January

Structure is the most essential ingredient a rehabilitation center can offer. I have discussed this with clients, support staff at other treatment facilities and have read research in many addiction studies. All agree that structure is an essential base for recovery. Structure is the opposite of addictive behavior. Addictive behavior is triggered by impulses and irrational urges. The more willing clients become to adhere to a healthy routine, the less amount of time they have to indulge in harmful behaviors.

Enticing clients to engage in structure can be challenging. The addict brain repels any sign of recovery and complains that a routine is too rigid or too lax. Nevertheless we have seen Victorian alumni continue to embrace structure after they leave our facility. They keep a calendar in their phone, a day planner, set alarms and show responsibility and ownerships for their scheduled day. The effectiveness in our schedule can not be better displayed than a client taking accountability for her life. To see the Victorian Schedule please click HERE. 

Demi Lovato on the February issue of Seventeen magazine.

Demil Lovato’s battles with depression, eating disorders and cutting ultimately landed her in rehabilitation last year. The Disney singer and actress took the leap into recovery and came out a strong eating disorder prevention advocate for recovery. Today, I don’t know anyone who isn’t a fan of Demi Lovato! Her authenticity is inspiring and magnetic! She was just named, Favorite Pop Artist at the 2012 People’s Choice Awards. In February 2012 she is due to appear on the cover of Seventeen magazine. Lovato gave the magazine an exclusive interview talking about her dark walk with mental illness. Here is an excerpt of her interview with Seventeen:

“Although I have been on the cover before, I feel like this time it is even more special to me because I am more confident and comfortable in my own skin.  I can now be honest in interviews and show my true self to the readers. This cover is like a fresh start for me. It's a presentation of who I am right now and how I'm working on myself and continue to grow as a person.”

I think I can speak on behalf of everyone in eating disorder recovery when I say that we are so proud of Demi Lovato and the woman she has become and is still becoming. Thank goodness for recovery! 

When someone asks you to Sponsor them it means they see something in your recovery that they want themselves. Therefore I always consider it an honor when a woman asks me to Sponsor her in her eating disorder recovery. Sponsoring requires a commitment of giving time and energy. Over the years I have made some mistakes as a Sponsor. Learning from my mistakes I have learned that setting up the proper foundation and boundaries is pivotal to both my own and my Sponsee’s recovery. Today I’d like to share how I approach the Sponsor/Sponsee relationship.

1^st – Email – I give the Sponsee my email address and ask them to email me what they would like from a sponsor .

2^nd – Coffee – At coffee we discuss the list they have made. I let them know what I can and can not do. For instance, I let them know, “Yes, I can call you back within 48 hours.” I also let them know, no I can not help them with their meal plan.

3^rd – Sponsorship – Once we are on the same page and lay out what we each need and want Sponsorship begins.

Below I have laid out what I require of my Sponsee’s and what I’am willing to give as a Sponsor. I have found these guidelines to be very helpful in the Sponsoring process.

Your Job as a Sponsee

·         WRITE - down what you want in a Sponsor

·         PICK A DATE- and stick to it (*We both establish a date)

·         PICK AN ABSTINENCE- and stick to it (*We both establish an abstinence)

·         WORK- the steps

My Job as a Sponsor

·         I HELP YOU apply the steps to your life

·         MEETING UP- I do not set up regular times to meet with Sponsee’s. When you have worked a step/tradition you call me and we set up a time to meet and work the step/tradition

·         PHONE CALLS – You may want to call in at a certain time and that's fine.  If you need me to call you back then you need to say in your message, “I need you to call me back.” Long voice mails should not be necessary each day.  

If you are going to call me and leave me a message I need you to include:

1.)   Whatever it is you’re struggling with

2.)    Tell me how you are feeling (the emotion)

3.)    Three things you’re grateful for

4.)    What you are doing for someone elses recovery today

·         MY RULES:

1.)     Must go to meetings

2.)     Must work steps

3.)    Must take meds as prescribed

A few years ago The Victorian, Eating Disorder Treatment had the pleasure of working with one exceptionally talented counseling intern, Maggie Baumann. The Victorian clients adored Baumann for her authenticity, insight and strength both in individual counseling and leading group sessions. Years later Baumann has gone on to establish her own counseling practice treating those with eating disorders, dual addictions and trauma therapy. She is also in the process of getting trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) trauma therapy. As well, she has brought light to the eating disorder Pregorexia; the eating disorder which causes a pregnant mother to limit the calories she is giving to herself and her unborn child.

The overwhelming response from those suffering from Pregorexia has led Bauman’s establish a Free Eating Disorder Support Group for women with Pregorexia in Southern California.

Beginning: February 9, 2012

Groups meets weekly: Thursdays • 6:30-7:30 pm

Location: 180 Newport Center Dr., Ste. 270, Newport Beach, CA

Facilitator: Maggie Baumann, MFT

RSVP or for more info: call (949) 439-2607 

or email at Maggie-Baumann@cox.net

Topic of discussion focuses on the impact of eating disorders on pregnant women (and their babies in the womb) and how moms with eating disorders who already have children work towards eating disorder recovery and achieving healthy family relationships.

If you have more questions please feel free to reach out to Maggie Bauman directly. 

Maggie Baumann, MA, MFT
180 Newport Center Dr., Ste. 270
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Tel: (949) 439.2607
www.MaggieBaumann.com

Happy Recovery,

Irvina

www.etsy.com

During the time I worked as Support Staff at the Victorian I met hundreds of different clients. Each were different ages, demographics with different stories and back grounds but, all of them had one thing in common, powerful addictions. Many of the women in their 50’s had been in several treatment facilities. I met women as young as 18 who had been given treatment at 9 different rehabs since the age of 9. For myself, as a staff member it was incredibly discouraging. I can only imagine that as a parent or a loved one with an addiction, this news is devastating.

The only hope I can offer, is that though I have seen many women suffer with an eating disorder for years, I have also seen those same women accumulate years of abstinence. Some of those same women have worked at The Victorian and are able to offer support and hope for those in similar situations.

So the question is, “What is the magic combination that makes someone with an addiction ‘get it’? What makes recovery stick?” The only thing I have seen help women maintain abstinence from an eating disorder is DAILY working on their recovery. The best method I have seen for doing that is the 12 Steps of Overeaters Anonymous. The 12 Step program requires women to incorporate recovery as a part of their lives. As it is said in the Overeaters Anonymous literature. “The addiction to food  and/or absence is it is a spiritual, mental and physical disease which needs to be treated accordingly.” Therefore, being a part of Overeaters Anonymous requires:

·         Attending Meeting weekly

·         Working with a Sponsor

·         Serving others

·         Being authentic and accountable to a group of women who are also in recovery

·         Working on yourself through the 12 Steps

Time and time again I have seen women who thought they “had it this time” and didn’t need any more counseling or 12 step meetings and then lose their recovery due to stress in their life. Recovery is a way of life, I encourage anyone who is searching for the solution to this disease to check out the rooms of Overeaters Anonymous. They also have specific meeting available for Anorexics and Bulimics as well which we take our Victorian client too.

Happy Recovery,

Irvina