Eating disorders https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca/ en Eating Disorders https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca/infosheet/eating-disorders <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--infosheet.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--infosheet.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Eating Disorders</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--infosheet.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--infosheet.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> <a title="View user profile." href="/account/admin_phpbb" lang="" about="/account/admin_phpbb" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">admin_phpbb</a> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--infosheet.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--infosheet.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Fri, 11/09/2007 - 16:51</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--comment-node-page--infosheet.html.twig * field--node--comment-node-page.html.twig * field--node--infosheet.html.twig * field--comment-node-page.html.twig x field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/node/field--comment.html.twig' --> <section class="comment-section"> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/node/field--comment.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--infosheet.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--infosheet.html.twig * field--body.html.twig x field--text-with-summary.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <div class="content"> <div><p> <a name="top" id="top"></a></p> <p class="author">Author: Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division</p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="photo of a woman in a wheelchair working on a laptop at a cafe" src="/sites/default/files/2021-10/cafe.jpg" /></p> <p>Eating disorders are a group of mental illnesses that relate to the way you eat and how you feel about your body. This info sheet will focus on three illnesses: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.</p> <table border="0" class="related_content"><tbody><tr><td> <h4>On this page:</h4> <ul><li><a href="#what">What are eating disorders?</a></li> <li><a href="#who">Who do they affect?</a></li> <li><a href="#couldi">Could I have an eating disorder?</a></li> <li><a href="#cure">What can I do about it?</a></li> <li><a href="#resources">Where do I go from here?</a></li> </ul></td> </tr></tbody></table><h3><a name="what" id="what"></a>What are eating disorders?</h3> <p>While anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder are all called eating disorders, it's important to remember that these disorders are about much more than food—they're also about how you feel about yourself, how you cope with your feelings and other factors.</p> <p><strong>Anorexia nervosa</strong> (anorexia) includes:</p> <ul><li> <p>Eating fewer calories than you need to maintain health and well-being. People with anorexia eat very little, refuse to eat at all, or exercise excessively to "burn off" the calories they ate. To reduce calories in a different way, other people may purge (try to eliminate food you just ate, such as making yourself vomit or misuse medications like laxatives).</p> </li> <li> <p>Having a lot of fear or anxiety around gaining weight. These fears often come up no matter how much weight someone has lost.</p> </li> <li> <p>Having a distorted view of your body shape, like seeing yourself as much bigger or heavier than you really are. Some people see their entire body as too big or overweight while other people may focus on a specific body part. They may base their self-esteem on their looks, such as feeling good about themselves if they’ve lost weight or feeling like a failure if they've gained weight.</p> </li> </ul><p>While weight loss is generally part of anorexia, it can depend on age. Younger people may try to avoid gaining weight from normal growth and development rather than try to lose weight.</p> <p>Anorexia is associated with low body weight, but everyone's body is different and anorexia doesn't look the same in all people. In addition, warning signs of an eating disorder can start long before you notice significant weight loss, and health problems related to eating disorder behaviours like restricting food, bingeing, or purging can affect people at any weight. If you're concerned about your own health or a loved one's health, it’s best to seek help.</p> <p><strong>Bulimia nervosa</strong> (bulimia) is similar to anorexia, with the addition of purging. Bulimia includes:</p> <ul><li> <p>Bingeing/binge-eating, or eating a large quantity of food over a short period of time based on the situation. For example, eating a lot at a special holiday meal wouldn't usually be considered a binge. People who binge often say that they feel like they can't control how much they eat and feel like once they've started, they can't stop despite feeling physical discomfort.</p> </li> <li> <p>Purging, or eliminating food, to try to prevent weight gain from a binge. Purging includes making yourself vomit, using medications like laxatives in unsafe ways, fasting (avoiding all food for a period of time) or exercising a lot.</p> </li> <li> <p>As with anorexia, people living with bulimia may base their self-esteem on their weight or the way they look, have an untrue or distorted picture of their body, and feel a lot of fear or anxiety around gaining weight.</p> </li> </ul><p>People living with bulimia may not physically appear to be sick and may secretly binge and purge—many people living with bulimia say they feel embarrassed or ashamed of these actions. Even though bulimia isn't always as visible as anorexia, it can still cause serious long-term health problems.</p> <p><strong>Binge-eating disorder</strong> is an eating disorder that is categorized by consuming a large amount of food in a short time (bingeing) on a regular basis. You can't control what you eat or how much you eat, but you feel distressed, disgusted, guilty or depressed after eating. Binge eating may be a response to low mood or depression, anxiety, stress or feeling "numb." The difference between binge-eating disorder and bulimia is that people living with binge-eating disorder don't try to purge after a binge.</p> <p>People who experience some but not all symptoms of anorexia, bulimia, or binge-eating disorder often receive the diagnosis of "<strong>other specified feeding or eating disorder or unspecified feeding or eating disorder</strong>." Eating disorders don't look the same in everyone, and people can still have a lot of distress and problems around eating even when their experiences don't perfectly fit into a particular list of symptoms.</p> <h5>Related to eating disorders</h5> <p><strong>Body dysmorphic disorder</strong> or BDD is not an eating disorder, but it does impact the way people see and understand their bodies. People with body dysmorphic disorder believe that some (or many) parts of their bodies are flawed in some way—for example, they may believe that their body shape is "just not right" or intensely focus on normal changes in their skin. In response to those beliefs, people with BDD spend a lot of time comparing themselves to others, attempting to cover up the perceived flaw, or repeatedly checking themselves in a mirror. Some people pursue unhealthy diets, cosmetic procedures, or surgeries in an attempt to correct their bodies. Many people with BDD avoid social situations and may leave school, work, or other important activities in order to avoid others.</p> <p><a href="#top">Top</a></p> <h3><a name="who" id="who"></a>Who do they affect?</h3> <p>Globally, anorexia affects 0.4 % to 4% of all people and bulimia affects about 1% of all people. Binge-eating disorder affects up to about 2% of all people. These illnesses are more likely to affect the following groups of people:</p> <p><strong>Women</strong>—Up to 90% of people diagnosed with anorexia and bulimia are women. However, more boys and men are being diagnosed with eating disorders, and it's likely that experiences of boys and men aren't caught in current statistics. Binge-eating disorder is diagnosed in men and women more equally.</p> <p><strong>Young people</strong>—Anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder often start in the teenage and young adult years, though they can also start earlier or later in life, too.</p> <p><strong>Family members</strong>—Eating disorders tend to run in families, so you have a higher risk of developing an eating disorder if a close family member also has an eating disorder.</p> <p><strong>People with other mental illnesses</strong>—People who experience an eating disorder are more likely to be diagnosed with mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder, an anxiety disorder, a substance use disorder, or a personality disorder.</p> <p><strong>People with certain ways of coping or thinking about themselves</strong>—Eating disorders are not necessarily about the food itself. They may have a greater effect on people who feel poorly about the way they look, people who want everything to be perfect all the time, and people who have a hard time coping with stress or expressing their feelings. Anorexia and bulimia may also give people a sense of control, and may be a way to cope when they feel like they have little control in their life.</p> <p><strong>People who diet</strong>—Teens and young adults who try to control their body shape through food restriction and exercise are more likely to develop symptoms of an eating disorder as a result, especially when their approach is very strict or severe. However, not all people who diet go on to develop an eating disorder, so it isn't clear exactly how the relationship between eating disorders and dieting works.</p> <p><strong>People from certain cultures or careers</strong>—Anorexia and bulimia are more common among people who have jobs that depend on the way their body looks. This may include some dancers, models and athletes. Eating disorders may also be more common in cultures with strong gender stereotypes—for example, ones that idealize thin women and lean, muscular men.</p> <p><a href="#top">Top</a></p> <h3><a name="couldi" id="couldi"></a>Could I have an eating disorder?</h3> <ul><li> <p>I'm always thinking about food, dieting and my weight</p> </li> <li> <p>I feel guilty and ashamed after I eat</p> </li> <li> <p>I often feel out of control when I eat</p> </li> <li> <p>I feel better when I don't eat</p> </li> <li> <p>I will never be happy unless I reach my ideal weight</p> </li> <li> <p>I often try to "get rid" of food by purging</p> </li> <li> <p>I experience physical signs that my body isn’t getting enough nutrients, such as hair loss, dry skin, dizziness or lack of energy</p> </li> </ul><p>If you answered yes to any of these questions, it's best to talk to your doctor.</p> <p><a href="#top">Top</a></p> <h3><a name="cure" id="cure"></a>What can I do about it?</h3> <p>It's very important to get help for an eating disorder because bingeing, purging and/or severely limiting how much food you eat can cause a lot of serious health problems such as bone loss, kidney problems, or heart problems, which can be life threatening. But eating disorders are treatable and many people recover with treatment. Treatment for an eating disorder often includes support from a few different professionals. Regular medical check-ups are also important to treat physical health problems. The earlier someone seeks help for their eating disorder, the better the outcomes.</p> <p>The following are common treatments for eating disorders:</p> <p><strong>Psychotherapy</strong>—Psychotherapy is a very important part of treatment. Psychotherapies for eating disorders include:</p> <ul><li> <p>Cognitive-behavioural therapy or CBT. CBT helps you understand the thoughts, feelings and behaviours behind the disorder.</p> </li> <li> <p>Dialectical behaviour therapy or DBT. DBT is a form of CBT that can help you manage difficult feelings or emotions and build mindfulness skills.</p> </li> <li> <p>Interpersonal therapy or IPT. IPT can help you build healthier relationships with others.</p> </li> <li> <p>Family-based therapy or FBT. Families are a very important part of recovery, especially when a young person experiences an eating disorder, so family members may also participate in some treatments. FBT is an family approach specifically for young people who experience an eating disorder. Other therapies may also benefit from family involvement.</p> </li> <li> <p>MANTRA or Maudsley Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults. MANTRA is a new approach that combines different psychotherapies in order to build a treatment that addresses each person’s individual needs and goals.</p> </li> </ul><p><strong>Nutritional help</strong>—A registered dietitian can help you learn about food and help you create healthy meal plans.</p> <p><strong>Support groups</strong>—Support groups for yourself or your loved ones can help you see that you aren't alone. You can learn new ways of coping and find support from others.</p> <p><strong>Hospitalization</strong>—If you start to develop serious health problems, you may need to be treated in the hospital.</p> <p><strong>Medication</strong>—Some antidepressants may help treat bulimia and binge-eating disorder. Other medications may be prescribed to help treat eating disorders or other mental illnesses that go along with an eating disorder.</p> <p><strong>Self-help</strong>—There are many things you can do at home to help yourself cope. Some ideas include getting enough sleep, learning stress management and problem-solving strategies, keeping in touch with family and friends, practicing relaxation techniques, and taking time to do things you enjoy. Your mental health professional can suggest other useful things to try at home.</p> <p><a href="#top">Top</a></p> <h3><a name="resources" id="resources"></a>Where do I go from here?</h3> <p>In addition to talking to your family doctor, check out the resources below for more information about eating disorders:</p> <h5>Jessie's Legacy Program, a program of Family Services of the North Shore</h5> <p>Visit <a href="http://www.jessieslegacy.com">www.jessieslegacy.com</a> or call 604-988-5281 ext. 349 or email jessieslegacy@familyservices.bc.ca to contact Jessie's Legacy. Jessie's Legacy provides eating disorders prevention education, resources and support for BC youth, families, educators and professionals.</p> <h5>Kelty Eating Disorders</h5> <p>Contact Kelty Eating Disorders at <a href="http://keltyeatingdisorders.ca">keltyeatingdisorders.ca</a> or 1-800-665-1822 (toll-free in BC) or 604-875-2084 (in Greater Vancouver) for information, support, and a BC-based program locater for children, youth and their families. Kelty Eating Disorders is a program of Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre.</p> <h5>BC Partners for Mental Health and Substance Use Information</h5> <p>Visit <a href="http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca">www.heretohelp.bc.ca</a> for the Managing Mental Illnesses series of info sheets, a screening self-test for body image, activities, workbooks, and personal stories about eating disorders and other mental health problems.</p> <h5>HealthLink BC</h5> <p>Call 811 or visit <a href="http://www.healthlinkbc.ca">www.healthlinkbc.ca</a> to access free, non-emergency health information for anyone in your family, including mental health information. Through 811, you can also speak to a registered nurse about symptoms you're worried about, talk with a pharmacist about medication questions, or talk to a registered dietician about healthy eating, food or nutrition.</p> <div class="callout contact-callout"> <div class="top"> </div> <div class="callout-content"> <p>Crisis lines aren't only for people in crisis. You can call for information on local services or if you just need someone to talk to. If you are in distress, call 310-6789 (do not add 604, 778 or 250 before the number) 24 hours a day to connect to a BC crisis line, without a wait or busy signal.</p> </div> </div> <p> </p> <div class="callout about-callout"> <div class="top"> </div> <div class="callout-content"> <h5>About the author</h5> <p><img alt="cmha bc logo" src="/sites/default/files/cmha_logo.png" style="margin:5px" /></p> <p>The Canadian Mental Health Association promotes the mental health of all and supports the resilience and recovery of people experiencing a mental illness through public education, community-based research, advocacy, and direct services. Visit <a href="http://cmha.bc.ca">www.cmha.bc.ca</a>.</p> </div> </div> <div class="divider"> </div> <h5 class="page-links">© 2021 | <a href="#top">Back to top</a> | <a href="/resource-library">More info sheets</a></h5> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links--bulma.html.twig * links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/misc/links--bulma.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/misc/links--bulma.html.twig' --> Sat, 10 Nov 2007 00:51:49 +0000 admin_phpbb 96 at https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca How do I know if I have an unhealthy relationship with food? https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca/q-and-a/how-do-i-know-if-i-have-an-unhealthy-relationship-with-food <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--page.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:name">How do I know if I have an unhealthy relationship with food?</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--page.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span rel="schema:author"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> <a title="View user profile." href="/user/132770" lang="" about="/user/132770" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">steph.wilson</a> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--page.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2023-04-27T19:53:33+00:00">Thu, 04/27/2023 - 12:53</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'sharethis_block' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/sharethis/templates/sharethis-block.html.twig' --> <div class="sharethis-wrapper"> <span st_url="https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca/q-and-a/how-do-i-know-if-i-have-an-unhealthy-relationship-with-food" st_title="How do I know if I have an unhealthy relationship with food?" class="st_sharethis_button" displayText="sharethis"></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/sharethis/templates/sharethis-block.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--page.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--body.html.twig x field--text-with-summary.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <div property="schema:text" class="content"> <div property="schema:text"><p class="author">Author: Jessie's Legacy, a program of Family Services of the North Shore</p> <p> </p> <p>To understand what an unhealthy relationship with food looks like, it can be helpful to first have an idea of what a healthy one looks like. A healthy relationship with food can take some work and conscious effort, but it is well worth the work because it allows us to have a flexible, healthy, and balanced relationship with our eating habits and food in general. A healthy relationship with food means giving yourself permission to nourish your body with proper nutrition, while allowing yourself to find pleasure in food and eating, both physically and mentally.</p> <p>What are some signs of a healthy relationship with food?</p> <ul><li> <p>Moving away from dieting and strict rules around food and eating</p> </li> <li> <p>Being aware of what your body needs and its natural hunger cues</p> </li> <li> <p>Permission to enjoy a variety of foods, not labeling foods as "good" or "bad"</p> </li> <li> <p>Focusing on nutrition over calories</p> </li> <li> <p>An understanding that your worth or value is not defined by what you do or do not eat</p> </li> <li> <p>Taking away feelings of shame and/or guilt regarding food choices</p> </li> </ul><p>If you are unsure where you stand on the spectrum of having a healthy relationship with food, this anonymous, 8-question screener can give some insight: <a href="https://jessieslegacy.com/resources-and-information/eating-attitudes-screening/">https://jessieslegacy.com/resources-and-information/eating-attitudes-screening/</a>.</p> <p>We can also reflect on this by evaluating our quality of life and everyday functioning as it pertains to food. Below are some questions you can ask yourself to check in:</p> <ul><li> <p>Does food impact the decisions you make around activities or events to participate in?</p> </li> <li> <p>Do you feel guilty or ashamed after eating?</p> </li> <li> <p>How much of your time and thoughts go toward eating and food choices?</p> </li> <li> <p>Do you feel you need to exert too much control about food choices?</p> </li> <li> <p>Do you feel anxious about making decisions around them?Are there worries regarding weight gain or becoming overweight?</p> </li> <li> <p>How would you describe the role food plays in your life?</p> </li> <li> <p>Is there discomfort eating in front of others for fear of judgment?</p> </li> <li> <p>Do you hide food or wait to eat when you are alone?</p> </li> <li> <p>Is eating out at restaurants or eating food prepared by others a challenge for you?</p> </li> <li> <p>Do you feel "out of control" when you are eating? Foods that are hyperpalatable (processed foods) can make it difficult for us to listen to our intuitive food cues (hunger and satiety cues), and this can contribute to feeling out of control with food. Restricting food can also perpetuate a cycle of feeling unable to regulate or listen to body cues (restrict-binge cycle)</p> </li> </ul><p>An unhealthy relationship with food can also look like feeling the need to "earn" your meals through exercise or restriction, feeling guilt over food choices, having strict rules around eating and portions, and focusing on the caloric content of the food you eat instead of the nourishment it offers you. Unhealthy eating exists on a spectrum, and so do the habits and symptoms that come with it.</p> <p>There is no universal diet that works for everyone. If you find that you struggle to have a healthy relationship with food, it is important to allow yourself compassion and patience by recognizing that it is completely normal to have a changing relationship with food during different phases of your life. It can be helpful to reflect on where your values regarding food and eating came from, what external influences have played a role in that, and how you'd like to approach your relationship with food now. Hold space for yourself as you reflect on these points and give yourself the flexibility to adopt a new way of thinking about this topic in a balanced and mindful way.</p> <p>At the core of it, having a healthy relationship with food and eating comes down to a focus on nourishment, respecting your needs around hunger and enjoyment, and granting yourself flexibility and compassion when it comes to your food choices.</p> <p> </p> <div class="callout about-callout"> <div class="top"> </div> <div class="callout-content"> <h5>About the author</h5> <p><img alt="jessie's legacy logo" src="/sites/default/files/jessieslegacy_logo.png" style="margin:5px" /></p> <p>Jessie's Legacy, a program of Family Services of the North Shore provides web-based eating disorders prevention resources to support BC youth, families, educators and professionals. Visit us at <a href="http://jessieslegacy.com/">www.jessieslegacy.com</a>.</p> </div> </div> <p> </p> <div class="callout contact-callout"> <div class="callout-content"> <p>Q&amp;A is for readers who want to take charge of their well-being, support a friend or loved one, find good help, or just learn more about mental health and substance use. Here, the information and resource experts at HeretoHelp will answer the questions that we’re asked most often. We'll offer tips and information, and we'll connect you with help in BC, Canada. If you have a question you’d like to ask, email us at <a href="mailto:askus@heretohelp.bc.ca">askus@heretohelp.bc.ca</a>, tweet <a href="http://twitter.com/HeretoHelpBC" target="_blank">@heretohelpbc</a>, or <a href="/user/login">log in to HeretoHelp</a> and post a comment on this page.</p> </div> </div> <div class="divider"> </div> <h5 class="page-links">© 2023 | <a href="/q-and-a">Back to Q&amp;A</a> | <a href="/contact-us">Email us a question</a></h5></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links--bulma.html.twig * links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/misc/links--bulma.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/misc/links--bulma.html.twig' --> Thu, 27 Apr 2023 19:53:33 +0000 steph.wilson 8943 at https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca Is dieting harmful? https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca/q-and-a/is-dieting-harmful <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--page.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:name">Is dieting harmful?</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--page.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span rel="schema:author"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> <a title="View user profile." href="/user/132770" lang="" about="/user/132770" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">steph.wilson</a> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--page.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2023-04-27T19:38:31+00:00">Thu, 04/27/2023 - 12:38</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'sharethis_block' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/sharethis/templates/sharethis-block.html.twig' --> <div class="sharethis-wrapper"> <span st_url="https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca/q-and-a/is-dieting-harmful" st_title="Is dieting harmful?" class="st_sharethis_button" displayText="sharethis"></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/sharethis/templates/sharethis-block.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--page.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--body.html.twig x field--text-with-summary.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <div property="schema:text" class="content"> <div property="schema:text"><p class="author">Author: Jessie's Legacy, a program of Family Services of the North Shore</p> <p> </p> <p>Dieting happens when we regulate and control what we are consuming; dieting can revolve around the frequency and amount of eating, as well as the types of food and drink we consume. Many people choose to go on diets due to appearance-related reasons, such as eliminating body fat or changing specific aspects of their body and how they show up physically. Restricting entire food groups and lowering our caloric intake can be very dangerous. Choosing to omit certain foods or groups of foods due to religious or ethical reasons is not the same as omitting them for the sole purpose of losing weight or changing one's body shape.</p> <p>Eating a wide variety of foods is important to our health and still gives us lots of opportunities to make room for making healthy lifestyle changes if that is the goal we are after. Dieting is the number one predictive risk factor for developing an eating disorder and is not sustainable, meaning diets are almost guaranteed to backfire and fail over the long term. When we limit what we consume and have rigid rules around nourishing our body, we are ignoring our intuition about food and not being mindful of what our body needs in order to function at its best. When we follow a set of rules that are meant to be a one-size-fits-all solution, we often lose the ability to trust and listen to what our body needs over time.</p> <p>When diets backfire, there can be negative thoughts and uncomfortable feelings. We may see ourselves as a failure, judge ourselves harshly, restrict and omit foods even more, continue trying diets that don't work, or even end up with an eating disorder or eating disorder behaviors. When we gain and lose weight, over and over, it causes damage to our health and self-esteem. It can contribute to more negative and self-limiting beliefs and keep us stuck in a cycle of using dieting to cope with a negative body image.</p> <p>The good news is that we do have control over this matter and can avoid dieting. We can learn how to listen to and honor our body's nutritional needs and recognize that people have different dietary needs. When the focus is placed on nourishing ourselves and giving our body the nutrients it needs in order to function at its best, we take away some of the power of dieting. We can shift the goal from changing our appearance to asking questions about what our body needs in order to feel well and function properly. When we are mindful of this, it can also lead to more self-acceptance and compassion because we are taking care of ourselves. Instead of rigidity and restriction, our focus is more aligned with nourishment and care, which naturally shifts the way we look at food and dieting.</p> <p> </p> <div class="callout about-callout"> <div class="top"> </div> <div class="callout-content"> <h5>About the author</h5> <p><img alt="jessie's legacy logo" src="/sites/default/files/jessieslegacy_logo.png" style="margin:5px" /></p> <p>Jessie's Legacy, a program of Family Services of the North Shore provides web-based eating disorders prevention resources to support BC youth, families, educators and professionals. Visit us at <a href="http://jessieslegacy.com/">www.jessieslegacy.com</a>.</p> </div> </div> <p> </p> <div class="callout contact-callout"> <div class="callout-content"> <p>Q&amp;A is for readers who want to take charge of their well-being, support a friend or loved one, find good help, or just learn more about mental health and substance use. Here, the information and resource experts at HeretoHelp will answer the questions that we’re asked most often. We'll offer tips and information, and we'll connect you with help in BC, Canada. If you have a question you’d like to ask, email us at <a href="mailto:askus@heretohelp.bc.ca">askus@heretohelp.bc.ca</a>, tweet <a href="http://twitter.com/HeretoHelpBC" target="_blank">@heretohelpbc</a>, or <a href="/user/login">log in to HeretoHelp</a> and post a comment on this page.</p> </div> </div> <div class="divider"> </div> <h5 class="page-links">© 2023 | <a href="/q-and-a">Back to Q&amp;A</a> | <a href="/contact-us">Email us a question</a></h5></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links--bulma.html.twig * links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/misc/links--bulma.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/misc/links--bulma.html.twig' --> Thu, 27 Apr 2023 19:38:31 +0000 steph.wilson 8942 at https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca What is body neutrality? https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca/q-and-a/what-is-body-neutrality <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--page.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:name">What is body neutrality? </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--page.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span rel="schema:author"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> <a title="View user profile." href="/user/132770" lang="" about="/user/132770" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">steph.wilson</a> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--page.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2023-04-27T19:32:26+00:00">Thu, 04/27/2023 - 12:32</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'sharethis_block' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/sharethis/templates/sharethis-block.html.twig' --> <div class="sharethis-wrapper"> <span st_url="https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca/q-and-a/what-is-body-neutrality" st_title="What is body neutrality? " class="st_sharethis_button" displayText="sharethis"></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/sharethis/templates/sharethis-block.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--page.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--body.html.twig x field--text-with-summary.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <div property="schema:text" class="content"> <div property="schema:text"><p class="author">Author: Jessie's Legacy, a program of Family Services of the North Shore</p> <p> </p> <p>When it comes to body image, or how you think and feel about your body, it can be easy to think about it in a black and white way: You either feel good or bad about your body. Black and white thinking can feel like a lot of pressure. If you don't love the way you look and feel positively about your body all the time, then you might conclude that you have poor body image and self-esteem.</p> <p>The truth is, you don't need to feel confident in your body or positive about it all the time. It's normal for our feelings towards our body to change, just like our mood does. Body acceptance exists on a spectrum. There is a middle ground between loving your body and being critical of it, and this is called body neutrality.</p> <p>Before diving into body neutrality, let's define what body positivity is. Body positivity is about accepting and appreciating your body as it exists right now without the need to fix or change 'flaws' that you might see. Body positivity is rooted in challenging conventional beauty standards and promoting body acceptance. Body positivity can be challenging if you struggle to accept your body and feel like there is no middle ground between loving and disliking your body. Body neutrality can be a healthy goal that puts less focus on how your body looks and helps to switch the focus to how your body functions and its purpose.</p> <p>Body neutrality is the space between body positivity and body negativity, where you can experience being in your body instead of thinking about what it looks like. Body neutrality can be practiced by anyone who wants to give themselves more space to exist in their body and to move the focus away from observing or judging and towards experiencing and being. This can be especially helpful if you feel that body positivity is too rigid.</p> <p>Body neutrality puts the focus on respecting and appreciating your body for what it can do for you instead of what it looks like. Below are some examples of practicing body neutrality with different body parts:</p> <ul><li><p>Your legs for allowing you to run, jump, and walk</p></li> <li><p>Your skin for being a protective barrier and keeping you healthy</p></li> <li><p>Your arms and hands for letting you hold loved ones or to play your favorite instruments</p></li> <li><p>Your feet for letting you explore the world around you</p></li> <li><p>Your body for experiencing the feel of the grass beneath your feet, the smell of your favorite food, and the feel of the sun on your skin</p></li> </ul><p>Body neutrality, at its core, is about living a happy and healthy life despite some of the negative thoughts and feelings that come up for you regarding your body. It is important to recognize that how you feel and think about your body can change over time and through different phases of life, and this is completely normal!</p> <p>If body neutrality feels right for you, here are some ways you can begin practicing being present in your body and take the time to fully experience your body's amazing range of abilities and qualities!</p> <ul><li><p>Exercise and focus on how it makes you feel and appreciate what your body can do for you instead of working out for appearance-based reasons</p></li> <li><p>Practice adopting a more holistic viewpoint by noticing how your body helps you function in your daily tasks and hobbies, and how each body part has a role to keep you safe and healthy</p></li> <li><p>If you notice something about your body or appearance that you feel insecure or uncomfortable about, try to look at it from a place of curiosity and observation instead of judgment</p></li> <li><p>Eat with the intention of nourishing your body instead of manipulating your body shape and/or weight</p></li> <li><p>Wear clothes because you enjoy how it looks and feels, not because of how it'll shape/hide/enhance your body</p></li> <li><p>Have a curious and compassionate attitude when speaking about your body, whether to yourself or others</p></li> </ul><p>Body neutrality is not a one-size-fits-all attitude; some people may enjoy the way body positivity nudges them to be more self-accepting and to have more love for their bodies, while others may feel more comfortable having a neutral stance. Whether you're in the body positivity or body neutrality camp, we can all benefit from having a more inclusive, accepting, and kind attitude toward ourselves and others.We can all work on reminding ourselves that our bodies are worthy of our care and deserve to be nourished and appreciated for all that they do for us every day.</p> <p> </p> <div class="callout about-callout"> <div class="top"> </div> <div class="callout-content"> <h5>About the author</h5> <p><img alt="jessie's legacy logo" src="/sites/default/files/jessieslegacy_logo.png" style="margin:5px" /></p> <p>Jessie's Legacy, a program of Family Services of the North Shore provides web-based eating disorders prevention resources to support BC youth, families, educators and professionals. Visit us at <a href="http://jessieslegacy.com/">www.jessieslegacy.com</a>.</p> </div> </div> <p> </p> <div class="callout contact-callout"> <div class="callout-content"> <p>Q&amp;A is for readers who want to take charge of their well-being, support a friend or loved one, find good help, or just learn more about mental health and substance use. Here, the information and resource experts at HeretoHelp will answer the questions that we’re asked most often. We'll offer tips and information, and we'll connect you with help in BC, Canada. If you have a question you’d like to ask, email us at <a href="mailto:askus@heretohelp.bc.ca">askus@heretohelp.bc.ca</a>, tweet <a href="http://twitter.com/HeretoHelpBC" target="_blank">@heretohelpbc</a>, or <a href="/user/login">log in to HeretoHelp</a> and post a comment on this page.</p> </div> </div> <div class="divider"> </div> <h5 class="page-links">© 2023 | <a href="/q-and-a">Back to Q&amp;A</a> | <a href="/contact-us">Email us a question</a></h5></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links--bulma.html.twig * links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/misc/links--bulma.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/misc/links--bulma.html.twig' --> Thu, 27 Apr 2023 19:32:26 +0000 steph.wilson 8941 at https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca Does social media influence body image? https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca/q-and-a/does-social-media-influence-body-image <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--page.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:name">Does social media influence body image?</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--page.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span rel="schema:author"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> <a title="View user profile." href="/user/132770" lang="" about="/user/132770" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">steph.wilson</a> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--page.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2023-04-27T19:07:08+00:00">Thu, 04/27/2023 - 12:07</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'sharethis_block' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/sharethis/templates/sharethis-block.html.twig' --> <div class="sharethis-wrapper"> <span st_url="https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca/q-and-a/does-social-media-influence-body-image" st_title="Does social media influence body image?" class="st_sharethis_button" displayText="sharethis"></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/sharethis/templates/sharethis-block.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--page.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--body.html.twig x field--text-with-summary.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <div property="schema:text" class="content"> <div property="schema:text"><p class="author">Author: Jessie's Legacy, a program of Family Services of the North Shore</p> <p> </p> <p>Body image can be defined as our own perception of our bodies, which can be positive, negative, or neutral. One of the ways in which this image of ourselves can be impacted is through the media that we consume and pay attention to. Social media is a form of media where engagement goes both ways; people can create content, network, and communicate with one another. Social media itself is not inherently bad, but not all types of content are equal when it comes to the impact it can have on our body image.</p> <p>Appearance-focused content can change how we see ourselves and the standards that we set for our own bodies. We are constantly exposed to countless users of social media and their content on a regular basis. It is not just the exposure to these images that affects our self-esteem, it is how we interact with them. We may consciously or unconsciously compare our appearance to the ones we see online, use apps and filters to hide or alter the aspects of our ourselves that we would like to change and stay stuck in a loop of focusing on how we look and how other people look.</p> <p>All of this can create a mental environment that is heavily focused on appearance and affects how we think we should look. This can create a harmful cycle of comparing and wanting to improve or change our appearance to better fit the images we see. It is common to prefer to show the version of ourselves that we find most socially acceptable or appealing, but this can be an enormous strain on our body image and self-esteem when we cannot meet those unattainable standards all the time.</p> <p>Taking a step back and looking at how much time is spent on social media and what kind of content is taking up our time can be helpful. We can omit media that doesn't make us feel good or causes us to compare, and limit time spent on these platforms. Being mindful of how these images make us feel, think, and act, can be an important first step.</p> <p>What unrealistic standards do you expect for your body? Do you look to certain people or platforms on social media for what is deemed attractive? How do these images make you feel?</p> <p>By bringing awareness to our own habits and intentions when it comes to social media use, we can make choices that line up with our values and prioritize our own bodies and values over the ones we see online.</p> <p> </p> <div class="callout about-callout"> <div class="top"> </div> <div class="callout-content"> <h5>About the author</h5> <p><img alt="jessie's legacy logo" src="/sites/default/files/jessieslegacy_logo.png" style="margin:5px" /></p> <p>Jessie's Legacy, a program of Family Services of the North Shore provides web-based eating disorders prevention resources to support BC youth, families, educators and professionals. Visit us at <a href="http://jessieslegacy.com/">www.jessieslegacy.com</a>.</p> </div> </div> <p> </p> <div class="callout contact-callout"> <div class="callout-content"> <p>Q&amp;A is for readers who want to take charge of their well-being, support a friend or loved one, find good help, or just learn more about mental health and substance use. Here, the information and resource experts at HeretoHelp will answer the questions that we’re asked most often. We'll offer tips and information, and we'll connect you with help in BC, Canada. If you have a question you’d like to ask, email us at <a href="mailto:askus@heretohelp.bc.ca">askus@heretohelp.bc.ca</a>, tweet <a href="http://twitter.com/HeretoHelpBC" target="_blank">@heretohelpbc</a>, or <a href="/user/login">log in to HeretoHelp</a> and post a comment on this page.</p> </div> </div> <div class="divider"> </div> <h5 class="page-links">© 2023 | <a href="/q-and-a">Back to Q&amp;A</a> | <a href="/contact-us">Email us a question</a></h5> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links--bulma.html.twig * links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/misc/links--bulma.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/misc/links--bulma.html.twig' --> Thu, 27 Apr 2023 19:07:08 +0000 steph.wilson 8940 at https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca Issue 9 https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca/within-reach/issue-9 <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--page.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:name">Issue 9</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--page.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span rel="schema:author"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> <a title="View user profile." href="/user/132770" lang="" about="/user/132770" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">steph.wilson</a> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--page.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2022-09-22T21:13:29+00:00">Thu, 09/22/2022 - 14:13</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'sharethis_block' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/sharethis/templates/sharethis-block.html.twig' --> <div class="sharethis-wrapper"> <span st_url="https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca/within-reach/issue-9" st_title="Issue 9" class="st_sharethis_button" displayText="sharethis"></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/sharethis/templates/sharethis-block.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--page.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--body.html.twig x field--text-with-summary.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <div property="schema:text" class="content"> <div property="schema:text"><p><a name="top" id="top"></a></p> <h3>In this issue</h3> <p>Welcome to HeretoHelp Within Reach! HeretoHelp Within Reach is a quarterly newsletter that highlights resources from HeretoHelp and the BC Partners for Mental Health and Substance Use Information.</p> <p>In this issue, learn about body image, self-esteem, and disordered eating resources from the BC Partners.</p> <h3>From the BC Partners</h3> <h5>Online screening for body image and eating attitudes</h5> <p><a href="/screening/online/?screen=body">www.heretohelp.bc.ca/screening/online/?screen=body</a><br /> This screening test asks about your body image and attitudes around food. You'll receive information and BC resources based on your results. You can even save the results to discuss with a health care provider.</p> <h5>Body Image, Self-Esteem, and Mental Health infosheet</h5> <p><a href="/infosheet/body-image-self-esteem-and-mental-health">www.heretohelp.bc.ca/infosheet/body-image-self-esteem-and-mental-health</a><br /> Body image, self-esteem, and mental health all influence each other. Learn quick tips and take a short self-test to check in on your self-esteem.</p> <h5>Health and Wellness: A guide for parents and youth infosheet</h5> <p><a href="/infosheet/health-and-wellness">www.heretohelp.bc.ca/infosheet/health-and-wellness</a><br /> This infosheet from Jessie's Legacy offers tips for parents to help build healthy eating habits—and recognize unhealthy beliefs or attitudes.</p> <h5>Media Literacy: A guide for parents and youth infosheet</h5> <p><a href="/infosheet/media-literacy-a-guide-for-parents-and-youth">www.heretohelp.bc.ca/infosheet/media-literacy-a-guide-for-parents-and-youth</a><br /> Images and messaging in the media shapes what we think we "should" look like, even when ideals are unrealistic or unhealthy. This infosheet encourages parents and young people to ask questions and think more critically about images and messages in media.</p> <h5>Get to know: Jessie’s Legacy eating disorders prevention and awareness</h5> <p><a href="http://jessieslegacy.com">jessieslegacy.com</a><br /> Jessie's Legacy eating disorders prevention and awareness is a program of Family Services of the North Shore. They help young people, families, educators, and service providers in BC build resiliency skills and healthy body image, build healthier relationships with food, and find support for eating disorders. Find information and resources, learn about education events and campaigns, read personal stories, and check out the Open Hearts Honest Conversations podcast episodes on eating disorders.</p> <h3>Learn more</h3> <h5>Kelty Eating Disorders</h5> <p><a href="http://keltyeatingdisorders.ca">keltyeatingdisorders.ca</a><br /> Learn more about eating disorders, treatments, and recovery. You can also find treatment programs around BC or connect with a Parent Peer Support worker for one-on-one help (virtually or in person) around navigating mental health systems, finding local help and support, finding good information, and connecting with other families.</p> <div class="divider"> </div> <h5 class="page-links">© 2022 | <a href="#top">Back to top</a> | <a href="/within-reach">Read more from Within Reach</a> | <a href="/newsletter/mynewsletters">Subscribe to Within Reach</a></h5> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links--bulma.html.twig * links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/misc/links--bulma.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/misc/links--bulma.html.twig' --> Thu, 22 Sep 2022 21:13:29 +0000 steph.wilson 8871 at https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca My Story of Recovery Doesn’t End Here https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca/visions/recovery-vol17/my-story-of-recovery-doesnt-end-here <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--story.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>My Story of Recovery Doesn’t End Here</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--story.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> <a title="View user profile." href="/user/139761" lang="" about="/user/139761" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">justyna.krol</a> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--story.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Mon, 07/04/2022 - 15:35</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'layout__onecol' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: x layout--onecol.html.twig x layout--onecol.html.twig * layout.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/layouts/layout_discovery/onecol/layout--onecol.html.twig' --> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'block' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * block--extra-field-block--node--story--sharethis.html.twig * block--extra-field-block--node--story.html.twig * block--extra-field-block--node.html.twig * block--extra-field-block.html.twig * block--layout-builder.html.twig x block.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/block/block.html.twig' --> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-extra-field-blocknodestorysharethis clearfix"> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/block/block.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'block' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * block--field-block--node--story--body.html.twig * block--field-block--node--story.html.twig * block--field-block--node.html.twig * block--field-block.html.twig * block--layout-builder.html.twig x block.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/block/block.html.twig' --> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodestorybody clearfix"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--story--default.html.twig * field--node--body--story.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--body.html.twig x field--text-with-summary.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <div class="content"> <div><p class="author">Beatrice*</p> <h5 class="reference">Reprinted from the <a href="/visions/recovery-vol17/">Recovery: Living Your Bestish Life</a> issue of <em>Visions Journal</em>, 2022, 17 (4), pp. 14-15</h5> <p><img alt="Stock photo of woman in profile sitting on a park bench" src="/sites/default/files/2022-07/visions-vol17-no4-my-story-of-recovery.jpg" /></p> <p>I am a 41-year-old woman, a mother, a wife. I am in recovery from anorexia nervosa.</p> <p>I was always an anxious child struggling to fit in, often overwhelmed by the world. My family moved every two to four years, usually to a new country. I tried to integrate into each new community and school, but I was shy and felt my happiest when I was alone with a book.</p> <p>As I grew up, my changing body attracted attention I didn't know how to navigate, and I was not always successful in pushing approaches away. By age 13 I was critical of, and frustrated by my developing physique. I think some family members thought it ridiculous that such a young and healthy girl would complain about her thighs suddenly touching, or folds of skin appearing in her armpits. “Fat Thighs" was my nickname at home in those early teenage years. It didn’t help that I was sometimes compared to my petite mother, whose clothes from her youth, preciously saved for her daughter, were too narrow to fit across my shoulders.  </p> <p>With very little thought at first, I started using the scale in my parents’ bathroom, adding laps to my swims and riding my dad’s stationary bike. It didn’t take long for the numbers on the scale to inch down, and I was thrilled by the control I had over my body.</p> <p>Later I began pushing my exercising efforts further and further, and turning my attention to food. My weight plummeted, and along with it went my ability to engage actively in life. I became dangerously thin and, at age 15, experienced my first frightening heart palpitations, which left me collapsed in a stairwell at school.</p> <p>My collapse was a wake-up call. I needed help. My parents took me to a doctor, who diagnosed me with anorexia nervosa, and I was admitted to an in-patient treatment program. Entering a facility allowed me to step out of my regular life and its pressures and begin to heal my body and mind. Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely hated the program at the time. It was a series of scheduled meals, weigh-ins, vitals taken and medication prescribed. The control I had wielded over my body was taken away.</p> <p>After my first two weeks in treatment my eating-disorder brain was screaming at me to get out. I rebelled…by doing everything that was asked of me. My weight and vitals stabilized and I was soon discharged to an outpatient program. Of course, my apparent recovery was not real. Less than a month later I was back in the hospital program—this time, hooked up to a heart monitor and threatened with feeding tubes.</p> <p>On my second attempt at treatment a doctor asked if I was trying to end my life. I was so very lost but I knew I did not want to die. There, freezing under a stack of blankets in a hospital bed, I made a conscious decision to “flip the switch.” I made a commitment to myself to really fight the eating disorder. I closed my mind to the idea of getting out and set aside plans, then started opening up to my psychiatrist and treatment team and taking in food as medicine.</p> <p>I also exchanged letters with an older woman who was an acquaintance of my mother. Learning about my condition, she had asked if she could write to me because anorexia was part of her experience too. Feeling seen and understood by someone who had seemingly come out the other side was a balm to my tired heart. As I moved forward into recovery for the first time, I carried her advice with me: “An eating disorder is an addiction and it will always be with you.” For me, that means relapse is always possible if I let my guard down and take recovery for granted. That lesson was really driven home in the years that followed.</p> <p>I went on to finish high school at the top of my class, though it meant a significant amount of anxiety. Throughout, I continued seeing a psychologist and taking antidepressants, even if sometimes my family still had to encourage me to eat.</p> <p>Balancing on the edge of my recovery, I moved to a new city to attend university. Stress hit hard as I struggled to keep a hard-earned academic scholarship while maintaining my relationship with a boyfriend. I stopped taking my medication and felt I didn’t have time for counselling. I soon slipped. Thankfully, with the encouragement of my then-partner, I found a student eating support group that helped me regain my footing.</p> <p>After completing my degree I moved again—across the country. It was a wild time that left me broke and far away from any support system. At one point I slept on a floor without even a mattress, spending what money I had on coffee, cigarettes and alcohol. The balance was off and I relapsed. This time, however, I continued to more-or-less function, maintaining a semblance of health, for about three years. Until, of course, I pushed my body too far working two jobs, often seven days per week. Seeing my body shaking at work every day, a friend encouraged me to seek medical help. I was prescribed antidepressants once again and began working on my recovery as an adult.  </p> <p>I would never suggest that medication is the solution for everyone, but it has been a necessary tool for me to find and maintain health and clarity. After my relapse I took my medication diligently. I also started practising yoga to ease anxiety and clear my mind. Though I have had to stop yoga due to a back injury, I have since found that jogging or walking outside, as close to nature as I can get, alongside regular meditation sessions, helps me stay focused and clear.  </p> <p>In my 30s I got married and later became a mother to my amazing son. Having a child is a true blessing, but it is also a gargantuan source of stress and worry. Sometimes I have held on to my recovery with white knuckles. But I never hesitate to seek support and new coping mechanisms. Today I still see a clinical counsellor regularly, I take my medication daily, I jog, I meditate, I get acupuncture, I paint pictures with my son, I watch movies with my husband. And sometimes I just lie in bed and cuddle my blind pet chihuahua until my chest loosens.</p> <p>My recovery story doesn’t end here, it just evolves. As it does, I gather more tools, techniques and gratitude for my life.</p> <div class="callout about-callout"> <div class="callout-content"> <h5>About the author</h5> <p>Beatrice is a performing arts and event producer who lives on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish peoples. She shares her life with her loving husband, her magical son and her very bossy and lazy chihuahua</p> <p>* pseudonym</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/block/block.html.twig' --> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/layouts/layout_discovery/onecol/layout--onecol.html.twig' --> Mon, 04 Jul 2022 22:35:21 +0000 justyna.krol 8831 at https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca Battling the Body Blues https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca/visions/supporting-parents-vol17/battling-the-body-blues <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--page.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:name">Battling the Body Blues</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--page.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span rel="schema:author"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> <a title="View user profile." href="/user/132770" lang="" about="/user/132770" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">steph.wilson</a> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--page.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2021-10-15T19:57:03+00:00">Fri, 10/15/2021 - 12:57</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'sharethis_block' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/sharethis/templates/sharethis-block.html.twig' --> <div class="sharethis-wrapper"> <span st_url="https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca/visions/supporting-parents-vol17/battling-the-body-blues" st_title="Battling the Body Blues" class="st_sharethis_button" displayText="sharethis"></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/sharethis/templates/sharethis-block.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--comment-node-page--page.html.twig * field--node--comment-node-page.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--comment-node-page.html.twig x field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/node/field--comment.html.twig' --> <section class="comment-section"> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/node/field--comment.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--page.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--body.html.twig x field--text-with-summary.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <div property="schema:text" class="content"> <div property="schema:text"><h3>Parents and youth</h3> <p class="author">Elvira Chan, BA Comm and Joanna Zelichowska, MA, RCC</p> <h5 class="reference">Reprinted from the <a href="/visions/supporting-parents-vol17">Supporting Parents</a> issue of <em>Visions Journal</em>, 2021, 17 (1), pp. 17-19</h5> <p><img alt="photo of two women talking to each other" src="/sites/default/files/2021-10/visions-vol17-no1-battling-the-body-blues.jpg" /></p> <p>Even though body image and eating attitudes are complex, parents often navigate overly simplified myths about these issues. For example, you may believe that mothers are mainly responsible for modelling positive body image and eating behaviours, or that boys and men are not vulnerable to eating or body image concerns. If you struggle with body image or an eating disorder, you may worry that your child will inevitably have the same experience or that your own challenges will hinder your ability to be a good parent.</p> <p>It is normal to have feelings of guilt, anxiety, fear, shame or embarrassment if you believe these myths to be true. But these are all blanket statements that do not take into consideration other influential factors, such as mainstream media, peers and the larger culture, that contribute to shaping a child's body image and eating attitudes.</p> <p>In reality, we know that any parent or caregiver can model and encourage healthy body image and eating attitudes for their children. And while eating disorders impact more women and girls than men and boys, body dissatisfaction and disordered eating are very common across all genders.<sup>1</sup></p> <p>Further, we do not have to be "perfect," completely healed or free of our own body image or eating issues to help children develop healthy attitudes and support them with their own challenges in these areas. We can hold space for working on our own struggles while also encouraging critical thinking and thoughtful discussions within our families.</p> <p>The good news is that parents can be influential in creating a supportive environment that will help children combat harmful beliefs around weight, shape and body size. Our goal for this article is to encourage you to start these conversations, be compassionate and patient as parents, and develop awareness to any blind spots and biases that are not serving you or your family.</p> <h4>Unpacking harmful beliefs and attitudes</h4> <p>A good place to start is to give yourself time to reflect on your own ideas, beliefs and assumptions about weight, shape and size. For example, do you hold different assumptions about a person's health status, values, personality characteristics or lifestyle based on whether they exist in a small or larger body? Take a moment to think about where you learned these associations. Do your friends and family hold the same beliefs? Or perhaps the media content you consume has shaped some of these attitudes. It can be challenging and uncomfortable to ask these questions, but it is a necessary first step in assessing whether these views are based on facts and our own values, or simply ideas we have adopted from various sources around us.</p> <p>Our cultural environment shapes our views, which can in turn be communicated indirectly to children through comments, reactions and behaviours. We know that children often imitate what their parents do and say, and adopt the behaviours and attitudes of the people around them.<sup>2</sup> When parents and caregivers model or frequently talk about weight-conscious behaviours, such as dieting and restriction, their children are more likely to show signs of body dissatisfaction and engage in eating disorder behaviours.<sup>3</sup></p> <h4>Changing the conversation</h4> <p>You can work towards adopting a more inclusive attitude and be thoughtful about what you communicate to your children by becoming conscious of assumptions you may unknowingly subscribe to. Did you know, for example, that unhealthy eating behaviours and body image concerns can present themselves differently in boys, with more of a focus on leanness or a muscular physique comparisons in sports, strict exercise regimes and prioritizing athletic performance? An excessive focus on fitness or muscularity can be detrimental to mental and physical health, and it is important to be mindful about having these conversations with boys as well.</p> <p>You have the capacity to shift your experience by being mindful about the amount of attention and focus you place on ideas of body image. This is not about being perfect. Rather, with increased awareness you can start to be more intentional about the messages you want to impart to your child and for yourself.</p> <p>Some suggestions for parents who want to change the conversation with children about body image and eating attitudes in a positive direction include:</p> <ul><li> <p>be mindful of your child's media consumption, and teach them that images are almost always modified and promote a particular body ideal</p> </li> <li> <p>encourage traits and characteristics that are not appearance-based, such as kindness, ambition, empathy, curiosity or perseverance</p> </li> <li> <p>point out that body diversity is healthy and normal</p> </li> <li> <p>avoid making comparisons or negative comments about your own body or other people's bodies</p> </li> <li> <p>avoid judging your child for expressing concern about their body or appearance, and be open to listening with curiosity</p> </li> <li> <p>offer support to your child by being present and empathic. You don't have to "fix" their problems; validating their experiences can be very helpful</p> </li> </ul><p>Remember that this is not about attaining perfection but cultivating awareness. Moving forward, we can make choices that reflect a more inclusive and compassionate attitude towards all bodies.</p> <h4>Body image and eating attitudes check-in</h4> <p>The following questions are intended to help bring awareness to thoughts and attitudes that you may be holding onto consciously or unconsciously.</p> <ul><li> <p>Do you make evaluative comments in front of your child about your own body and appearance or the appearance of others?</p> </li> <li> <p>Do you identify as a perfectionist and have high standards for your appearance?</p> </li> <li> <p>Do you monitor your child’s food choices or portions out of fear that they will gain weight?</p> </li> <li> <p>Do you place a high value on your child’s appearance or athletic performance?</p> </li> <li> <p>Are diet foods, strict exercise regimes and other weight-controlling behaviours commonly talked about or available in your home?</p> </li> <li> <p>Do you have special "food rules" for yourself or eat different foods from other family members?</p> </li> <li> <p>Is there a certain body shape or size that you believe is the healthiest or most desirable?</p> </li> <li> <p>Do you compare your child’s body, weight, size or appearance with that of others?</p> </li> <li> <p>Do you frequently praise your child for their appearance?</p> </li> </ul><div class="callout about-callout"> <div class="callout-content"> <h5>About the authors</h5> <p>Elvira is the project coordinator for Jessie's Legacy Eating Disorders Prevention and Awareness Program in North Vancouver, BC. Currently, she is completing a post baccalaureate diploma in counselling and human development at SFU. Elvira is an active advocate and volunteer in the mental health community</p> <p>Joanna is manager of Jessie's Legacy Eating Disorders Prevention and Awareness Disorders Prevention and Awareness Program in North Vancouver, BC. She is passionate about raising awareness and reducing stigma about eating disorders</p> </div> </div> <div class="footnotes"> <h6>Footnotes:</h6> <ol><li>Rohde, P., Stice, E. &amp; Marti, C.N. (2015). Development and predictive effects of eating disorder risk factors during adolescence: Implications for prevention efforts. <em>International Journal of Eating Disorders</em>, <em>48</em>(2), 187–198.</li> <li>Hart, L.M., Damiano, S.R., Paxton, S.J. &amp; Jorm, A.F. (2014). Preventing body dissatisfaction and unhealthy eating patterns in children: Strategies for parents of preschoolers. Melbourne: La Trobe University.</li> <li>Hart, L.M, Cornell, C., Damiano, S.R. &amp; Paxton, S.J. (2015). Parents and prevention: A systematic review of interventions involving parents that aim to prevent body dissatisfaction or eating disorders. <em>International Journal of Eating Disorders</em>, <em>48</em>(2), 157–169.</li> </ol></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links--bulma.html.twig * links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/misc/links--bulma.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/misc/links--bulma.html.twig' --> Fri, 15 Oct 2021 19:57:03 +0000 steph.wilson 8738 at https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca The Overlap Between Anxiety and Eating Disorders https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca/infosheet/the-overlap-between-anxiety-and-eating-disorders <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--infosheet.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--infosheet.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>The Overlap Between Anxiety and Eating Disorders</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--infosheet.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--infosheet.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> <a title="View user profile." href="/user/132770" lang="" about="/user/132770" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">steph.wilson</a> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--infosheet.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--infosheet.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Thu, 07/08/2021 - 18:41</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--comment-node-page--infosheet.html.twig * field--node--comment-node-page.html.twig * field--node--infosheet.html.twig * field--comment-node-page.html.twig x field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/node/field--comment.html.twig' --> <section class="comment-section"> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/node/field--comment.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--infosheet.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--infosheet.html.twig * field--body.html.twig x field--text-with-summary.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <div class="content"> <div><p>  <a name="top" id="top"></a></p> <p class="author">Authors: Anxiety Canada and Jessie's Legacy, a program of Family Services of the North Shore</p> <p> </p> <table border="0" class="related_content"><tbody><tr><td> <h4>On this page:</h4> <ul><li><a href="#what">What is anxiety?</a></li> <li><a href="#when">When does anxiety become a problem?</a></li> <li><a href="#eds">What are eating and feeding disorders?</a></li> <li><a href="#overlap">How do anxiety, eating, and feeding disorders overlap?</a></li> <li><a href="#prevalence">How common is anxiety among individuals with eating and feeding disorders?</a></li> <li><a href="#infographic">Infographic: Are anxiety and eating/feeding disorders related?</a></li> </ul></td> </tr></tbody></table><h3><a name="what" id="what"></a>What is anxiety?</h3> <p>Many people who have experienced an <a href="https://jessieslegacy.com/resources-and-information/what-are-eating-disorders/">eating disorder</a> or <a href="https://jessieslegacy.com/resources-and-information/what-is-disordered-eating/">disordered eating</a> are familiar with <a href="https://www.anxietycanada.com/sites/default/files/What_is_Anxiety.pdf">anxiety</a>. It's common to feel stuck in your head when you're anxious and worried. In addition to worried thoughts, <a href="https://www.anxietycanada.com/articles/learning-to-recognize-when-im-anxious-body-reactions/">anxiety can show up as physical sensations in the body</a>, including faster breathing, lightheadedness, sweating, upset stomach/nausea, and tightness in the chest.</p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpolpKTWrp4">Anxiety is our body's 'alarm system'</a> to warn us of potential danger in our environment. Everyone experiences anxiety sometimes. It's important to remember that our body evolved this reaction to protect us from things that can threaten our survival. However, our world is much less dangerous than it once was. This means that a lot of the time our body and brain are making us think there is a serious threat when in reality there is none (or very little).</p> <p><a href="#top">Top</a></p> <h3><a name="when" id="when"></a>When does anxiety become a problem?</h3> <p><a href="https://www.anxietycanada.com/articles/is-anxiety-a-problem-for-me/">Anxiety becomes a problem</a> when it continues to show up when there is no real danger (e.g., when your fire alarm goes off after burning toast). When anxiety happens often and is felt so strongly that it gets in the way of doing things that matter to you (e.g., getting your homework or job tasks done, socializing, making friends), it is likely there is more anxiety present than typical levels of fear and worry.</p> <p><a href="#top">Top</a></p> <h3><a name="eds" id="eds"></a>What are eating and feeding disorders?</h3> <p><a href="https://jessieslegacy.com/resources-and-information/what-are-eating-disorders/">Eating disorders</a> are complex mental illnesses that also have a physical impact on the body. They include a range of thoughts and behaviours that negatively affect a person's health and quality of life. Worry about the size and shape of one's body is one of the most common features of eating disorders.</p> <p><a href="https://jessieslegacy.com/resources-and-information/what-are-feeding-disorders/">Feeding disorders</a> are similar to eating disorders in that they affect a person's thoughts and behaviours around food and can have serious negative consequences on a person's health and quality of life. Unlike eating disorders, feeding disorder behaviours are not related to a person's desire to change their body shape or weight. For example, someone with Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) may experience such an intense fear of choking that they find it difficult to eat enough food to maintain health and lose weight as a result.</p> <p><a href="#top">Top</a></p> <h3><a name="overlap" id="overlap"></a>How do anxiety, eating, and feeding disorders overlap?</h3> <ul><li> <p>Eating and feeding disorder behaviours often develop when life challenges or struggles exceed a person's ability to cope. During this time, feelings of stress and anxiety are common.</p> </li> <li> <p>In most cases (47-94% of the time), symptoms of anxiety develop before disordered eating or eating disorder symptoms show up.</p> </li> <li> <p>Anxiety symptoms may be directly related to worries about food intake and/or body shape and weight but don't have to be.</p> </li> <li> <p>Some common features of eating disorders that are related to anxiety symptoms include:</p> <ul><li> <p>Fear/worry about weight gain (common in anorexia and bulimia nervosa)</p> </li> <li> <p>Sensitivity to physical sensations (common in bulimia nervosa and feeding disorders)</p> </li> <li> <p><a href="https://www.anxietycanada.com/articles/intolerance-of-uncertainty/">Difficulty tolerating uncertainty</a> (e.g., having a hard time coping when we can’t predict with a higher degree of certainty what will happen in a certain situation, or doing whatever we can to get reassurance or reduce the risk of the unwanted scenario from occurring)</p> </li> <li> <p>Difficulty tolerating intense emotions</p> </li> <li> <p><a href="https://www.anxietycanada.com/articles/how-to-overcome-perfectionism/">Perfectionism</a> (e.g., the desire to do or say things perfectly, to try to make your appearance or body 'perfect,' and experiencing stress or worry if you make a mistake or cannot reach the high standards you set for yourself)</p> </li> </ul></li> </ul><p><a href="#top">Top</a></p> <h3><a name="prevalence" id="prevalence"></a>How common is anxiety among individuals with eating and feeding disorders?</h3> <ul><li> <p>Studies estimate that 24-65% of individuals with an eating disorder also have an anxiety disorder.</p> </li> <li> <p>Anxiety is very common among people with feeding disorders. For example, more than half of people with an ARFID diagnosis (avoidant and restrictive food intake disorder) also have an anxiety disorder diagnosis.</p> </li> <li> <p>13.5% of women in treatment for an eating disorder meet the requirements for an anxiety disorder.</p> </li> </ul><p><a href="#top">Top</a></p> <h3><a name="infographic" id="infographic"></a>Infographic: Are anxiety and eating/feeding disorders related?</h3> <p><img alt="Infographic: Are anxiety and eating/feeding disorders related? Text description is under this graphic." src="/sites/default/files/2021-07/are-anxiety-and-eating-feeding-disorders-related-web.png" /></p> <p> </p> <div class="callout about-callout"> <div class="top"> </div> <div class="callout-content"> <h5>About the authors</h5> <p><img alt="anxiety canada logo" src="/sites/default/files/anxiety-canada.png" style="margin:5px" /></p> <p>Anxiety Canada promotes awareness of anxiety disorders and increases access to proven resources. Visit <a href="http://anxietycanada.com">www.anxietycanada.com</a>.</p> <p><img alt="jessie's legacy logo" src="/sites/default/files/jessieslegacy_logo.png" style="margin:5px" /></p> <p>Jessie’s Legacy, a program of Family Services of the North Shore provides web-based eating disorders prevention resources to support BC youth, families, educators and professionals. Visit us at <a href="http://jessieslegacy.com/">www.jessieslegacy.com</a>.</p> </div> </div> <div class="divider"> </div> <h5 class="page-links">© 2021 | <a href="#top">Back to top</a> | <a href="/self-help-resources">More info sheets</a></h5> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links--bulma.html.twig * links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/misc/links--bulma.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/misc/links--bulma.html.twig' --> Fri, 09 Jul 2021 01:41:17 +0000 steph.wilson 8724 at https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca Imperfection is Beauty https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca/visions/responding-to-feelings-vol16/imperfection-is-beauty <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--story.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Imperfection is Beauty</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--story.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> <a title="View user profile." href="/user/139761" lang="" about="/user/139761" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">justyna.krol</a> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--story.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Tue, 05/18/2021 - 19:27</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/templates/field/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'layout__onecol' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: x layout--onecol.html.twig x layout--onecol.html.twig * layout.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/layouts/layout_discovery/onecol/layout--onecol.html.twig' --> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'block' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * block--extra-field-block--node--story--sharethis.html.twig * block--extra-field-block--node--story.html.twig * block--extra-field-block--node.html.twig * block--extra-field-block.html.twig * block--layout-builder.html.twig x block.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/block/block.html.twig' --> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-extra-field-blocknodestorysharethis clearfix"> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/block/block.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'block' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * block--field-block--node--story--body.html.twig * block--field-block--node--story.html.twig * block--field-block--node.html.twig * block--field-block.html.twig * block--layout-builder.html.twig x block.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/block/block.html.twig' --> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodestorybody clearfix"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--story--default.html.twig * field--node--body--story.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--body.html.twig x field--text-with-summary.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <div class="content"> <div><h3>My personal struggles with an eating disorder</h3> <p class="author">Lynsey Henry, MA, RCC</p> <h5 class="reference">Reprinted from the <a href="/visions/responding-to-feelings-vol16">"Responding to Feelings"</a> issue of <em>Visions Journal</em>, 2021, 16 (4), pp. 16-17</h5> <p><img alt="Lynsey Henry" src="/sites/default/files/2021-05/visions-vol16-no4-imperfection-is-beauty.jpg" title="Lynsey Henry" /></p> <p>My parents, who didn’t talk much about emotions, were not sure how to help me and often told me to “just calm down” and “get over it.” I noticed how my mom’s constant struggles with her weight started to rub off on me and had me worried that I would grow up overweight.</p> <p>In the summer before entering high school I lost my friend group from elementary school because they cyberbullied me on MSN Messenger. They said they didn’t want to be friends with me anymore and I should find someone else to hang out with. I felt so out of control. I did not know how to manage my emotions. It seemed best to hide them rather than ask for help. I feel like this is how my eating disorder developed: as a way to have some sense of control.</p> <p>It started with me obsessing over low calorie and low fat recipes in cookbooks. By offering to cook these meals, I was able to control my food intake. Little did my family know that I had read somewhere about throwing up food to manage weight (purging). So I tried this. At first, I purged foods I deemed “unhealthy,” but this soon grew to include anything that made my stomach feel full. I also restricted my food intake. Struggling with the idea of perfection, I felt overwhelmed, helpless and confused.</p> <p>Bulimia involves episodes of binge eating followed by efforts to avoid weight gain, such as vomiting, using medications, fasting and excessive exercise. Often people with eating disorders have a distorted view of their body and condition. They might think they are overweight when they are underweight.<sup>1</sup></p> <p>On a trip with my family in the summer of Grade 8, I purged a meal in the hotel room toilet and forgot to flush it. When my parents noticed and shared their concerns, I made excuses, saying my tummy just didn’t feel well. By the time I was 14, I was no longer getting my menstrual period and was cold all the time. My weight was down to close to 100 pounds. Peers started to notice and ask why I got so skinny. This just made me feel more uncomfortable and hide my body with baggy hoodies. I refused to go out for dinner at restaurants with family because I could not control how many calories I consumed or hide my purging behaviours in public. This would often lead to arguments and emotional meltdowns. My family took me to the family doctor who referred me to a dietitian. No one ever recommended a counsellor, even though it was obvious that I was underweight for my age.</p> <p>I continued to struggle throughout high school but ended up finding a more positive group of friends who supported me. My friend’s mom noticed that I was purging and confronted me about it. At first, I was embarrassed, even angry, but being called out helped me realize I had a problem. After graduation, I continued to struggle off and on. Certain triggers, like idealized media images, would bring back the purging behaviours. A common misconception with mental health and eating disorders is that they just go away once they are treated, but this is not the case. It is more realistic to expect to be affected by triggers in your life. But as a whole you do learn to manage your mental health better. Being in an abusive relationship as a teen and young adult also delayed my willingness to seek help because my self-confidence was so low.</p> <p>The year I started my first job, as a school teacher, I sought help for my mental health from a counsellor and disclosed my disordered eating. The counsellor taught me cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) skills like journaling and reframing my thoughts and feelings. She also taught me coping skills like finding a mantra, which is why I chose Imperfection is Beauty as the title of this article.<sup>2</sup> I also learned self-soothing strategies like yoga, peaceful imagery and deep breathing.</p> <p>In my practice as a Registered Clinical Counsellor, I teach my young clients many CBT strategies and suggest coping skills that worked well for me. I have found that reframing and repeating affirmations to myself and following body positive Instagram accounts (such as @thebirdspapaya and @mikzazon) especially helpful. Finding an accepting and understanding partner has also been a blessing in my journey.</p> <p>In reflecting on why I didn’t talk about my emotions much as teen, I think it was because mental health was often stigmatized and frowned upon at that time. If you struggled with your emotions, you were deemed a weak person. School counsellor access and support were lacking—or at least I did not know how to ask for help. This experience has led to my passion of making counselling support accessible for children, youth and teens. I strive to teach them the skills I wished I had learned as a child.</p> <p>I feel happy to see that many more young women are sharing their struggles with mental health on social media. I hope that reading my story has helped to inspire you the same way that reading others’ stories has inspired me. My last piece of advice to young readers would be to find the words that matter to you, whether that be a mantra, words of affirmation, quotes or song lyrics. Hold on to those words when you are struggling and use them to push through. You’ve got this!</p> <div class="callout about-callout"> <div class="callout-content"> <h5>About the author</h5> <p>Lynsey is a Registered Clinical Counsellor. She works as a school counsellor in Surrey. In her spare time, she counsels youth and volunteers for the Stigma-Free Society. Lynsey feels that her struggles with mental health have made her a more empathetic counsellor. Connect with Lynsey on Instagram (@the_passionate_counsellor) and Facebook (LynseyHenryRCC)</p> </div> </div> <div class="footnotes"> <h6>Footnotes:</h6> <ol><li> <p>American Psychiatric Association. (2013). <em>Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders</em> (5th ed.). Arlington, VA.</p> </li> <li> <p>This is part of a quote frequently attributed to Marilyn Monroe, but there isn’t clear evidence about authorship.</p> </li> </ol></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bulma/templates/block/block.html.twig' --> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/themes/stable9/layouts/layout_discovery/onecol/layout--onecol.html.twig' --> Wed, 19 May 2021 02:27:19 +0000 justyna.krol 8710 at https://admin.heretohelp.bc.ca