So... I'm obsessed with Pinterest. And I don't think I'm alone in this… I've created a new board that I hope you will enjoy! I'm curating several different groups of pins related to all things body positive and health-focused! If you're a Pinterest person, please check out my board and follow if it suits you :)
 Taking the first step to get help takes a great deal of courage. Whether you’ve been in and out of treatment for years, it's the first time you’ve ever sought help, or even if you aren’t sure whether or not you really have an eating disorder, there is a community of support out there that can help you! Support groups are a great place to start because they’re anonymous, free, and filled with people who understand what you’re going through without judgment. The beauty of support groups is that you don’t have to wait until you’re 100% committed to starting treatment, you can just show up as you are and see how it feels to be around others who have started their recovery journeys. What you’ll find is that in spite of fears you may have that you won’t fit in, these groups are filled with people from all walks of life, from high school students to retired grandparents. People who have yet to meet with a therapist for the first time, people who have years of solid recovery under their belt, and everyone in between attend ED support groups. And in spite of the diversity of group members, there is a common connection that’s difficult to find outside of an ED support group: understanding.
If you’ve never been to a support group, I recommend that you commit to attending at least 3 to find one that is a good fit for you. Each group has its own energy and its own guidelines, so if the first one doesn’t feel comfortable, try a different type of group and see if that is a better fit. I always recommend that groups are a great adjunct to treatment but not intended to replace treatment, so think of them as a way to get your toes wet until you’re ready or able to find a therapist who specializes in treating eating disorders. Groups are also great if you are already in treatment for extra support between sessions and to get peer support and learn from others who are working on recovery. If you’re on the fence about whether or not you really do need help, instead of waiting until you’re sure, please attend some support groups to help you figure this out. It’s extremely common for people with eating disorders to feel like they are not sick enough to benefit from treatment or to deserve treatment. If you’re on the fence, please give yourself the gift of peer support and choose one of these groups to try this week! As always, please reach out to the contact person before attending a group to make sure that the information is current and correct, because groups are always changing times and locations ;) National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD): Montecatini Outpatient Office 6183 Paseo Del Norte, Suite 110 Carlsbad, CA 92011
Pacific Beach Rec Center San Diego, CA 92109 Phone: 619-992-9050 Contact: Aimee Fitzgerald Email: aimeefitz@msn.com Meeting Time: Please contact for more details North County ANAD Contact Name: Arlene Kosakoff San Diego, CA Phone: 858-581-1239 Please contact for meeting details Eating Disorders Anonymous (EDA): Montecatini Outpatient Office 6183 Paseo Del Norte, Suite 110 Carlsbad, CA 92011
The Step House 1430 Old Hwy 101 Encinitas, CA.
Overeaters Anonymous (OA) has free daily meetings across San Diego County. Please visit www.oasandiego.org to see a current listing of OA support group meetings. Eating Disorders and Body Image Support Group: The Rock Church 808 Jackman Street El Cajon (San Diego County), CA 92020
Free Online ED Support Groups at Bright Heart Health:
Friends and Family Support Group: Montecatini Outpatient Office 6183 Paseo Del Norte, Suite 110 Carlsbad, CA 92011
Best wishes to you in your healing :) - Dr. Patty "Love yourself!" Hmm... I'm sure you've heard that one before! Few things feel more discouraging when you are a person struggling to find a way to feel better about yourself than a well-meaning friend imploring you to just LOVE yourself! If it was that easy to conjure up feelings of self-love, then we'd probably all have the confidence of Kim Kardashian by now.
While it may seem overwhelming at times to imagine how it would feel to TRULY love your Self, it might seem less impossible if you remember that LOVE is a VERB, not a NOUN. Often in the process of change, behavior changes must occur before the emotional changes can happen. What this means for our purposes here, is that if you can engage in the ACT of caring for your Self, you are opening the door for true emotional change to happen. The more you can practice self-care, the more you will see that showing your Self some love can actually make you feel better! Gestures of self-kindness need not be grand. Start small and you will still be doing the work of demonstrating love for You. What if today, on Valentine's Day, you could begin a new healthy habit? Release yourself from the trap of waiting until you actually feel good about yourself to begin to treat your Self well. Instead, begin to practice daily Self-kindness, starting right now. What would it FEEL like to do something kind and thoughtful for YOU? <3 - Dr. Patty Welcome to my very first blog post! I'm so happy you're here :) I hope you will find this blog helpful, inspiring, and encouraging. My hope and intent is that this blog will gradually be filled with tips and ideas to cultivate greater peace, wellness, and authenticity in life. We are all on a journey of self-discovery and growth, including myself -- I hope to connect with anyone out there who could use some support in their journeys!
If you have a request or idea for a blog post, please feel welcome to contact me and let me know! I would love your feedback and thoughts about this blog or anything else on this website. Thank you for joining me! - Dr. Patty |
AuthorPatty Schroeder, Psy.D. - Clinical Psychologist ArchivesCategories |
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