Eating Disorder Recovery Program

The Methodology

At Awakenings Treatment Center, you will focus specifically on your relationship to food, eating, body image and body shape/size. We provide specialized programming for individuals who suffer from: disordered eating behaviors, binge eating, emotional eating, compulsive overeating, night eating and stress eating. Complications with mental health problems and chronic pain are also addressed, if needed, as part of this program offering.

Clients admitted to the Awakenings Eating Recovery Program experience:

  • Daily process groups
  • Daily Joyful Movement groups with a certified physical trainer specializing in mental health, disordered eating and chronic pain
  • Daily BrainPaint Neurofeedback (EEG Biofeedback)
  • Individual Therapy
  • Family Therapy
  • Intensive Family Program
  • Alpha-Stim CES – deep relaxation & stress reduction with cranial electrical stimulation

About Disordered Eating and Treatment

Individuals with any form of disordered eating (binge eating disorder, emotional eating and stress eating) use food to feel in control and cope with painful feelings. Such feelings include anger, self-loathing, vulnerability, and panic. Attempts to control the consequences of overeating are often compensated with inappropriate use of laxatives, diuretics, diet pills (over the counter and prescription). This fuels a false sense of control and represents futile attempts to manage painful feelings that seem otherwise unmanageable.

Those suffering from any form of disordered eating focus on food and body weight as a way to take control of life. Developing eating habits based on moods and feelings are often serious signs that someone is suffering from a diagnosable, treatable, eating disorder.

Awakenings Treatment Center’s multidisciplinary treatment team works with each individual to assess all aspects of his or her eating disorder. We offer a research-informed treatment program, supported by integrative neuropsychiatric care. Catering to the emotional, physical, and spiritual healing of individuals and families.

Clients benefit from our broad spectrum of complementary, evidence-based services that address eating disorders. And simultaneously treat conditions such as depression, trauma, obsessive-compulsive anxiety, chronic pain or addiction.

A Healthy Living Plan 

eating disorder treatment

Awakenings Treatment Center founder, Dr. Shari Corbitt, uses an “All Foods Fit” healing treatment model. This treatment acknowledges that in the early stages of recovery, some people will have “red light foods.” In other words, food choices, once eaten in a moderate amount, tend to trigger a compulsive binge episode.

Dr. Corbitt’s Eating Addiction Relapse Prevention Workbook is also utilized to help establish a “Healthy Living Plan” to create individualized, supportive strategies to soothe future cravings, triggers and potential binges.

Effective help and resolution from the symptoms of binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating, emotional eating, night eating and stress eating is available at Awakenings Treatment Center.

Binge Eating Disorders

Binge eating disorder is a serious condition that causes you to consume unusually large amounts of food in a short period of time. Almost everyone overeats on occasion – this is not the same as having binge eating disorder. Instead, this excessive pattern of overeating is a regular occurrence that causes you to feel out of control.

Even though binge eating disorder can interfere with daily functioning, it is a treatable condition. It’s important to recognize the signs and symptoms of the disorder, as they can become severe and life-threatening. Without treatment, binge eating disorder can also lead to long-term suffering.

Awakenings Treatment Center treats binge eating disorder using a combination of therapy, counseling and medication. We have been successful in treating many types of eating disorders, along with the mental disorders that may be contributing to them. Contact us today at 855-717-3268 to speak with our admissions team.

What is Binge Eating Disorder?

Binge eating disorder, or BED for short, is a severe eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food. Typically, a person with BED will eat very quickly and to the point of discomfort. They then tend to feel guilty afterwards and may even use unhealthy measures to get rid of the food they just ate, like vomiting.

However, BED is different from bulimia in that people don’t regularly purge their bodies of food via vomiting, laxatives or diuretics. People with BED may occasionally try to lose weight with these strategies, but it’s not something they do after every meal. Therefore, people with BED tend to be overweight or obese, though not always.

BED is one of the newest eating disorders formally recognized in the DSM-5. Before, BED was listed as a subtype of EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified). This has been a positive change because it has allowed insurance to cover treatment for the condition. Binge eating disorder is also the most common eating disorder in the U.S.

What are the Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder?

Binge eating disorder presents itself in many different ways. People with the condition are often overweight or obese, though they can be at a normal weight. They also tend to show various emotional and behavioral symptoms like the following:

  • Eating unusually large amounts of food in a short amount of time
  • Being unable to control how much is eaten
  • Eating even when full
  • Eating rapidly during binges
  • Eating until uncomfortably full
  • Frequently eating alone or in secrecy
  • Feeling disgusted or embarrassed by how much is eaten

Diagnostic Criteria for Binge Eating Disorder

In order to be diagnosed with binge eating disorder, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode is characterized by eating a large
    amount of food in a short period of time, usually two hours or less.

  • Binge-eating episodes associated with three or more of the following:
    • Eating more rapidly than normal
    • Eating until feeling uncomfortably full
    • Eating large amounts of food when not physically hungry
    • Eating alone because of embarrassment
    • Feeling disgusted, depressed or guilty afterward
  • Marked distress regarding binge eating is present
  • Binge eating occurs at least once a week for three months
  • Binge eating is not associated with the recurrent use of purging behaviors (vomiting,
    laxatives)

Health Consequences of Binge Eating Disorder

There are a number of risks associated with binge eating disorder, including clinical obesity, weight stigma and weight cycling. While not everyone with BED is overweight, up to two-thirds are labeled clinically obese.

Being overweight can lead to a number of health complications like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and emotional distress. Fortunately, most of the physical complications of BED can be reversed through diet and exercise.

However, it’s not just the physical symptoms that require attention. The emotional symptoms must also be treated (relationship with food, issues related to body image) otherwise you will continue to suffer with problems. It’s not uncommon to find out that there is another mental illness driving an unhealthy relationship with food.

Treatment Options for Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder is a treatable condition. The key is to find the right combination of therapies and medication, which can take time. At Awakenings Treatment Center, we will work closely with you to develop a treatment plan that meets your needs and goals.

As a dual diagnosis treatment center, we are able to treat eating disorders and other problems like substance use and mental illness. It is common for eating disorders to co-occur with other conditions. The goals of treatment are to reduce binges, achieve healthy eating habits and address underlying mental health issues like poor body image and shame.

The treatment options that work best for BED are:

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy. With CBT, our therapists will help you better cope with
    issues that can trigger binge-eating episodes.

  • Interpersonal psychotherapy. This type of therapy focuses on your relationships with
    others and improves your interpersonal skills.

  • Dialectical behavior therapy. DBT can help you learn behavioral skills to tolerate stress,
    regulate your emotions and improve your relationships with others.

  • Neuromodulation with EEG Biofeedback/Neurofeedback. Neurofeedback helps your
    central nervous system calm down so that your vulnerability to using food and eating as
    coping tools become less needed!

  • Alpha-Stim. Deep relaxation with cranial electrical stimulation stimulates the “feel
    good” brainwaves that provide for a sustainable pattern of deep peace of mind.

  • Medications. A number of medications may be prescribed to treat severe binge eating
    disorder, such as antidepressants or anticonvulsants.

Seek Treatment for Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorders are serious and require treatment. If you are ready to seek treatment, contact Awakenings Treatment Center today. We have a supportive environment and a wide range of therapies to help you recover.

If you are not ready, we encourage you to talk to someone about what you’re going through. Hopefully, they can help you find the motivation to take the next step. You are not alone in your journey – we are here to help you recover and live the life you deserve!

Pre and Post Bariatric Surgery

Do you know someone who is going through weight loss surgery? Perhaps this person is you and you’re preparing yourself for the journey ahead. It’s a great thing that you’re taking this seriously, as weight loss surgery involves many physical and emotional changes. It’s important that you have the support you need to succeed in your recovery.

After the surgery, you will need to continue to work hard and change unhealthy behaviors to maintain your weight. However, this can be harder than you realize. Through the years, you developed unhealthy habits that won’t go away overnight. Some of the new habits you’ll have to learn are:

  • Changing your eating habits, such as food choices and meal times
  • Eating smaller portions
  • Chewing your food slowly
  • Not drinking and eating at the same time
  • Increasing your exercise
  • Avoiding emotional or stress eating
  • Limiting certain foods like sweets, alcohol and carbonation

Has Your Doctor Recommended Bariatric Surgery?

Bariatric surgery refers to gastric bypass and other weight-loss surgeries that make changes to the digestive system to help you lose weight. These surgeries are typically recommended when diet and exercise haven’t worked, or you have serious health problems because of your weight.

Some procedures limit how much you can eat, so you naturally consume less and weigh less. Others reduce the body’s ability to absorb nutrients, and some procedures do both. You and your doctor will work together to determine the best surgery for your needs, weight loss goals and overall health.

While bariatric surgery offers many benefits, it’s still a major procedure that involves risks. And, in order for the surgery to work long-term, you’ll need to make healthy changes to your diet. Because many people who are severely overweight have challenges with emotional eating, counseling and therapy are often part of the healing process.

Therapy after Weight Loss Surgery

You can start therapy at any time, but many people choose to start it after they have physically healed from the surgery. Most people stay in the hospital for two to three days and get back to normal activities within three to five weeks. Once you are feeling good, you can start working with a therapist to understand the motivations for your emotional eating, as well as how to replace unhealthy habits and behaviors with healthy ones.

Therapy after bariatric surgery can be beneficial for:

  • Treating depression and anxiety
  • Addressing body image concerns
  • Addressing substance use issues
  • Sticking to new diet recommendations
  • Coping with family concerns at home
  • Instilling hope and confidence in your new life

Support Services Before and After Bariatric Surgery

Awakenings Treatment Center is a holistic healing center that works with individuals preparing for or recovering from bariatric surgery. We treat all types of eating disorders, so our team has a strong understanding of emotional eating. We recognize that weight loss surgery is not a one-and-done solution but rather the start of a new journey.

There is a period of healing that needs to happen, and often, there are deep emotional changes or past traumas to address. You can get all of this help and support under one roof at Awakenings. We have a full team of professionals that include counselors, therapists, spiritual advisors, psychiatrists and movement therapy specialists. Contact our team today at 855-717-3268 to learn more about our pre- and post-op bariatric services.

We can help you heal from the debilitating emotional, physical and spiritual pain, as well as the patterns repeating in your relationships in all aspects of your life. Contact our admissions department.