your mental health. Cleaning can even be considered a practice of self-care as the action helps you to connect with yourself and the outcome allows you to better enjoy your own space. 4. Sense of Order and Control When experiencing mental health struggles, people may feel a lack of control over their lives and emotions. Cleaning even small areas of the home can provide an increased sense of order and control as you cross tasks off your to-do list. Through realizing your own power by simply completing minor tasks like cleaning, it can reaffirm your ability to do more. 10 Tips for Cleaning When Struggling with Mental Health Mental health struggles and disorders commonly create barriers to one’s ability to clean and properly practice personal hygiene. Although these behaviors are normal side effects of mental health disorders, we want to work to aid our clients in cleaning to the best of their ability even in difficult times. Below, Thrive Wellness occupational therapist Meadow Deason shares some helpful tips she gives to clients when they struggle with cleaning due to mental health conditions: 1.Ask For Help Having support to clean can make a huge difference. Do the cleaning with the person helping you and have them hold you accountable. 2. Don't Wait for Motivation Motivation might not come before action, but it can build as you begin to see the results of your efforts. 3. Start Small Start with one area or one task and go from there. For example, concentrate on your bedroom first and then move on to the living room and bathroom. 4. Do Something Daily Even if you do only one small cleaning task a day, doing that one task creates momentum and prevents small tasks from building up and becoming overwhelming. 5. Use Sensory Modulation Change your environment by playing music, adjusting the lighting, or using aromatherapy. This can help to put you in a new headspace for cleaning. 6. Start with "High Impact" Tasks Start with more intensive or all-over cleaning tasks such as picking up clutter or doing the dishes. The visual "noise" of some tasks makes a large impact on the entire space, building motivation to continue cleaning. 7. Make a To-Do List Write a detailed to-do list of tasks and cross them off as you go. Physically marking down what you’ve accomplished can promote increased motivation. 8. Reward Yourself Set up a reward system where you reward yourself with a favorite activity or item when you complete a task as an incentive to clean. 9. Use the Rocket Method Don't think about it, just choose a task, countdown from five or ten and then start. This can help you to avoid potential anxiety and dread that can prevent you from cleaning. 10. Gamify Tasks Make up a game for your tasks or time yourself to promote increased engagement in cleaning. Your ability to complete tasks can be affected by a multitude of different factors and conditions including OCD , anxiety, depression , ADHD , and more. If you are struggling with motivation due to your mental health, help is here at Thrive Wellness.

child getting bandaid from doctor while mother smiles

The Importance of Whole Family Primary Care: A Q&A with Dr. Stephanie Wright

26 Mar, 2024

By serving the whole family, physicians are able to have a better understanding of family dynamics, family health care goals, and history of disease in the family.