Shelley wrote:
"I have a very large family on both sides. I am the only one I know of who has struggled with EDs. If my EDs are genetic, I do not know where they come from."
From what I understand, and I am no scientist or clinician, one can be 'predisposed' and never trigger. It was only after my daughter's illness that my sister told me she experienced bulimia as a teenager & very young adult (she purged w/laxatives); our family never knew this, and my sister said she didn't realize that was ed behavior until more than a decade later.
To deny that there is a biological component to eating disorders - and I'm not saying Shelley is because she was 'speaking' to her situation specifically - is to deny current, up to date research. The genetics aren't fully understood yet (someday?), but I would think that understanding that malnutrition is the trigger for eds vs eds triggering malnutrition would be received as good news....because surely we all know the proper treatment for malnutrition is full nutrition.
And a well nourished brain can reason and work through any possible comorbid 'issues' more readily than one that is starved/semi-starved.
Anyway, parent prepared, served & supervised full nutrition and healthy weight restoration saved my daughter's life where 'traditional' therapy failed. She is, once again, a total delight to all who know her, living her own life, preparing for university in the fall, and she has on more than one occasion thanked me and her dad for saving her life. We were grateful to be God's Hands in the situation.
For an adult who is still struggling w/an eating disorder, I would encourage them to read the newer studies and find a physician who embraces evidence based treatment and work with them. Perhaps the adult has family or friends who can help with food shopping and meal prep to relieve some of the anxiety?
Being the loved one trying or wanting to help an adult recover can surely be complicated....which is additional motivation for parents with ill children to seek out evidence based treatment and recover your child ASAP.
I hope my post is helpful to someone, and I offer my very best wishes to all.
Z
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Shelley wrote:
"I have a very large family on both sides. I am the only one I know of who has struggled with EDs. If my EDs are genetic, I do not know where they come from."
From what I understand, and I am no scientist or clinician, one can be 'predisposed' and never trigger. It was only after my daughter's illness that my sister told me she experienced bulimia as a teenager & very young adult (she purged w/laxatives); our family never knew this, and my sister said she didn't realize that was ed behavior until more than a decade later.
To deny that there is a biological component to eating disorders - and I'm not saying Shelley is because she was 'speaking' to her situation specifically - is to deny current, up to date research. The genetics aren't fully understood yet (someday?), but I would think that understanding that malnutrition is the trigger for eds vs eds triggering malnutrition would be received as good news....because surely we all know the proper treatment for malnutrition is full nutrition.
And a well nourished brain can reason and work through any possible comorbid 'issues' more readily than one that is starved/semi-starved.
Anyway, parent prepared, served & supervised full nutrition and healthy weight restoration saved my daughter's life where 'traditional' therapy failed. She is, once again, a total delight to all who know her, living her own life, preparing for university in the fall, and she has on more than one occasion thanked me and her dad for saving her life. We were grateful to be God's Hands in the situation.
For an adult who is still struggling w/an eating disorder, I would encourage them to read the newer studies and find a physician who embraces evidence based treatment and work with them. Perhaps the adult has family or friends who can help with food shopping and meal prep to relieve some of the anxiety?
Being the loved one trying or wanting to help an adult recover can surely be complicated....which is additional motivation for parents with ill children to seek out evidence based treatment and recover your child ASAP.
I hope my post is helpful to someone, and I offer my very best wishes to all.
June 10, 2009 - 6:15pmZ
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