August

The more insurance claims, doctors visits and treatment facility enrollments for eating disorders, the more awareness, research and PREVENTION spreads. The Victorian is in the business of treating eating disorders, but we also have an urge to prevent them. Eating Disorder prevention is on the rise.  Some of the most noted preventative and awareness campaigns are:

Dove True Beauty – Dove skincare has launched it’s own campaign to reveal the onslaught of self deprecating ads that women are bombarded with on a daily basis in our culture. They seek to reveal that True Beauty is being exactly who you are, flaws and all. They have also invested in teaching young girls about True Beauty through their True Beauty campaign taught by mothers and teachers in schools. Their True Beauty curriculum can be found on their website. 

Rewrite Beautiful – Promotes eating disorder awareness through Street Art Workshops. Rewrite Beautiful teaches that beauty isn’t found in your aestehetics but, in women’s actions of Creativity, Kindness and Strenght.  Rewrite Beautiful will actually be visiting The Victorian and Sober Living By the Sea on Saturday, September 10^th.  Find out more about Rewrite Beautiful on their website or search "Rewrite Beautiful" on Facebook. 

The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) - Hosts several walk-a-thons every year in and out of the USA to promote eating disorder awareness. The money raised goes to eating disorder research.

The New York Times- Noted for last years photo- documentary called, Patient Voices which chronicled the lives of those living with eating disorders. Currently in a journalism series directed at adolescent health, they created a curriculum to teach Jr.High and High School students about Body Dysmorphia and Eating Disorders. A curriculum is offered on their website.

Prevention and treatment combat eating disorders on both ends of the stick! Please research the above groups and organizations and see where you can lend a preventative hand to the mix! 

Happy Recovery!

Irvina

Many clients of The Victorian question why they attend so many meeting of Overeaters Anonymous during the week.  For several reasons we will explain here:

1.1.)    Food Issues –

Though some may not admit it. Many Anorexics and Bulimics also struggle with Compulsive Overeating at some point. Once starvation and purging take their toll, the body becomes ravenous. Many binge and compulsively eat at one time or another. As well, those with food issues, whether they be anorexia, bulimia or compulsive overeating tend to have the same anxieties, negative cognition's, fears and mental illnesses. In fact, there are more similarities between all the disorders than there are differences. The beauty of Overeaters Anonymous is “The only requirement for membership is a willingness to stop compulsively overeating.”  Everyone there is struggling with some kind of food addiction and coping with this disease on a daily basis. The amount of wisdom and support at these meetings are priceless.

2.1.)    Anorexic and Bulimic Focus –

Overeaters Anonymous offers several types of meetings. Some are for :

-          Newcomers – Those new to recovery and the 12 Step Process

-          100 Pounders – Those who have lost 100 pounds or more

-          Maintainers – Those who have 5 years or more of recovery and are ‘maintaining’ it

-          Book Study’s – These meetings focus on reading the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions of OA

-          Anorexic and Bulimic focus – Gathering those who have Anorexic and Bulimic tendancies

The women visit a variety of these meetings depending on the needs of The Victorian clients at the time.

3.2.)    Recovery in Orange County, CA –

Orange County has some of the BEST eating disorder recovery support in the WORLD. Some clients have even relocated to Orange County post-recovery simply for the support at these meetings. These meetings gather women with years of recovery, integrity and wisdom. The exposure to these meetings and these strong women is what has given many Victorian clients lasting eating disorder recovery.

4.3.)    The 12 Steps –

The 12 Steps are discussed and practiced in these meetings. The 12 Steps are where the women learn about honesty, integrity, respect, discipline and their own character defects they need to work on.

5.

4.)    Sponsorship –

At Overeaters Anonymous the women find a ‘Sponsor’ someone who will lead them through the 12 Steps of recovery and support them on their eating disorder recovery journey. This person is available for *phone calls, lunch meetings, walks and constant support.

*Note: Availability varies depending on the sponsor.

I hope we cleared up some of your Overeaters Anonymous questions today! We are proud of the program we have at The Victorian and are incredibly proud to have Overeaters Anonymous apart of it. If you have any further questions feel free to ask below and I will answer.

Happy Recovery!

Irvina

Eating disorder myths are hard to fight since many uninformed doctors, therapists and magazines give out false information. The Victorian prides itself with having doctors, therapists, counselors and support staff members who are constantly being exposed to the newest research from the eating disorder field. Today we will try to shine some light on the most common myths.

Myth #1. “Eating disorders stem from vanity, media and culture.”

False. Eating disorders are TRIGGERED by vanity, m

edia and culture, but it is actually a genetic disease. Much like alcoholism or depression which has been found to be genetic, those with eating disorders have the genetic chemistry to develop an eating disorder more so than others. Whether or not this genetic disease develops into a full blown eating disorder has to do with family dynamics, values and life experience. This is why some people end up in eating disorder treatment and others don’t but say, “I can tell I could definitely develop an eating disorder if I’m not careful. Therefore I have to check in with myself and my emotions before I do or don’t eat a meal.”

Myth #2. “Eating disorders are anorexia and bulimia.”

False. Eating disorders are not only anorexia and bulimia, but are also compulsive overeating and obesity. Compulsive overeating (which causes obesity) is triggered from the same part of the brain that anorexia and bulimia is. As well, many anorexics, bulimics and compulsive overeaters cycle in and out of each disease. My own eating disorder started with anorexia. I finally was so mal nourished that I would starve and then binge, but  I was ashamed so I would purge the food. Then my restricting got so bad that when I did have food I couldn’t control myself and just started binging and then back to anorexia. This is why Overeaters Anonymous welcomes “all people struggling with food.” Everyone at those meetings has the same thinking and struggles around food.

Myth #3. “90 days of eating disorder treatment and rehab will fix an eating disorder.”

False. Eating disorder treatment and rehab introduce the client to new behaviors, thinking and coping skills in order to manage their eating disorder. At  The Victorian we tell our clients that they will “Forever be in recovery.” Much like an individual with cancer or diabetes, one must always watch their actions, behaviors and diet in order to maintain recovery. Life changes like moving, marriage, children or job changes can trigger a relapse. This is why it is vital that someone in eating disorder recovery has a strong network of other eating disorder survivors and perhaps a therapist to help them cope with big life changes.

Myth #4. “You’re only anorexic if you fall under 90 lbs.”

False. A misconception by many eating disorder sufferers and doctors is that people need to “look” malnourished or weigh in in the “double digits.” Though some may fall into one or both of these categories, anorexia is defined as the “deprivation of food.” Whether or not someone has the bone structure or weight that shows the cookie cutter anorexic depends on their own body. If you know you restrict food or suspect someone does, you need to offer them help and support as soon as possible. One of the deadly things about eating disorders is that they convince the sufferer that they don’t have a disease at all.  

Myth #5. “Only young teenage girls develop eating disorders.”

False. It is within the teenage years that people tend to EXPERIMENT more often with eating disorders, but eating disorders affect many demographics and both genders. Women are 10 times more likely to develop an eating disorder than men, however there are more than 1 million men in the USA suffering from eating disorders (and 9 million women.) Many professional athletes develop eating disorders due to intense workouts and training that cause them to binge and then deprive. Women and men have been known to develop eating disorders at mid life in their 40’s and some develop them as young as 8 years old. If you have the disease and get triggered by your environment  your pretty much lined up to take a hit of this disease. 

We hope that this blog erased some of the inaccurate information you have been given. Check back next week for the latest eating disorder news, research and support!

Happy Recovery!

Irvina 

The Victorian of Newport Beach is proud to be a leader in eating disorder treatment. The best counselors, therapist, art therapist, dietitians and support staff have put The Victorian on the map for outstanding treatment and recovery. Now, The Victorian is leading the way in eating disorder prevention. Last Saturday night The Victorian was a proud sponsor of the Rewrite Beautiful 1^st Annual Art Show TELEIOS. The Art Show was a fundraiser for the non-profit to continue their Street Art Workshops that change how girls see beauty in themselves and prevent eating disorders. All of the art work for the show was created with the Rewrite Beautiful vision in mind, “Beauty in women is found in ACTIONS of Creativity, Kindness and Strength.” Check out some of the art from the evening:

Gallery attendants were invited to 'Rewrite Beautiful' for themselves.... Check out some of their work....

A Poet Nomad Ali, Correy Adam's Rabble Family Band and Moonsville Collective put some awesome tunes through the gallery....

Rewrite Beautiful will be coming to The Victorian and Sober Living by the Sea in early September to do a Street Art Workshop with our women. Check back soon for pictures from the workshop. 

We hope it inspires you to know that there are artists, musicians, women, men, children and strangers off the street who are passionate about preventing eating disorders. You have a ton of people rooting for your recovery. We hope you join us at The Victorian get recovery for yourself and pass that recovery on and prevent eating disorders from happening to someone else.

Happy Recovery,

Irvina