Why we need to talk about eating disorders | Kat Geiger

Dom Chipp • Feb 22, 2021

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This opinion column was submitted by Kat Geiger, LCSW, a certified eating disorders specialist with Thrive Wellness of Reno.

As this is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, it’s time to take a closer look at the impact of body image, beauty, diet, and disordered eating and what we can do to mitigate it. Approximately one out of every 10 people in the U.S. struggles with some sort of a diagnosable eating disorder, and a far greater percentage struggle in their relationship with food and their bodies.

Eating disorders can affect people of every size, shape, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, and anyone regardless of their gender or sex. Although eating disorders are more commonly identified in females, researchers and clinicians are becoming aware of a growing number of males and nonbinary individuals who are seeking help for eating disorders.

Broadly speaking, eating disorders emerge subconsciously as a way to gain a sense of control over a person’s immediate environment.

In the midst of a global pandemic that is far from the realm of what we can control, a greater percentage of people have begun seeking control through the shapes of their bodies and the food they eat. It has become easier falling into the trap of overevaluating the importance of weight, shape and diet as a means to mitigate the lack of control we feel due to financial instability resulting from the global pandemic, poor family relationships from a tenuous political environment, and other stressors that are out of our control.

In the U.S. alone, about 30 million people will suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lives. We may not always think of eating disorders as being severe or life-threatening, but eating disorders have the second-highest mortality rate of all mental health struggles. Left untreated, up to 20 percent of those suffering from eating disorders will die. With treatment, mortality rates fall to 2-3 percent.

People of all shapes and sizes can struggle with this disorder, and only 6 percent of those who are diagnosed with an eating disorder are underweight. People struggling with advanced anorexia may be easily identified, but people struggling with bulimia, orthorexia, binge eating disorder and others are often of average body size. The question now is, what can we do to help spread awareness and allow people to seek help without fear of being judged?

Education and research are key to spreading awareness about eating disorders. Although social media plays a role in body image issues and diet culture, it can also be used as a platform to educate those who aren’t aware of this disorder and to support those who are all too familiar with it.
Speak up and challenge people when they show judgement toward certain body types or foods.
Do not talk negatively about your own body or parts of your body. Instead, consider talking about what you are grateful that your body does for you.
Consider challenging those who blatantly correlate success or self-discipline with a certain body type.
Rather than complimenting a person on their body type or appearance, focus on complimenting their personality traits and talents.
Stop moralizing food. Telling our friends “you are being so good!” when they eat a salad or low carb meal, can actually cause harm. Or, saying “I’m being bad today!” after ordering a dessert can also perpetuate shame around eating certain types of foods.
If your friend loses 20 pounds, don’t jump to tell them how good they look. Instead, ask how they are feeling or what new hobbies they’ve found.
Redirect conversations focused on diets and weight loss, these conversations are often used in our society as “filler” — a surface way to connect with others when we aren’t sure what else to talk about.

A person’s weight and a person’s health are not interchangeable. The stigma of certain foods, weight, and shape must come to an end in order to reduce the cultural effects that perpetuate eating disorders. Ending any stigma starts on an individual level. It’s important to be mindful of how we talk about food and our bodies to friends, family, and most importantly, ourselves.

Offering support to those struggling in their relationship with their bodies and food and spreading awareness can help those who suffer feel less alone. It can even save their lives. There are assessments and treatment available if you or someone you know are struggling with symptoms of an eating disorder. Seeking an assessment from an eating disorders expert is always the best course of action if you are unsure whether your struggles qualify as an eating disorder. If you or someone you love is suffering from signs of an eating disorder, please consider exploring the below resources:

Local resources:

Thrive Wellness of Reno — offers free assessments and support groups, and accepts most major insurances for treatment. Visit thrivewellnessreno.com.

National resources:

The National Eating Disorders Association — offers additional information and a national helpline. Visit nationaleatingdisorders.org.
Eating Disorder Hope — offers additional information and national treatment resources. Visit eatingdisorderhope.com.
International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (IAEDP) — offers resources to treatment professionals and a list of certified eating disorders specialists. Visit iaedp.com.

Kat Geiger, LCSW, is a certified eating disorders specialist with Thrive Wellness of Reno.

https://www.rgj.com/story/opinion/voices/2021/02/22/why-we-need-talk-eating-disorders-kat-geiger/4542113001/

The post Why we need to talk about eating disorders | Kat Geiger first appeared on Thrive Wellness.

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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.

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