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The Renfrew Center, located in Ridgewood NJ.

residential eating disorder facility dedicated exclusively to the treatment of girls and women.

"Offering a warm, nurturing environment, Renfrew emphasizes a respect for the unique psychology of women, the importance of a collaborative therapeutic relationship, and the belief that every adolescent girl and woman needs to actively participate in her own growth and recovery."

Renfrew customizes each treatment plan and employs a skilled team that includes psychiatrists, physicians, psychologists, social workers, nutritionists, nurses, and other professionals

Many dynamic treatments such as art, movement, and exercise therapists are provided.

"helping every individual develop the tools she needs to succeed"

Residential

Day Treatment

Intensive Outpatient (IOP)

Outpatient Services

Treatment Modalities

Treatment Tracks

Nutrition

Experiential Therapy

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Jessica's Story- Her Struggle with Bulimia 

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Jessica's Story- Her Struggle with Bulimia 

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This article was written by Jessica, a girl who had been battling Bulimia since the age of 16. The article discusses how Jessica thought many times that she had recovered from Bulimia, but she would end up relapsing. It is important to note that this is not unusual, as bulimia by definition is a cycle, and anyone suffering from it is bound to relapse back into its vicious cycle. She talks about how many people would not have thought that she was bulimic because she was never extremely underweight, and looked pretty normal from the outside. However, on the inside, she struggled from self esteem issues and the feeling that her weight was never good enough. She also discusses an inner voice that she had telling her to throw up, as it was a presumed way to solve her problems and that she was never good enough. Luckily, therapy helped her to overcome her urges and improve her self-esteem. She is now fully recovered and hopes her recovery story will inspire others. For more information, look at the link below!

http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/information/bulimia

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"The Cognitive-Behavioural Approach to Treating Individuals with Eating Disorders." Here to Help. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 June 2016.

"Connecting Feelings, Thoughts and Deeds: Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Eating Disorders." Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 June 2016.

Sonenklar, Carol. Anorexia and Bulimia. Minneapolis: Twenty-First Century, 2011. Print.

"Prevalence, Onset And Course Of Eating Disorders." Mental Help Prevalence Onset and Course of Eating Disorders Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 June 2016.

Manely, Ron, PhD. "The Cognitive-Behavioural Approach to Treating Individuals with Eating Disorders." Here to Help. Heretohelp, June-July 2009. Web. 07 June 2016.

N/A, Jessica's. "Jessica's Story." Jessica's Story. University of California, 01 Nov. 2010. Web. 07 June 2016.

Engel, Bridget, PhD, Natalie Staats Reiss, PhD, and Mark Dombeck, PhD. "Prevalence, Onset And Course Of Eating Disorders." Mental Help Prevalence Onset and Course of Eating Disorders Comments. Mental Help, 2 Feb. 2007. Web. 07 June 2016.

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Cognitive Behavorial Therapy with BETTY 

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Cognitive Behavorial Therapy with BETTY 

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When I phoned to follow up, Betty explained that she couldn’t come because she knew other people on the bus would be thinking about how “fat” she was.

Over the course of the session, we discussed body image distortion. This is when a person actually sees and/or feels their body to be larger than it really is. That is, their perception of their size is distorted.
I was able to gently challenge how realistic her thoughts about taking the bus were. At the same time, it was essential for me to accept that her beliefs and concerns are very real for her.

I asked Betty how likely it was that anyone would really notice her in a negative sense. She was able to see just how improbable it was that anyone on the bus would think badly about her or her appearance. Betty was also able to appreciate that people riding a bus were in general more preoccupied with their own thoughts and tasks for the day than concerned about her appearance.

While this may sound like a common sense approach to take in this situation, it’s an example of cognitive-behavioural therapy, or CBT. The “cognitive” refers to thoughts. The “behavioural” refers to the person actually doing real-world things that demonstrate that their thoughts are unhealthy and, ultimately, don’t reflect reality.

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"Blair Waldorf Must Pie!" // Gossip Girl (1x09)

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Gossip Girl 1x09 "Blair Waldorf Must Pie!" Disclaimer: I do NOT own Gossip Girl. No copyright infringement. Leighton Meester

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A short film depicting "a girl struggling with self perception, and challenges us [viewers] to consider the role of society in presenting an idealized image of the female body."
The Oscar-nominated cinematographer, Rodrigo Prieto, produced this film which was inspired by his real life experience of watching his daughter grow up with Bulimia.

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Crazy Horse Effects & EFILM Title Design Gonzalo Garcia Barcha

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Jan Wieringa Executive Producer Jeffrey Tarrant DP Rodrigo Prieto Production Designer Laura Fox Editor Carlos Arias Music

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LIKENESS directed by Rodrigo Prieto starring Elle Fanning. (Official Version - 1080p HD)

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The directorial debut of Oscar-nominated cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto, "LIKENESS" is a personal meditation on eating disorders created by Prieto and his daughter. "LIKENESS" stars Elle Fanning as a girl struggling with self perception, and challenges us to consider the role of society in presenting an idealized image of the female body.

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There is a 1:10 male to female ratio for bulimia, meaning it is considerably more common for girls but boys also suffer as mental illness does not discriminate.
The typical onset for bulimia begins at adolescence after puberty has begun, only rarely does it develop before puberty.

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http://eatingdisorder.org/treatment-and-support/therapeutic-modalities/cognitive-behavioral-therapy/

This type of therapy focuses on how how thoughts and actions play a major role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and or can perpetuate the disorder.

Cognitive Factors: "over evaluation of weight and shape, negative thoughts, beliefs about self worth, and perfectionism."

Behavioral Factors:  dietary restraint, restriction, binge-eating, purging, self-harm, and body checking.

A therapist will guide the patient and examine which factors are maintaining the disorder and set goals to improve his/her life. Typically there are three phrases

Behavioral Phases: a plan is created for stable eating habits and to eliminating the symptoms. In addition, coping strategies and emotional coping mechanisms is taught to help the strong emotions involved in the bulimia.

Cognitive Phase:  Thoughts and beliefs that fuel this behavior are, such as “I will only be happy if I can lose this weight” and “my self-worth doesn’t depend on my size or shape” are worked at to change the patients views  to positive ideas.

Maintenance and Relapse Prevention Phase:  "Concentrates on on reducing triggers, preventing relapse and maintaining progress that been made." The end goals is to assis the patient in making their return to a healthy lifestyle.

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Many researches stress the impact of environmental factors that can trigger an eating disorder. The media is often blamed for perpetuating a specific body image which young girls and boys try to imitate at a young age. In addition, diet culture and fitness obsession which are emphasized in many Western cultures is a leading cause for the extremely low self-esteem associated with bulimia, and by extension all eating disorders.

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Girls and women are more likely to have bulimia than boys and men. Bulimia often begins in the late teenage years before the onset of puberty.

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Inability to sleep, suicide, death, job loss, loss of relationship to family/friends, infertility, self-harm, and substance abuse.

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To be diagnosed with Bulimia, one has to have binged and purged at least once a week for at least 3 months.

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Signs of Binge Eating
When binging, a person has the feeling that they cannot stop eating and do not have control over it. They go through many cycles where they are either restricting their food consumption or eating large amounts until the point of physical pain. They usually hide empty food containers and try to cover up the amount of food they eat and rarely want to eat in public due to this. After binge eating occurs, a person with Bulimia will go back to restricting themselves in some way to try to get rid of the large amount of food that they had. This can include taking laxatives, restricting calories, or purging.

Signs of Purging (self-induced vomiting)
Some signs of purging are habitually going to the bathroom after eating, damaged gums, sores in the throat, scars on the knuckles or hands caused by the vomiting, raspy voice quality

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There are biological and environment triggers of bulimia. Biologically, serotonin levels and hormonal levels greatly influence one who is bulimic.

Low levels of serotonin can manifest in depression, aggression, and suicidal behavior. Contrastly, high levels of serotonin can manifest in intense anxiety, insomnia, and/or an obsession to be perfect. Doctors have concluded that low levels of serotonin triggers a binge. The binge itself increases serotonin levels due its contents of sugar and carbohydrates. Potentially, an overdose of serotonin can occur with a decrease in food.
Hormones also play a key role in triggering the cycle of bulimia.

Hormones control the thyroid and reproductive regions which affect stress and appetite. Abnormal levels of these hormones are typically found in one who is bulimic. Cortisol, a brain hormone that controls stress and anxiety, is often abnormally high in the brains of those with an eating disorder. Contrarily, Leptin, a hormone that controls appetite and weight, is often low.

In addition, other psychological traits can be apparent in someone who has an eating disorder. Negativity and emotional sensitivity is often associated with eating disorders. This is the voice that harshly criticizes one who is suffering which greatly decreases self-esteem levels. Also, depression, OCD, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and other addictive or self-destructive behaviors are consistent in many.

(USA Today, Health Reports: Diseases and Disorders)

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You cannot just tell someone to just eat, "Eating disorders have complex causes and can't be willed away." (Alliance for eating disorders)

People who are bulimic will typically not be underweight. Actually, one will be either "normal" weight or overweight. (USA Today, Health Reports: Diseases and Disorders)

Bulimics tend to be at an average weight and or appear to be healthy

Achieving normal weight usually does not mean the person is cured.

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To be considered Bulimic, a person needs to have frequent episodes of binge eating, which is when a person eats an abnormally large amount of food in a short period of time. Also, the person should feel a lack of control over eating during these binges and the feeling that they cannot stop. The binge could be followed by compensatory behavior to prevent weight gain such as purging, self induced vomiting, use of laxatives, excessive exercise, or fasting. One does not have to force themselves to throw up to be considered bulimic. This is important to understand because it is a common stereotype people perpetuate and associate with bulimia. Effects of binging/purging include depression, social isolation, distorted body images, dehydration, irregular heart beats, fatigue, seizures, muscle cramps, and restriction of calories.

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Usually involves other disorders; major depression, dysthmic disorder, anxiety, abuse disorders, and or personality disorders.  This can effect the way a person can be treated.

Antidepressants (especially for people who have depression)

A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRI's has shown more results in helping. Dosages are usually higher for someone who has bulimia compared to someone who just has depression.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy- is the most effective in treatment than medication alone.

It's suppose to stop the chain of thoughts involving food and weight, black and white thinking- "all or nothing", low self esteem, and binging and purging cycles.

First step is usually is for the person to regain his/her control over their food intake. Food diaries, triggers, and associations between feelings and behaviors,  and feedback on meal plans are actions a psychotherapist would help/find help with.

Patients are taught how to express their feelings through words rather than unhealthy actions.

Patients are told and taught not to blame themselves and to spend more support and health time with family and friends.

Alternative Treatments ~ Usually done to help deal with anxiety and muscle soreness

Acupuncture, massage therapy

Chamomile; help digestive system and upset stomachs.

Yoga and meditation; helps with breathing and relaxing.