The Connection Between Eating Disorders and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Understanding the Overlap Between Eating Disorders and OCD Eating disorders frequently overlap with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD is a condition…

The Inspiration Behind Waves of Recovery The idea for Waves of Recovery began while I was listening to an alumna…

There are moments when I catch myself scrolling without even realizing how long I’ve been doing it. A few minutes…

Eating disorders, mental health concerns, and suicide risk are rising among transgender individuals, making this a time-sensitive issue for clinicians.…

When people talk about trauma responses, most of us have heard of fight, flight, or freeze. But there is a…

Research suggests that up to half of people diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (DID) also live with an eating disorder.…

Why Summer Can Feel Different in Recovery Summer often brings a shift in pace. School schedules change, routines become less…

Travel should be about connecting to the world around you. But for people living in larger bodies, travel can come…

We all live in diet culture, a society obsessed with thinness and dieting. Weight and food biases permeate the air…

Eating disorder recovery can be life-changing for many, but it can also be exhausting. The emotional work of recovery is…

You’re a few hours into treatment—or maybe a few days in—when you begin to wonder if you’ve made a mistake.…

The road to recovering from an eating disorder isn’t simple. Treatment approaches are constantly refining and providers are learning new…

At its core, eating disorder recovery is about stepping outside of your comfort zone, facing fears, and repeatedly defying the…

Academic excellence can vanish almost overnight when eating disorders take hold. High-achieving students may find themselves unable to concentrate, missing…

You know you need help for an eating disorder—or someone you love does—but you can’t figure out if you can…

The turn of the calendar often invites high expectations: a fresh start, ambitious goals, public declarations. For many people, this…

Many people with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may notice that their eating habits don’t follow a predictable rhythm. Maybe you lose…

For many adults, eating has never felt straightforward. Certain textures or smells might make you tense up before you even…

The holidays—from Halloween through Thanksgiving and the December celebrations—can be one of the most challenging times for individuals and families…

Lived Experience from ViaMar Health Alumni and Their Families The holiday season can be a time of joy and celebration,…

Recovery from an eating disorder can have its ebbs and flows. Sometimes it feels like you’re cruising along—you got this.…

Anyone who tuned into Oprah Winfrey’s 2024 TV special, “Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution,” likely walked away with…

Holidays can feel warm and celebratory for many—yet for people with eating disorders, Thanksgiving often brings intense stress, shame, and…

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is often misunderstood as extreme picky eating, but for those experiencing it, the challenges run…

Healing from an eating disorder isn’t a linear process, and recovery doesn’t look like a one-size-fits-all treatment plan. A common…

Amenorrhea, or the absence of menstruation, affects many individuals with eating disorders due to hormonal disruptions caused by weight loss,…

As humans, we learn from others, lean on others, and rely on others to give us hope in times of…

Recovering from an eating disorder is a complex journey, one that often involves challenging long-held beliefs about food, body image,…

If you’ve been told you need residential treatment, you may feel torn. The idea of leaving your town—or even your…

What exactly is expressive arts therapy? At its core, expressive arts therapy involves the use of creative art forms like…

What is Refeeding Syndrome? Refeeding syndrome is a serious and potentially fatal complication of nutritional rehabilitation. It occurs in significantly…

For a young person in eating disorder recovery, going back to school—whether at the end of summer or after taking…

Eating disorders are serious, often life-threatening conditions that affect many individuals, including teens. While eating disorders are typically associated with…

In today’s digital world, fitness trackers have become increasingly popular tools for individuals looking to monitor their physical health. These…

Society’s obsession with body shape, size, and “ideal” appearances is everywhere we look—from fitness influencers on social media to ads…

Seeking eating disorder treatment is a significant and courageous step toward recovery. However, many individuals face a common challenge: balancing…

Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that affect individuals physically, emotionally, and psychologically. For those who require a higher…

When you or a loved one receives any diagnosis, it’s natural to wonder why. Our brains crave clear answers. But…

It happens every year as spring turns to summer, as predictable as seasonal allergies: advertisers, marketers, and influencers will start…

Bradycardia, or low heart rate, is a common and potentially serious complication of eating disorders, affecting up to 95% of…

New Year’s often comes with the pressures of perfectionism, unattainable resolutions, and external expectations. Although separating ourselves from this approach…

Mental health is a lifelong journey of self-care, regardless of whether you’re a teenager navigating school and relationships or an…

How to Use Labs to Detect and Treat Refeeding Syndrome The use of labs in the identification and treatment of…

If you're recovering from an eating disorder, work with your treatment team to determine when it’s appropriate to incorporate mindful…

The holidays usually fill our lives with joy, cheer, and the spirit of unity. They typically include times for celebration,…

Animal companions undoubtedly bring us joy. But how much support can we expect from a dog, cat, or horse? Animal-assisted…

Everyone’s experience with an eating disorder is different, making it difficult to know when and how to seek help. You…

Eating disorders can be extremely isolating. This makes sense when you consider that these illnesses thrive in secrecy, and so…

As Halloween approaches, many of us look forward to traditions like trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving, haunted houses, and themed parties. While…

When you or a loved one are struggling with an eating disorder, the last thing you want to do is…

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that, unfortunately, don’t go away on their own. While it’s always possible to…

For many years, I didn’t know if the destruction I had inflicted on my body in the form of bulimia…

Center for Discovery’s Path to Peace Program is a virtual intensive outpatient program (IOP) for adults with binge eating behaviors.…

For those who struggle with an eating disorder, many daily activities and routines can be difficult, no matter where a…

A new school year is just around the corner which inherently means excitement and nervous jitters for kids and students.…

Balancing eating disorder recovery during the back-to-school season is possible and can be managed effectively with the right resources and…

CBT, CBT-E, DBT… Have you ever wondered what all those letters stand for and why they are so often talked…

Everyone’s path to recovery is unique and involves managing the ups and downs that come with it. Building a supportive…

Summer can be a busy time for many people. Social events, family gatherings, evenings with friends, and company outings all…

You don’t know what to do. You’ve never had to worry about your twelve-year-old son before. His school report cards…

Eating disorders can affect anyone. In fact, nine percent of Americans will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime. Recovery…

Monte Nido’s most recent outcomes show that 85% of all clients had a co-occurring diagnosis of a mood, anxiety or…

Weight changes, fatigue and insomnia can be common signs of both depression and eating disorders. So, how can you figure…

In our appearance-obsessed culture, exercise is often portrayed as a means to attain the “perfect” body, rather than a practice…

The terms dietitian, nutritionist, and nutrition coach are often used interchangeably -- but they are not the same. A dietitian,…

Many eating disorder triggers tend to intensify around spring break and the summer months that follow. This poses significant challenges…

Living with an eating disorder is incredibly challenging and can ultimately be life-threatening. These conditions intertwine mental and physical health…

As summer approaches, individuals struggling with eating disorders may experience an increase in anxiety. With summer comes holiday gatherings, a…

Our relationships with our bodies are deeply personal, constantly shifting and evolving throughout our lifetimes. If you have lived experience…

Eating disorders are serious conditions that can affect anyone, regardless of gender, age, body size, and socioeconomic background. Eating disorders…

Recovery from eating disorders (EDs) requires compassion, understanding, and a comprehensive approach. These mental health conditions can have serious consequences…

Traditionally, the consensus in the eating disorder (ED) field had been to avoid trauma work during intensive treatment, opting to…

It’s not unusual to experience some selectiveness around food. Many people have allergies that limit their food choices, others are…

There’s a significant treatment gap when it comes to adults with eating disorders: Nearly 30 million Americans will develop an…

Pursuing treatment for an eating disorder or another mental health concern can be incredibly difficult, especially for mothers who may…

Psychiatric nurses are registered nurses who offer support to patients with mental illnesses. Most people are impacted by poor mental…

The National Alliance for Eating Disorders has seen a 75% increase in calls to our helpline, compared to this time last…

When you’re searching for eating disorder treatment, the options can feel overwhelming—just the acronyms alone (IOP, PHP, FBT?) are dizzying.…

With the abundance of food, shared mealtimes, and large social gatherings, the holiday season can be immensely difficult for anyone…

Whether it be through advertising, social media, or even within supermarkets, we as people seem to continuously assign moral values…

Your child starts exhibiting the signs of an eating disorder. You contact an eating disorder treatment center for help and…

It can be overwhelming and isolating to struggle with an eating disorder. Disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and…

Body weight and body mass index (BMI), while inaccurate and inappropriate for many reasons, are still used to indicate the…

Many eating disorder symptoms have to do with bodies: being preoccupied with your body, going to great lengths to change…

CW: Mentions of Suicide Pretty much anyone who knows me also knows that I've recovered from an eating disorder. As…

When someone is struggling with their mental health, the first recommendation they often get is to see a therapist—and often,…

I once met with a registered dietitian who was new to my treatment team, and when I mentioned my eating…

At the National Alliance for Eating Disorders (“The Alliance”), our mission is to create better access to education, referrals, and…

Advances in technology, the changing needs of those living with eating disorders, and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic have…

An eating disorder is a dangerous and potentially fatal mental health condition that should be treated by medical professionals. For…

Maris Degener and her family had just begun seeking eating disorder treatment when they were given a pamphlet for something…

The holidays are a time of celebration and joy for many, but for a person who’s in eating disorder recovery,…

The holiday season can be a joyful time filled with social gatherings, family traditions, and abundant food. However, for those…

Let me introduce myself: I’m Sandra. I am 27 years old, and I am currently in recovery from an eating…

Eating disorder clinicians are guided by ethics to ensure the best for every patient that comes into their care. In…

Being serious mental health disorders that can have severe mental and physical health consequences, eating disorders often require extensive psychiatric…

Are you wondering if it’s possible to balance both school and outpatient treatment? The answer is yes! While college can…

What is biofeedback? Biofeedback is a tool used to practice self-regulation and can help improve anxiety, stress, sleep, mood, and…

If you are thinking about postponing eating disorder treatment until after the holidays, consider some of the benefits of reaching…

*CW: Mentions of Trauma*   Eating disorder treatment experts know unequivocally that trauma and PTSD are important contributing factors in…

It’s been a few weeks since you’ve completed treatment. You have learned coping strategies to manage eating disorder impulses and…

Could we imagine scrolling through our social media feeds to see that body diversity is honored and was a space…

When I first came to terms with needing help for a life-threatening eating disorder, I had no idea I would…

Swimsuit season. Beach body. Bikini ready. The terms are thrown around casually every summer. In regular conversation, on social media,…

You've Seen Eating Disorder Patients Before, Even If You Don't Think You Have. In fact, you may have seen it…

Gender-informed care is close to my heart. When working with clients with an eating disorder, a gender-informed lens is necessary,…

For many, summertime means vacations, long, warm days, and a much-appreciated break from school or work. It is a season…

“It’s a phase.” “They’ll outgrow it.” “If they get hungry enough, they’ll eat.” Parents and caregivers of those who struggle…

Art therapy is an integrative mental health field that is often used in the treatment of eating disorders. While traditional…

“There simply is no pill that can replace human connection. There is no pharmacy that can fill the need for…

The holiday season is around the corner and it can be a difficult time to navigate when you have an…

Many see Thanksgiving as a way of connecting with family by coming together and enjoying a traditional Thanksgiving meal. However,…

Oh, the holidays – a time that means so much to so many. Twinkling lights, bustling bodies, gift-wrapping galore, and…

Apparently it’s November again (Mentally: Still in March 2020), and we are approaching another holiday season. The holidays can be…

When I was in high school and first started struggling with “eating issues,” as my family labeled it, my parents…

“Mirror mirror on the wall, You don’t get to make the call Of who I am, or how I see,…

Movement and exercise play a complicated but important role in eating disorder treatment. Exercise, perhaps more than any other aspect…

For those living with an eating disorder, maybe 2020 can be the year you start to work toward recovery. No…

As we celebrate the holidays, we are reunited with many family members and loved ones. We know from experience as…

I’m sure we’ve all heard the song, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. No matter what holiday(s) you…

Not surprisingly, a major focus of therapy for people who have eating disorders is helping them to develop healthier ways…

I often ask my clients to think of their meal plan like the blueprints for building a house. Some parts…

Eating disorders can be consuming and overwhelming. The process of recovery is often described as a roller-coaster of emotions that…

"It seems like I am experiencing my feelings, now that I am no longer bingeing and purging my emotions”. This…

Are you finding an increase in anxiety due to the start of the holiday season? What comes to mind when…

The treatment of eating disorders is one of healthcare’s most complex therapeutic pathways. Helping patients achieve recovery requires a sustained,…

“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” – Wayne Dyer   For…