Special Topics
Recovery Reminders
When I found out about the “Life Without Ed” Collection, which was created by Sue Gillerlain, jewelry designer and founder of www.sarah-kate.com, in partnership with Jenni Schaefer, author of the book by the same name. I was lucky enough to be able to purchase a necklace with a flower on it—a symbol of strength for me. It hangs close to my heart.
Walden Behavioral Care Expands into Peabody
The Peabody location will help broaden access to similar day programs in the North Shore, putting 90 percent of the state within 45 minutes of a Walden clinic.
Mine the Complexities of Treating Food Addiction
Treating food addiction is like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube puzzle. You need to think several steps ahead, anything you do will affect something else, each encounter is different, and the overall experience is complex and challenging.
Finding Treatment with ED-DMT1
Finding adequate eating disorder treatment is challenging. When you have an additional chronic illness such as type 1 diabetes, there are added complications. Some individuals with eating disorders and type 1 diabetes (ED-DMT1) encounter professionals who spread common myths about diabetes, insulin, and weight, like the pervasive notion that insulin makes you fat, or that those with type 1 diabetes should avoid carbohydrates. On the other hand, eating disorder professionals may not understand the importance of carbohydrate counting for people with type 1 diabetes, as their goal is to steer people away from reading food labels.
Advocating for Your Child’s Needs in School – Supervision Perspective
If your child has an eating disorder, or is in recovery, it is very important to “advocate” for his/her needs and find support for them within school. This is the second blog post of four, detailing Walden Behavioral Care’s school psychologist, Tarah Doyle, perspective on getting the help your child needs within the supervision aspects of the transition. One of the most important things you do is to set-up supervision for your child and constantly communicate with the resources at school to understand how your son/daughter is doing.
Advocating for Your Child’s Needs in School – Medical Perspective
If your child has an eating disorder, or is in recovery, it is very important to “advocate” for his/her needs and find support for them within school. This is the first blog post of four, detailing Walden Behavioral Care’s school psychologist, Tarah Doyle, perspective on getting the help your child needs within the medical aspects of the transition. It is important to recognize the importance of continuously monitoring your child throughout the day, utilizing whatever medical professionals are in the school to keep track of your son/daughter’s needs.
National Bullying Awareness Month – Things to Know
October is National Bullying Prevention Month according to the PACER National Center for Bullying Prevention. This campaign, started in 2006, brings awareness to schools and children across the country about the signs, behaviors and dangerous effects of bullying. It also emphasis the view point that peer bullying is destructive and demoralizing and should not be simply brushed off as a right-of-passage for kids, adolescents, teens and young adults.
Starting the School Year When Your Child is in Treatment
The start to the school year is usually filled with mixed emotions by parents. And if you have a child in treatment for an eating disorder it can be a pretty scary time as well. But your clinical team at Walden is very experienced in creating relationships in the community, perhaps in your school, and can be a bridge in advocating for your child’s needs during the school day. Rely on your clinicians to give you an honest answer as to where your child is in their treatment plan, and to identify and create a support net for the school day.
Conversation Topics
Usually, attending parties, dinners and other social events caused me anxiety about things like the food, what I would wear, who would be there, who wouldn’t be there, and what people would be talking about. I was especially worried about triggering comments on subjects related to appearance and dieting. In most situations where I felt uncomfortable and it was feasible to do so, I would remove myself by walking away. But when I couldn’t, I needed a plan to protect myself and my recovery.
National Recovery Month – Finding Recovery In College
What is recovery? Recovery, in my opinion, is the process by which one returns to a state of health and balance that promotes feelings of happiness, self-worth, relevance, productivity, and love. A successful recovery is not defined by a number or a DSM-5 criteria, but by an individual changing their life outlook to feel more positive and encouraged for the present and future.