Month: June 2024

Eating Disorder: Supporting a Loved One with an Eating Disorder

GalleryJudy Gurfein Leave a comment


Eating Disorder:
Supporting a loved one with an eating disorder

By: Maya Weisberg

When someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder,
you may feel at a loss for how to help them. Afraid to say the wrong thing or
push your loved one farther away, you may hold back and say nothing even when
you know they need help and support. While there is nothing you can say that
will magically cure them, there are certain things you can say and do to help.
There are also certain things you should not say or do.


If you start to notice signs that your loved one may be
dealing with an eating disorder, gently encourage them to seek out professional
help. You may face resistance at this suggestion and your loved one may even
get angry with you for suggesting they need help. Remind yourself that they are
not truly angry with you; they are just taking out their frustration on you.
Hold your ground and continue to encourage them when you can, emphasizing that
you only want to help them live their happiest life. 


Outside of professional help, there are several things you
can do that may help alleviate some of the suffering your loved one is
experiencing. First is assuring them that they are not to blame for their
eating disorder nor are they one entity with their eating disorder. Reminding
them that the eating disorder is something they have, not something they are,
is often something that they need to hear. Second, it is important to make sure
that you do not discuss diets, weight, or body shape. Talking about these
things, even if you think it is in a positive light, can be triggering and may
reinforce the eating disorder.  A third action is to help your loved one during meal times. This can take the form of eating with them, helping them stay busy after a meal so they cannot dwell on
it, or making sure that nutrition information is hidden away. Offering to go
grocery shopping or cooking for/with your loved one may also be helpful. Lastly,
if your loved one is responsive, ask them what they would like you to do. Every
eating disorder is different so it’s important to get direct feedback and suggestions
from your loved one.



Sometimes your loved one may reject any outright help from
you. In these cases there are still things you personally can do that may help
even if it’s not explicit. The first is to educate yourself on eating
disorders. Learn about the misconceptions and causes of eating disorders as
well as what the experience is like of living with an eating disorder.  There are many internet resources as well as books and podcasts. Educating yourself will enable you to better understand what
your loved one is experiencing and how you can help. Think about if there are
any behaviors you do that may be enabling an eating disorder. These behaviors
may not be obvious at first but even just talking about how you were so busy
today that you didn’t have time to each lunch can be triggering. Commenting on
a the body of a person you each know is another example of a behavior that may
enable the eating disorder. As you educate yourself, these types of behaviors
will become more apparent to you. Lastly, remember to take care of your own
mental health. Without taking care of yourself, you cannot effectively help
someone else.


If you or someone you know is interested is dealing with an eating disorder, please
contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of
our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse
practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling & Psychotherapy.
Contact our Paramus, NJ or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201) 368-3700
or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit http://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/



Source:
https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/support-someone-else/tips-for-supporting-somebody-with-an-eating-disorder/

Domestic Violence and Sports

GalleryJudy Gurfein Leave a comment
Vector illustration

Domestic Violence and Sports
By: Camillia Ghavami


When we watch sports games many of us feel passionate about whether our teams win or lose. Many find excitement in watching their favorite teams battle it out for the win, others may be terrified.


Tubi’s famous Super Bowl commercial in 2023, that made it seem like someone was changing the channel, is an example of the fear many women live in while watching sports games. Some may have laughed the prank off with their families, while those in more aggressive households were met with terrifying outbursts of violence. One woman described her experience with her boyfriend violently screaming at her to find the remote and then punching a hole in a wall. Another woman who worked at a sports bar described the whole bar screaming profanities at her.

The reaction to this commercial is bringing to light a relationship few know about between sports and domestic violence. More and more studies are showing that there is a relationship between domestic violence and the wins and losses of professional football teams. Empirical analyses show that in the US, there are more domestic violence arrests on Sundays when there are NFL games than on Sundays when there are no games played. This relationship is not just found in the US. In England, domestic violence reports rose by 38% when the national soccer team lost. Even when the team won, domestic violence still rose by 26%. The biggest cause of this rise in domestic violence might have to do with whether the team wins or loses. One study found upset losses (a team loses when it was predicted to win by 4 or more points) led to a 10% increase in domestic violence by men while the rise in violence after other types of losses (like when the games were expected to be close) were small. This rise in violence is even larger when the games are more important.

The problem of domestic abuse is an epidemic that runs rampant in this country. 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced any form of physical violence done by an intimate partner. Additionally, 1 in 7 women and 1 in 25 men have been injured by an intimate partner. While of course all these instances were not done in reaction to a sports game, imagine if during the next big sports game, famous athletes came together and denounced domestic violence. Maybe this would lead to a new turn in our culture, where the possibility of someone changing the channel during the Super Bowl is not met with violence.


If you or someone you know is suffering from domestic violence, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling & Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit http://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/

References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3712874/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/making-sense-chaos/202009/nfl-losses-are-associated-increased-domestic-violence
https://trinitonian.com/2023/03/02/how-sports-culture-is-connected-to-domestic-violence-and-abuse/#:~:text=According%20to%20a%20study%20conducted,when%20no%20games%20are%20played
https://ncadv.org/STATISTICS
https://www.themarysue.com/that-viral-tubi-superbowl-commercial-had-some-real-life-consequences-that-cant-be-ignored/


Throwing Up: The Fear of Throw Up

GalleryJudy Gurfein Leave a comment

By Caroline Buchanan

The fear of throw up, also referred to as emetophobia, is a specific phobia that revolves around the fear of vomiting, seeing vomit, watching other people vomit, or feeling sick. Emetophobia tends to leave people in a state of anxiety, overtaking their thoughts and engaging in behaviors that impact their everyday life. For example, you may avoid crowded places, traveling, eating out, or closely monitor your own health in an attempt to reduce the distress you may feel. While this anxiety can feel overwhelming and unbearable at times, this condition can be managed by a therapist.

What causes emetophobia?

Specific phobias tend to develop after a specific incident. As a result of this incident, an association is created between a thing – an object, situation, or an event – and a fear (Psych Central). Specifically in the context of emetophobia, this could involve getting sick in public, someone vomiting on you, having a bad case of food poisoning, or seeing someone else throw up. Emetophobia can also develop without a clear cause, causing experts to believe that genetics and the environment play a role. Regardless of whether you can pinpoint an incident or not, this anxiety can still be managed.

How can emetophobia be managed?

Exposure therapy is considered to be one of the most effective treatments. In this type of therapy, your therapist will expose you to your fear at a slow rate. This could involve trying a new food at a restaurant or spinning around until you feel nauseous. With these actions, you will be provided with techniques to help you cope with these feelings of anxiety. The goal is that the more you are exposed to your fear, the more you feel comfortable with it. Talk therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)can also be used to help learn how to identify and challenge negative thought patterns in your anxiety. While it may take some time to find the right therapist and techniques for you, it is worth it to alleviate the distress in your life.

If you or someone you know is suffering from emetophobia, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling & Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit http://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/

https://www.healthline.com/health/emetophobia#outlook