Eating Disorders

Who Seeks Help for Disordered Eating?     •     Disordered Eating Program
The Approach      •      Areas of Focus      •      The Tools

Disordered eating occurs when one's relationship to food and eating includes emotional, compulsive, and destructive aspects which are related to psychic needs as opposed to physical ones. These conditions are psychological in nature and are characterized by obsessive thinking about food, eating, and body image with ritualized patterns of eating that provide a sense of control and a way to cope with potentially overwhelming emotions. Disordered eating behaviors may include:
Disordered eating causes psychological, emotional, and relationship damage along with potentially life-threatening consequences. Individuals with severe or long-term conditions are four times more likely to die prematurely than others without these conditions. When substance abuse accompanies disordered eating, the person is ten times more likely to experience premature death. While disordered eating has historically been more prevalent among women, more and more men are identifying as having a problematic and emotionally-involved relationship with food and eating.

Since we must eat to survive, addressing disordered eating requires embracing the complex and intricate nature of the problem while offering solutions that incorporate biological, psychological, social, physical, and spiritual changes and interventions. Recovery from disordered eating requires intense effort and diligence on the part of clients and staff alike accompanied by open-mindedness and a willingness to face long-standing disabling patterns of thinking, relating, coping, and behaving. This work is frequently a matter of life and death.


Who seeks help for disordered eating?

Individuals seek help for disordered eating as they become aware of the disturbing, disruptive, destructive, or life-threatening consequences that inevitably accompany these patterns of impaired coping. Among these are:
  • Significant weight loss or gain
  • Health complications or concerns related to disordered eating
  • Mood problems related to disordered eating (depression, hopelessness, or low self-esteem)
  • Interpersonal difficulties and relationship losses
  • Spiritual disconnection and identity disturbances
  • Increased substance use or abuse
  • Encouragement to seek help for disordered eating from a professional or family member
Seeking help for disordered eating is a very personal decision, often occurring at a time of psychic, physical, and emotional/spiritual crisis. You and your loved ones will quickly discover you are not alone and you do not have to stay trapped in the spirals of loss and disconnection that accompany disordered eating.


Disordered Eating Program

Treatment at Alta Mira provides a supportive environment in which to change and transform. This intense journey becomes an adventure to look inward, listen and take action. To confront each lie and belief we have about ourselves, break old agreements and build new ones, is the challenge. Overcoming an eating disorder is to master a force within oneself and create love; to change victimization into a new truth. The disordered eating module addresses distortions in thinking and disordered eating and focuses on the brain chemical imbalance through the restoration of good nutrition. We, at Alta Mira Treatment Programs, challenge the fear and the investment of holding onto old patterns that bring old results. Treatment is designed to face the pain and the joy simultaneously, thereby taking a quantum leap forward to a new you. This approach brings an integral understanding that you can then take into practice to transform your life.

We invite you to be an active participant in your own life and to discover your relationship to the mystery of living. "Stories" are more about meanings than facts. If you can make sense of your story, you can change it. No one can tell another person how to change their story - that is a personal, spiritual process. "Truth" is an independent decision.


The Approach

You will have the opportunity to recreate your path through a blending of both conventional and integrative approaches including but not limited to the following:
  • A full medical and psychological assessment that covers electrolyte balance, weight, nutritional deficiencies and co-occurring disorders
  • Individual, twice weekly, sessions with your primary therapist to help you process your experiences here
  • Skills training, such as emotional regulation, practical skills, distress tolerance, and integration of insights
  • Group therapy at least three times per week as well as a variety of group activities, both on and off campus. You will encounter a number of different professional facilitators with expertise in their particular specialty areas (i.e. Equine Therapy, Adventure Therapy, body image, food/mood, Expressive Art Therapy)
  • Optional IV, Oral and Dietary Nutrient Therapy to rebalance brain and body chemistry quickly, addressing specific nutritional deficiencies
  • Regular body work such as exercise, yoga, massage, meditation, message, Shiatsu, Craniosacral Therapy, Rosen Body Work, acupuncture, energy healing, and breath work to help you detoxify, grow and relax
  • Self-directed, individual growth experiences through literature, self-instructional CDs, DVDs, and videos. Journaling is encouraged to record and track your experiences
  • Attendance at support group meetings of your choice (with staff approval) at least twice per week
  • Participation in Experiential Groups where the primary focus will be on intense, personal experiences that will surprise and enlighten you
  • Attendance at educational seminars on a variety of subjects (i.e. Nutrition, Sleep Hygiene, Native American practices) related to recovery, growth, healing, and transformation
  • Close work with your Program Director and Support Team to develop and implement a program that is appropriate and effective for you
  • Family Therapy addressing root causes and insight into interpersonal dynamics



Areas of Focus

We will address issues in different realms to help you achieve your desired outcomes. These and other areas will be addressed:

A. Correcting brain chemistry imbalances
  • Assess history of low-calorie dieting
  • Balance unstable blood sugar
  • Repair low thyroid function as needed
  • Overcome addictions to certain foods
  • Adjust fatty acid deficiency
B. Heightening Awareness
  • Uncover your "story"
  • How do you defend and maintain you story? (Cognitive)

    • *Ego/image
    *Illusion of control/power
    *Tolerance for insanity (yours/others)
    *Grandiosity/self centeredness
    *Alienation/detachment
    *Beliefs/judgments
    *Fears
  • How do you distract yourself from the "truth?" ( Behavioral )

    • *Addictions
    *Attachments
    *Drama
    *Work/play
    *"Stuff"
C. Increasing Clarity
  • What do you say you want?
    *Values
    *Actions
  • What are you attached to?
  • What can you "let go" of?
D. Learning Free Choice and Personal Responsibility
  • What do you really want?
  • What are you willing to do?
  • What are you committed to?
  • What "truth" will you live?



The Tools

The above questions help point out the direction for a new path, the tools help to clear the new path, and your level of willingness to be responsible for new and different choices determines the depth and applicability of your discoveries. Some of the tools you will use to assist you in learning to be responsible for yourself and to others are:
  • Individual reflection and addressing superficial levels of behaviors (Disordered Eating, Substance Abuse, Depression, Anxiety, Sexual Compulsivity, others)
  • Active and honest feedback from staff and peers
  • Emotional regulation
  • Increase awareness and identify Core Beliefs that unconsciously drive behaviors
  • Identifying true passion and bliss and what you want for your life
  • The Four Agreements
  • Meditation/Mindfulness
  • Journaling
  • Meal Planning
  • Self-care skills
  • Body and energy work increasing awareness of body sensations associated with emotions
  • Body Image Awareness
  • Relapse Prevention
  • Participation (showing up)
  • Honesty

We invite you to take this journey and to heal in ways that will open up your life on every level and change your relationship to food, weight and body image.