Recovery from Eating Disorders E-Book

Greta Noordenbos

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 305

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2013

Beschreibung

With a uniquely perspective on the key factors in recovery from eating disorders, this practical guide for patients and clinicians draws from relevant, real-life case studies.

• Focuses on real-life recovery strategies that involve motivational factors, physical and psychological health, and issues such as self-esteem, body attitude, emotion regulation and social relationships.
• Draws on extensive qualitative research with more than 80 former sufferers
• Offers experience-based guidance for professionals assisting clients in their recovery process

Leseprobe

Contents

About the Author

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Introduction

When have Eating Disorder Patients Recovered?

Can All Patients Recover from their Eating Disorder?

Recovered Patients as Guides and Role Models

Content of the Book

A Book for Both Clinicians and Clients

How Therapists and other Professionals may Use this Book

How Eating Disorder Patients may Use this Book

How Parents, Partners and Friends may Use this Book

1 Problems in the Period before the Eating Disorder

Introduction

Lack of Self-Esteem and Negative Self-Evaluation

Compliant and Pleasing Behaviour

Hiding Real Thoughts and Opinions from others

Sensitivity to the Needs of others

Perfectionism and Fear of Failure

Inner Criticism and Negative Self-Evaluation

Impaired Identity Development

Negative Body Attitude

Summary

2 First Stage: Extreme Dieting

Introduction

How does an Eating Disorder Start?

Differences Between Healthy and Extreme Dieters

From Healthy to Extreme Dieting

Why Continue Dieting?

Eating Disorder or Identity Disorder?

Control over Food and Body

Denial of Problems

Summary

3 Negative Consequences of Eating Disorders

Introduction

Losing Control over Eating Habits

The Trap of Extreme Dieting

Eating Disorder: From Friend to Enemy

Rigid Rules and Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviour

Indoctrination and Brainwashing

Inner Criticism and Critical Voices

The Toxic Effects of Starvation

Depression and Suicidal Thoughts

Isolation

Physical Consequences

Summary

4 Turning Point and Motivation for Recovery

Introduction

The Deep Pit

Turning Point

Ambivalent Motivation for Change

Fear of Asking for Help

Questionnaires to Improve Motivation for Treatment

Motivation for Physical Recovery

Motivation for More Self-Esteem

Motivation for a more Positive Body Attitude

Motivation for Better Emotion Regulation

Motivation for Better Social Relationships

Motivation for Reducing Financial Problems

Summary

5 Normalizing Eating Habits

Introduction

Overcoming the Fear of Increasing Food Intake

Changing Cognitions about Food

Three Regular Meals a Day

Regular Mealtimes

Reduction of Binges

Reduction of Purging

Healthy and Sufficient Food

Reduction of Laxatives, Diuretics and Slimming Pills

Drinking Water and other Liquids

No Extreme Exercising

Treatment of Comorbidity

Summary

6 A Positive Body Attitude

Introduction

Not Feeling Fat

No Longer Obsessed by Food and Weight

Being Able to Listen to Feelings of Hunger and Satiety

Developing a Positive Body Attitude

Learning Defence Strategies against Teasing

Losing the Urge to Diet

Summary

7 Physical Recovery

Introduction

Normal and Stable Weight

Regular Periods

Normal Body Temperature

Normal Heartbeat and Pulse

No Anaemia

No Constipation

No Problems with Bowels and Stomach

No more Swollen Salivary Glands and Sore Throat

Healthy Skin

Healthy Teeth

Enough Sleep

Enough Energy

Reduction of Osteoporosis

Summary

8 Developing More Self-Esteem

Introduction

More Self-Esteem

Empowering Yourself

Become More Assertive

Less Emphasis on Pleasing others

Having Less Fear of Rejection

Showing Less Compliant Behaviour

Having Less Perfectionism and Fear of Failure

Summary

9 Expressing Emotions

Introduction

No Longer Avoiding Negative Emotions

Reduction of Critical Thoughts and Inner Voices

Recognizing and Expressing Emotions

Dare to Express Different Opinions

No Longer Feeling Depressed

Summary

10 Improving Social Relations

Introduction

Learning to Trust other People

Participating in Social Activities

Education and Career

Intimate Relations

Pregnancy and Children

Summary

11 The Most Important Questions and Answers about Recovery

Introduction

When have Eating Disorder Patients Recovered?

How many Patients Recover from their Eating Disorder?

Why do Not All Patients not Recover?

How can the Recovery Rate Increase?

Do All Patients have a Relapse?

How long does it Take to Recover from an Eating Disorder?

What are the Important Goals for Treatment?

Which Treatments are Most Effective?

What Makes a Good Therapist?

Summary

12 Checklist for Full Recovery

Introduction

Conclusion

References

Index

This edition first published 2013© 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Noordenbos, Greta.Recovery from eating disorders : a guide for clinicians and their clients / Greta Noordenbos.pages cmIncludes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-118-46920-0 (cloth) – ISBN 978-1-118-46919-4 (pbk.) 1. Eating disorders–Risk factors. 2. Eating disorders–Treatment. I. Title. RC552.E18N64 2013616.85′2606–dc23

2012036588

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Cover image: Diana Ong, Abstract #10, 1965. Private collection. © Diana Ong/SuperStock.Cover design by Nicki Averill Design & Illustration.

About the Author

Dr. Greta Noordenbos is a senior researcher in the Department of Clinical Psychology, Leiden University, the Netherlands. She completed her doctoral thesis on cultural and gender factors in the development of anorexia nervosa in 1987. She then conducted research on several topics in the field of eating disorders: risk factors and prevention, long-lasting and chronic patients, criteria for recovery, quality of treatment, emotion regulation and alexithymia, inner criticism and self-esteem. In 1994, she founded the Dutch Committee for Prevention of Eating Disorders and participated in the Specialized Interest Group for Prevention of the Academy of Eating Disorders. She has written several books and articles on eating disorders. Together with Professor Walter Vandereycken from Leuven University in Belgium, she edited the Dutch version of the Handbook of Eating Disorders. She was also a member of the Task Group of the Dutch Guidelines for Eating Disorders and became an honorary member of the Dutch Academy of Eating Disorders in 2010.

Address for correspondence:Dr. Greta Noordenbos: Department of Clinical Psychology, Leiden University. Wassenaarseweg 522333 AK, Leiden, The [email protected]

Foreword

This book describes in a unique way the conditions necessary to recover from an eating disorder. Greta Noordenbos is one of the few experts in this field who has done research into these aspects. This book reflects the knowledge and insights she developed about the recovery process of eating disorder patients. What makes this book unique is that she writes from the perspective of the patients and the way they think and feel. The stories of many such patients are given in detail here. The author makes very clear how important it is to listen to eating disorder patients carefully and with respect, and try to understand what is going on in their minds.

The information provided in this book will be very useful not only for patients, but also for their families and the therapists involved in the process of recovery from the eating disorder. It becomes clear that recovery is much more than ensuring enough food intake, weight recovery and reducing binging and purging. Although they are necessary conditions for recovery, it is also important that eating disorder patients gain insight into their own feelings, needs and wishes and learn to express their emotions. They also have to improve their body image and develop more self-esteem and empower their identity. Moreover, they have to improve emotion regulation and social relationships. Many quotations from former patients illustrate which factors helped them to recover. This book will certainly motivate eating disorder patients to ask for help and so take the first steps towards recovery. For that reason, I would advise every patient, parent and therapist to read this book.

Dr. Johan VanderlindenPsychologist-psychotherapistUniversity Psychiatric Centre of Catholic University in Leuven,Psychological Faculty of Leuven University,Belgium

Acknowledgements

I would first like to thank all the eating disorder patients I interviewed. This book could not have been written without their inputs about their process of recovery. They inspired me to write this book, because they are the best guides to inform clinicians, professionals, parents and friends what it means to develop an eating disorder and to recover from it. They have shown that full recovery is indeed possible. Recovered patients are also important role models for all those who continue to suffer from eating disorders.

The first edition of this book, entitled Gids voor herstel van Eetstoornissen, was published in 2007 in the Netherlands by De Tijdstroom, Utrecht. Many readers stimulated me to publish an English version of this book. I would like to thank Joanna Kortink, Liesbeth Libbers, Carmen Netten, Ellen Spanjers, Johan Vanderlinden and many other professionals for their support and De Tijdstroom for their permission to publish an English version of this book.

The English version, entitled Recovery from Eating Disorders: A Guide for Clinicians and Their Clients, has been completely rewritten and updated with new assignments and questionnaires. I am very grateful for all the useful comments of my international colleagues to improve this book: Tabita Björk, Runi Börreson and Rachel Bryant-Waugh. Darren Reed was very helpful in getting this book published. Many thanks also to Ineke Smit who carefully corrected my English. Without their support and valuable suggestions, I would never have been able to publish this book.

Greta NoordenbosLeiden University,The Netherlands

Introduction

Can eating disorder patients recover? What changes should they make in order to recover? For a long time, the most important goals for recovery were normalizing their eating habits and weight. Although these goals are necessary steps in the process of recovery, they are not enough. Eating ­disorder patients struggle not only with food and weight, but also with very negative thoughts about their bodies and themselves. They are often very critical about themselves, and if they are not able to cope with their own high standards, they think they have failed and blame themselves. They also have problems with emotion regulation and social relationships. In order to recover from their eating disorder, they have to change many aspects of their lives: not only their eating habits and weight, but also their self-evaluation and body attitude, their feelings and emotions, and their relations with others.