A Question About Recovery

This past month, I have been asked this question 2 times by 2 moms. Both of these moms have daughters recovering from an eating disorder.

“Now that my daughter is in recovery from her anorexia, is it okay for her to diet to lose a few pounds? Will it ever be okay for her to diet?”

I find this a difficult question to answer. I have treated both of these young women and they have both done great work to be in recovery, one from anorexia and one from anorexia and bulimia. In their recovery both have gained weight. In my opinion, they are both at a healthy weight range but for them they feel they have gained too much weight. I told both of these moms that their daughters will always be vulnerable to eating issues. Relapse can happen quickly and be all consuming. So, a diet that involves a lot of deprivation and restriction is not okay because most likely it will end in either a desire to binge eat or a desire to restrict more and more. A healthy eating plan which is not too restrictive and encourages variety and balance is okay. I also recommend that there is not a lot of focus on a particular weight. Most importantly, if one of these moms or their teenage daughters attempt a weight loss plan and they seem like they are showing signs of preoccupation, they must reevaluate the situation before the eating disorders resurfaces.

AN EXPERIENCE IN CAT SITTING

Last month, I was cat sitting for a family member—a job I have done many times before. However, this particular cat sitting job would prove to be a little different. On the third day of my job, I had done the usual feeding and petting of the cats. While I was shutting off the lights and getting ready to leave, I saw a glimpse of a cat’s tail hanging from a small hole in the wall. This small hole housed the washer and dryer hook up and yes, the kitten attempted to climb in the hole and she was lodged in the wall. The only part of her I could see was her tail and hind legs. I felt a surge of panic run through my entire body—my limbs felt numb and my hands were trembling. I tugged gently on the cat's legs to see if I could pull her out and her body would not budge. My anxiety and panic increased and I felt nauseous. Where was the cat’s head? How would I get her out quickly and safely?

I took some deep breaths, attempted to ground myself and made a plan of what to do. I contacted family members and once they arrived about 20 minutes later, we cut a hole through the sheetrock around the cat and pulled her out. She was very frightened but thankfully she was okay.

The ordeal ended after about 3 hours. For the remainder of the day, I felt sick to my stomach and very tired. My body was completely off balance and my mind felt foggy. My body was completely transformed by the anxiety and panic I had endured that day.

The physiological role of the anxiety was very dramatic. If a person were to sustain that type of anxiety or any type for that matter, consistently in their life, the toll it takes is enormous.

Chronic stress and anxiety can cause long term changes in our minds and in our bodies. If I were unable to ground myself and calm down, my judgment and my ability to make decisions would have been impaired.. I have been under stress before but for some reason, I was particularly aware of what was happening to my body in this situation.

In Mark Gold’s book, The Good News about Panic and Anxiety Disorder, he states, “The central nervous system includes the brain and the spinal cord and the peripheral nervous system includes the remaining network of the nerves. The CNS is the main center for control and coordination of the entire body. The activity of the CNS regulates a wide range of human behavior from sleep wake cycles and muscular coordination to memory, thought, and emotions.” Stress and anxiety interact with our central nervous systems.

The good news is that panic and anxiety disorders are treatable. Treatment often involves a combination of psychotherapy and medication. It is essential to get relief from your symptoms so you can minimize anxieties long term effects.

Below are some basic steps to help manage your anxiety and you can incorporate these steps into your lifestyle today!

Learn the technique of deep meditative breathing—often a yoga instructor or hypnotherapist can teach this properly. Use these breaths everyday not just when you are stressed and anxious. Try to be sure the environment is quiet. This can be done for 5 minutes a day.
Use imagery to relax—create a place in your mind such as a beach that always helps you feel calm and relaxed. You can do this anywhere at any time.
Build exercise into your life
Reduce caffeine and sugar at times where you are more anxious or stressed.
Try to write in a journal—often the ritual of writing can help to relax and calm.
Bring music into your life. There are numerous C.Ds that are promoted to be soothing.


In closing, I would like to say that I recognize from 20 years in practice, that these ideas and suggestions do not cure anxiety and or panic disorders. And as I always report in any of my lectures or writings, there are a host of factors that contribute to the onset of these disorders. Successful treatment, I believe, should address all of them. That being said, the techniques I reviewed, if done routinely should help relieve some symptoms of anxiety and stress. If you are suffering with chronic anxiety or panic, I am available for consultation. I can be reached at (908) 273-4220. A great resource and a book I often refer to for panic and anxiety is The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook by Edmund J. Bourne, Ph. D..