Is The Word Eating Disorder Confusing For The Person Who Over-Eats? It’s Just a Label! 5 Symptoms, La Verne, CA

Is Over-Eating an Eating Disorder?

The word eating disorder can be an intimidating word especially if you’re an over-eater. Words like Anorexia and Bulimia seem more like eating disorders to us. However, any kind of “disordered eating behavior” comes under the category of an eating disorder.

When you are an over-eater you tend to use food for comfort. You may be comforting yourself due to feelings of:

1. Loneliness
2. Boredom
3. Anxiety
4. Depression
5. Trauma
6. Grief
7. Low self-esteem

This is the definition of an eating disorder. If you are using food in this way then you most likely would fall in the category of someone who would benefit from professional therapy in this area. A group situation would be extremely helpful.

So, if you find yourself confused by the word eating disorder, remember it’s “just a label”. Most of don’t like labels but we use them so that we can diagnose, treat and have words to talk about these types of conditions.

*Binge Eating Disorder is now an insurable diagnosis in the mental health field. This is due to the many numbers of individuals who are engaged in a binge type behavior.

Look for my next blog on the difference between over-eating and bingeing. That’s confusing too!

For more information:

Women’s Eating Disorder & Body Image Group

626-335-0903, ilissa@ilissabanhazlmft.com

Therapy for individuals, couples & families. Counseling for adolescents (teens) and adults *Late afternoon and evening sessions available.

For more information about Over-Eating…

Binge Eating Disorder the Most Common Eating Disorder 2013, Ilissa Banhazl, MFT, Glendora (6 Reasons We Use Food to Cope)

The most common eating disorder, 2013

The number of people struggling with Binge Eating Disorder has become so great that the mental health diagnostic manual (DSM-V) has now made Binge Eating Disorder a new diagnosis. This will also help people obtain insurance coverage so that they can work with a professional.

So, if you’re sitting in front of the TV alone, eating-

Don’t feel so guilty or ashamed.  You are not alone!

We use food for all sorts of reasons:

1. Loneliness

2. Boredom

3. Unhappiness

4. Celebration

5. Reward

6. Low self-esteem

Feel free to add your own reason to the list. They are all, acceptable and valid. There are reasons why you binge!

What to do next:

1. Ask yourself, am I ready? Am I committed? (If not, ask yourself what’s holding you back)

2. Call a therapist to arrange a meeting to learn how they treat eating disorders.

3. Join a support group for eating disorders in Glendora, Facilitated by Ilissa Banhazl, marriage and family therapist, Glendora, CA

4. Start seeing your therapist weekly so you can share old and new feelings, old and new thoughts and share old and new experiences. Get your therapist’s insights

5. Consider working with a dietician a couple of times

6. Get a medical exam and be honest with your doctor.

You can learn to understand what you’re feeling, what you need and give that to yourself. You won’t have to binge to cope!

More information on  eating disorder recovery and group…

 

Eating Disorders Are About Perfection, Ilissa Banhazl, MFT, La Verne

How long could you go without a mirror?

For some reason you think that if your perfect everything will be fine. I wish I could tell you that were true! But unfortunately, perfect doesn’t exist. So stop trying to be perfect!

Be yourself and if someone doesn’t like you that’s their problem! Keep looking for people who will support and encourage you. These are friends. A friend doesn’t judge you or tell you what to do.

Since perfection doesn’t exist, I guess we have to do the best with what we have. Self-acceptance is the key. If you are struggling with perfectionism and or self acceptance, you may consider working with a professional individually or join a women’s eating disorder and body image group.

I am a marriage and family therapist and I specialize in relationship counseling and treating eating disorder and body image issues. If you need help call (626) 335-0903.

Want more information about group therapy for eating disorders and body image?

Are You Concerned That You or Someone You Care About May Have an Eating Disorder? 5 Things You Can Do, Women’s Group Therapy, La Verne, Ilissa Banhazl, MFT

Have you noticed that you or your adult daughter, sister, mother, wife, or girlfriend has issues with food? Do you or they seem depressed or anxious also? If so, then you may be correct-

How long could you go without a mirror?

You’re loved one may need help.

Here are 5 things you can do… 

1. Don’t humiliate or judge the person when you address them.

2. Talk about your own feelings of concern

3. Ask if you can help? If so, ask how

4. Help the person connect with a professional if that’s what they want

5. Suggest your loved one gets individual counseling or joins a recovery group

Here’s a link to give you more information about an eating Disorder & Body Image Group in Glendora

Eating Disorders: 6 Ways to Recover; Individual Counseling or Group, La Verne, Ilissa Banhazl, marriage and family therapy

Learn how to love yourself!

Many of the women I work with who struggle with some form of eating disorder describe difficult and chaotic childhoods.

Here’s how I can help you…

1. Process and understand your experience of an alcoholic or abusive parent and gain awareness of how that has effected you

2. Learn to assert yourself with the adults/people who hurt you

3. Learn to validate yourself

3. Restore relationships if possible

4. Create a new healthy family of your own

5. Learn to accept and like your body image more

Most of the women experience some form of anxiety and/or depression with their eating disorder. This might be the chemical and/or genetic part of your eating disorder

6. Learn to use coping skills to replace your eating disordered behaviors

a. Journaling

b. Relaxation

c. Find a safe person

d. Dance

f. Listen to music

g, Do something artistic and/or creative

If you’d like to schedule a first time consultation with Ilissa, call (626) 335-0903

I specialize in treatment for Anorexia, Bulimia, Over-Eating, Binge, Purge, OCD and more… I facilitate a group for Women with ED in Glendora

Read more about your eating disorder>>>

 

5 Cognitive (Thought) Distortions (Mental Filters),That Women With Eating Disorders May Not Be Aware Of… By Ilissa Banhazl, MFT, Upland

Are your thoughts telling you the truth? Find out…

Often women who struggle with an eating disorder have thoughts that they believe are rational but they don’t realize that they are viewing experiences through a mental filter. This is part of the disease. It’s the bad thoughts and negative self-talk that are lying to you.

Here are 5 of the mental filters you may be using to decide what you think and feel about things. These filters directly will dictate your thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Take a look and see if you may be using one or more of these mental filters.

1. Black and White Thinking: (all or nothing thinking): You must be perfect; there are no shades of gray.

2. Catastrophize or Minimize: You tend to make things worse than they or you undervalue your experience and feelings.

3. Over-Generalize: You believe that one single negative event with spiral into other negative events.

4. Disqualifying the Positive: You over-look positive things and only focus on the negatives.

5. Using “Shoulds”: You feel guilty and pressured because you believe you “should” do something. Try replacing should with could!

These are only a few. There are many more. If you want to learn about these mental filters and how you can change these thoughts into more rational ones you may consider working with a therapist who specializes in eating disorders or join a group with other women to work towards your eating disorder recovery.

Find out if I can help you and learn more about the eating disorder group right now…

 

 

Eating Disorder Recovery Group, Are You interested? Are You Curious About What We Talked About On the Very First Night? Things We Discussed, Facilitator, Ilissa Banhazl, MFT, San Dimas

Are you ready to take the first baby step towards recovery? Join a group!

Heres the scoop…

First Night’s Group Topics

I. Introductions

1. What is your name? Do you work, go to school or care for children?

2. Are you married or in a relationship?

3. Do you have children?

3. Describe your eating disorder and how it affects your daily life.

4. Have you told the important people in  your life about your eating disorder?

5. How does shame fit into your eating disorder?

6. Describe your childhood and how that may have contributed to your eating disorder.

7. Do the significant people in your life understand how to best support you?

8. What are your goals for group therapy?

9. What stage are you in, in your commitment to recovery? recovery?

More about group…

The women who came to group the first night seemed committed to recovery. They were tired of living with an eating disorder and wanted to move on and enjoy many more aspects of life. The women were open and kind to one another. We had some tears and laughs.

I can’t imagine anyone with an eating disorder or negative body image feeling uncomfortable in this group because its safe, supportive, and confidential. Naturally, each person differs in their readiness to share. It takes time, but when trust builds you’ll find yourself belonging to non-judgemental, familiar and validating family in group.

You will learn how to communicate your truth and be genuine. That’s how you will recover. You’ll find your voice. Group can help you do that. Group is an interpersonal experience and isolation is the worst thing for your recovery.

In group you will make friends who will listen and care and empathize. They will share their story with you and everyone will begin to feel more normal. We will discuss feelings, thoughts and behaviors and move from negativity and “stuckness” to self-awareness, positivity and then recovery. The group will be here for you for as long as you need…

You can’t really do this alone. It’s very hard. Don’t be afraid. Take the first step and arrange an interview with Ilissa at no charge, so that I can learn more about you and you can learn more about the group. (626) 335-0903

I look forward to meeting you and hearing your story! 

More information about group, days, times, fees and more