faulker053

What’s in a name? Perhaps it sounds like an existential question, but if it doesn’t have a name, does it even exist? Labeling Binge Eating Disorder (BED) what it is—a painful struggle living with frequent overeating large amounts of food—makes real the impact on mood, thoughts, energy level, physical wellbeing and hopelessness, to name a few.  Living with Binge Eating Disorder when it was not yet recognized as a diagnosis, you might not have felt sick enough or eligible to be treated, because it just wasn’t taken seriously enough by those around you.  Being added as a condition all its own validates this not-uncommon eating disorder whose sufferers live with their secret relationship with food, silently and ashamed. Like adulterers you may sneak around family members and friends consuming large quantities of food—rarely lean protein or vegetables, I’ll add—but typically those foods and nutrients deemed forbidden. Yes, adulterers, as you carry on a relationship you may fail to ...

“How presumptuous”, you must be thinking, “to group all of your readers into one lump sum, overgeneralizing between us and you.” Well, unless you are a member of my exclusive club, the one-in-750-in-the-US-living-with-Multiple Sclerosis, then I think you'll agree. As I'm sitting here awaiting the chemotherapy treatment to infuse into my veins, I'm painfully aware that I live with a chronic disease, a potentially debilitating one at that. But for now, I'm fortunately unaffected by this progressive neurological condition.  Perhaps, like you, I'm on borrowed time. Borrowed time? Yes, because neither of us can predict just when the impact our conditions will hit us the worst. Or when the damage from our situation will lead to a fatal consequence. A depressing shift in perspective from me? Not really. In fact, my intent is to show you just how fortunate you are. And to demonstrate that change is, in fact, in your hands. I live with a healthy dose of denial. (Ok, so...

Lessons from ICED 2013 I see 30-40 individuals suffering from anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder and disordered eating each week. Men and women, preteens through age 70+.  So short breaks and vacations are, of course, quite refreshing. But last week’s Academy for Eating Disorders Conference, the International Conference on Eating Disorders (ICED) offered anything but relaxation. Stimulating, inspiring, fascinating and hopeful—even these words do little justice to the conference presentations. I became pumped, and felt validated that the progress I see with my patients is not random. I was sparked by the incredible research demonstrating the progress in the understanding of eating disorders and their treatment. It only confirmed my belief that there’s reason for you, too, to know that recovery is possible. Let me tell you about a session I was most excited about—Lisa Dawson, a PhD candidate’s research presentation entitled Recovery From Chronic Anorexia Nervosa: T...