Making a Difference: Providing Education, Resources and Support.
Thank you to our sponsors: Funding provided by the Ulster County Legislature through through Ulster County Health Department and The Mental Health Association in Ulster County, Inc.
If you or someone you know is affected by an eating disorder, we can help. Eating disorders are so common in America that 1 or 2 out of every 100 people will struggle with one. Although eating disorders describe an array of problematic behaviors, the three main types that afflict men and women are:
- Anorexia nervosa, which is often characterized by self-starvation and compulsive exercising.
- Bulimia nervosa, which involves recurring periods of binge eating and purging. Large amounts of food are consumed in a short amount of time, followed by self-induced vomiting, the abuse of laxatives or diuretics, and fasting.
- Binge-eating disorder involves out-of-control or compulsive overeating. Someone with this condition often fluctuates between periods of overeating and dieting.
Does this sound like you?
- I am terrified about being overweight.
- I exercise more than 2 hours per day every day.
- I feel guilty when I eat.
- I vomit after eating.
- I would rather eat by myself than with family and friends.
- I weigh myself daily, and obsess about the number on the scale.
- I have a secret stash of food.
- I worry that I might lose control over how much I eat.
- I get anxious when people urge me to eat.
- Sometimes I think food dominates my life.
If you answered “yes” to any of theses questions, you could be dealing with disordered eating and an unhealthy pre-occupation with your body weight and shape. By not sharing your thoughts with a health care provider, teacher or family member, the emotional and physical toll can be tremendous. Seeking help from a professional with experience in treating eating disorders can provide you with honest feedback about your condition and advice about what to do next.
Source: Integrated Health Solutions, Inc, an outpatient, multidisciplinary team approach for the assessment and treatment of eating disorders www.integratedhealthsolutions.
Taking the first step.
The first step in dealing with an eating disorder is to speak with a mental-health professional who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders. Experts also recommend contacting a nutritionist or registered dietitian to help develop healthful eating habits and menu planning.
A huge part of recovery is accepting that you have an eating disorder and talking about it. Psychotherapy and support groups can help.
We
will begin listing our local professional resources, post notices of support
groups, information meetings and Coalition activities. This site is presently
under construction. Any suggestions, for example "to blog (supervised)
or not to blog”, additional information, etc. contact Martha: msteuding@mhainulster.com
The Eating Disorders Coalition was started in response to the lack of adequate services available to individuals who are coping with an eating disorder in Ulster County.
The main objectives of the coalition are to create a network of eating disorder knowledgeable providers, create appropriate support groups, and advocate rights.
The coalition meets on the second Tuesday of every other month at 1:30pm at Mental Health Association’s Tuytenbridge office in Lake Katrine and is open to everyone. Get Google driving directions here.
The 2012 Meeting Schedule Is As Follows:
January 10
March 13
May 8
July 10
September 11
November 13
