Author: Sarah Shawaker

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Healing Together: How Couples Counseling Can Help

Your partner is there with you through thick and thin. They celebrate your greatest achievements and support you when the going gets tough. But no relationship is perfect—there will always be ways to improve your dynamic. And some issues are too big to handle alone. If you and your partner are hitting a wall, it might be time to start couples therapy.

What Happens in Couples Counseling?

Relationships can be hard. Sometimes you need outside help to reconnect with each other. Thankfully, couples therapy can be a hugely effective solution. In fact, data shows that couples therapy increases relationship satisfaction ((Lundblad, A.-M., & Hansson, K. (2006). Couples therapy: Effectiveness of treatment and long-term follow-up. Journal of Family Therapy, 28(2), 136–152. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6427.2006.00343.x)) in up to 75% of couples.

In most cases, your first session will focus on your reasons for starting therapy. This lets your therapist learn about your relationship dynamic. Most couples counseling also includes individual sessions so you can openly discuss topics you may not be ready to talk about in front of your partner.

In the following sessions, you’ll dig deeper, learning about the root causes of any interpersonal issues. You’ll also practice new communication skills, which can help you apply these lessons outside of therapy.

Couples counseling sessions are tailored to address your needs. You can even look for a counselor who specializes in your concerns. For example, some couples therapists treat LGBTQ+ relationships, polyamorous relationships, and other nontraditional dynamics.

There’s no set timeline for couples therapy. You may see major improvements after just a few weeks, or it may take months to achieve results.

What to Talk About in Couples Therapy

You can talk about any topics you’d like in couples therapy. Remember, your therapist is there to help you explore difficult issues. Treatment is most effective when you share your deepest concerns. Many couples enter therapy to talk about these sensitive subjects:

  • Communication problems
  • Finances
  • Intimacy issues
  • Children and family dynamics
  • Emotional distance

Nothing is off the table. You might even find yourself talking about issues you weren’t planning to bring up. Through empathetic communication, counseling can help you and your partner find common ground.

Common Misconceptions

If you’re new to relationship counseling, you might not know what to expect. This treatment can be very different from the way it’s portrayed in the media. And it’s easier to prepare for therapy when you know what you should actually expect.

Misconception #1: The therapist will take one partner’s side.

Your counselor is an unbiased 3rd party. Their job is to mediate and help you resolve relationship issues. A good therapist won’t side with you against your partner, or vice versa.

Misconception #2: The goal of couples counseling is always to save the relationship.

Therapy helps clients improve their lives. In this context, your counselor will help you and your partner understand each other better. That knowledge can tell you whether your needs align with theirs. And there’s always a chance you’ll both be happier if you go your separate ways. Your therapist won’t try to convince you to either stay together or separate. This decision is ultimately yours. But treatment can help you decide on the best course of action.

Misconception #3: Going to therapy means something is wrong, either with you or with your relationship.

No relationship is ever perfect. Choosing to go to therapy shows that you and your partner are willing to grow as people. It demonstrates that you care about each other and about your relationship. And whatever happens next, that commitment is meaningful.

Different Approaches to Couples Therapy

Every person is unique—and so is every relationship. Just as there are different types of individual therapy, there are many ways to approach couples counseling.

Emotion-Focused Therapy

Emotion-focused therapy (EFT) focuses on the idea that our feelings are at the core of our relationships. This treatment helps patients develop their emotional intelligence.

In each session, your therapist will guide you to reframe the feelings attached to past experiences. This process helps you and your partner address unmet emotional needs through compassionate listening and sharing. Data shows that EFT reduces relationship stress, ((Dessaulles, A., Johnson, S. M., & Denton, W. H. (2003). Emotion-focused therapy for couples in the treatment of depression: A pilot study. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 31(5), 345–353. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926180390232266)) making it highly effective for couples.

The Gottman Method

The Gottman method ((Davoodvandi, M., Navabi Nejad, S., & Farzad, V. (2018). Examining the effectiveness of gottman couple therapy on improving marital adjustment and couples’ intimacy. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry, 13(2), 135–141.)) uses the metaphor of a house to describe interpersonal dynamics. In each session, you and your partner will map out the structure of your relationship. Over time, your therapist will guide you to explore the different “floors” of your “house.” You’ll start with a strong foundation, and build toward a sense of mutual admiration and trust. This treatment fosters flexibility and emotional stability.

Treating Addiction With Couples Therapy

If you or your partner has addiction, couples counseling can be an important part of treatment. Addiction affects every part of life, including work, finances, and health—and intimate relationships. On the flip side, stress from a relationship can leave you more vulnerable for substance use.

Ammet Braich, Clinical Director at Camino Recovery, emphasizes that “people aren’t created in a vacuum. The things that shape us in our lives, the personality that we are and the closest people around us have a big effect.” By looking at the role your inner circle plays in your life, you can get to the root of addiction.

Healthy boundaries and clear communication both support long term recovery. And couples therapy teaches you these skills. Relationship counseling, alongside other treatments, reduces drug use and improves relationship satisfaction. ((Fals-Stewart, W., O’Farrell, T. J., & Birchler, G. R. (2004). Behavioral couples therapy for substance abuse: Rationale, methods, and findings. Science & Practice Perspectives, 2(2), 30–41. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2851021/))

Is Couples Therapy for Everyone?

Couples therapy is helpful for many relationships, but it’s not right for everyone. For one thing, it’s important for both you and your partner to commit to healing. If one of you is resistant to the idea of counseling, it probably won’t be as effective. But you can’t force your partner into treatment.

What’s more, this therapy can’t replace other treatment methods. For example, if one or both of you have addiction or another mental health diagnosis, couples therapy might not be enough. But it can be a helpful addition to your care plan. Couples counseling helps you set sustainable boundaries, easing the recovery process for all involved. It can also help you work through related issues, like codependency.

Healing Your Relationship—and Yourself

Couples therapy isn’t only a way to work on your relationship. It can also clarify your personal values. And the better you know yourself, the more easily you can build a relationship that meets your needs.

Explore centers with couples therapy to see program information, read reviews, and see if this treatment is right for your relationship.

Reviewed by Rajnandini Rathod

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Breaking the Cycle: How to Heal From Addiction and Anxiety

Anxiety can be more than a feeling. It also affects your behavior. And if it’s getting in the way of your daily life, it makes sense that you’d look for ways to cope. But not all coping strategies are healthy. Some—like drug use—can even make your anxiety worse. In rehab for anxiety, you can learn safer, more sustainable skills.

Recognizing Anxiety

Anxiety disorders ((What are the five major types of anxiety disorders? [Text]. 2013, February 9. HHS.Gov. https://www.hhs.gov/answers/mental-health-and-substance-abuse/what-are-the-five-major-types-of-anxiety-disorders/index.html)) look different for different people. They can even be invisible to others. But even for high achievers, anxiety can get in the way of important goals. If anxiety is interfering with your daily life, you may have one of these diagnoses:

Everyone feels stressed from time to time. But if your anxiety interferes with the rest of your life, you might have one of these diagnoses. And while it’s normal to search for ways to manage these feelings, not all coping mechanisms are healthy.

The Connection Between Anxiety and Drug Addiction

Anxiety and addiction ((Smith, J. P., & Book, S. W. (2008). Anxiety and substance use disorders: A review. The Psychiatric Times, 25(10), 19–23. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2904966/)) are 2 of the most common diagnoses in the U.S. And they often occur together. Some people develop addiction in an attempt to self-medicate anxiety. Others feel anxiety about their addiction. Whichever comes first, one thing is clear: anxiety and addiction are a volatile combination. ((Nguyen, A., Mirbaba, M., Khaleghi, F., & Tsuang, J. (2017). Current treatment options for co-morbid anxiety and alcohol use disorders: A review. Journal of Addictive Behaviors and Therapy, 1(1), 0–0. https://www.primescholars.com/abstract/current-treatment-options-for-comorbid-anxiety-and-alcohol-use-disorders-a-review-106758.html))

What’s more, each of these conditions can make the other one worse. And that’s true even if a drug helps with your short-term symptoms. For example, benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed for anxiety. But some benzos, like Xanax, have a rebound effect. ((Ait-Daoud, N., Hamby, A. S., Sharma, S., & Blevins, D. (2018). A review of alprazolam use, misuse, and withdrawal. Journal of Addiction Medicine, 12(1), 4–10. https://doi.org/10.1097/ADM.0000000000000350)) They’re hugely effective at relieving the symptoms of panic attacks. But, if you reduce your dosage, your anxiety might spike. This can easily lead to relapse.

The complex relationship between addiction and anxiety has an impact on treatment. ((Brady, K. T., Haynes, L. F., Hartwell, K. J., & Killeen, T. K. (2013). Substance use disorders and anxiety: A treatment challenge for social workers. Social Work in Public Health, 28(0), 407–423. https://doi.org/10.1080/19371918.2013.774675)) Specifically, it can be hard to treat underlying anxiety while you’re actively taking drugs. When you’re ready to heal from either of these conditions, you might benefit from treatment for co-occurring disorders.

Treating Both Addiction and Anxiety

There’s a silver lining here. Because these issues are so common, experts have sought out many effective therapies. In residential rehab, you might try one of these, or combine them as part of a comprehensive care plan.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Data shows that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can effectively treat anxiety and co-occurring addiction. ((Alamdarloo, G. H., Khorasani, S. M., Najafi, M., et al. (2019). The effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy on depression, anxiety, and stress levels in iranian males with addiction. SAGE Open, 9(1), 215824401882446. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244018824466)) This type of talk therapy helps you recognize unhealthy thought patterns. When you understand the reason behind your own behaviors, you can learn to respond in a healthier way.

Your therapist will act as a guide, teaching you practical coping strategies. As you incorporate those skills into your daily life, you’ll learn to regulate your emotions. This healthy behavior can make it easier to work through anxiety without taking drugs.

Yoga

There’s more to yoga than physical exercise. It also teaches mindfulness, breathwork, and emotional endurance. It can even give you a sense of community. For these reasons and more, research shows that yoga reduces anxiety. ((Kuppili, P. P., Parmar, A., Gupta, A., & Balhara, Y. P. S. (2018). Role of yoga in management of substance-use disorders: A narrative review. Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice, 9(1), 117–122. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5812135/))

This is part of why yoga is often used in addiction treatment. Specifically, this mind-body practice can reduce drug cravings, helping you kick-start recovery. And over time, it can help you reconnect with yourself in an even deeper way.

Biofeedback

Biofeedback uses sensors to track your physical responses ((Banerjee, S., & Argáez, C. (2017). Neurofeedback and biofeedback for mood and anxiety disorders: A review of clinical effectiveness and guidelines. Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531603/)) to certain stimuli. For example, you might wear a heart rate monitor during a therapy session. Then, with a clinician’s help, you’ll review the data it collected. This helps patients understand their own reactions to stress.

This treatment gives you valuable information about how your body reacts to certain emotions. You can then use that data to change your physiological response using different relaxation techniques. The goal is to empower you to make different choices—ones that will support your long-term health. As a result, biofeedback reduces both anxiety and drug cravings. ((Khatami, M., Woody, G., O’Brien, C., & Mintz, J. (1982). Biofeedback treatment of narcotic addiction: A double-blind study. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 9(2), 111–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/0376-8716(82)90056-4))

Moving Forward, on Your Own Terms

Often, anxiety is the fear of things you can’t control. Some of those things—like the weather—will always be out of reach. That’s okay. In recovery, you can learn to accept your emotions just as they are. And by doing that, you can take back control of the best parts of your life.

Browse a list of anxiety treatment centers to learn about their housing, treatment options, insurance, and more.

Reviewed by Rajnandini Rathod

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Holistic Recovery From Eating Disorders

Eating disorders can be isolating. And that’s hard enough on a social level, if you’re skipping group activities that include shared meals. But it’s more than social. These conditions can also make you feel disconnected from yourself.

If that’s your experience, holistic treatment for eating disorders might be a good fit. This approach invites you to reconnect your mind and body. Some therapies take it a step further, teaching you healthy ways of relating to the world. Over time, you can learn to ground yourself in your own needs and values. And from that foundation, you can make empowered decisions about your recovery process.

What Is Holistic Treatment?

Holistic treatment doesn’t just treat your symptoms. Instead, it focuses on you as a whole person, with complex recovery goals. This approach is rooted in Eastern philosophies. And while it’s not a replacement for evidence-based therapies, holistic care has many unique advantages.

By definition, this type of treatment is not one-size-fits-all. However, many holistic rehab programs share certain ideals. For example, they may encourage mindfulness as a treatment for eating disorders.1

Why Mindfulness Matters

Here’s the secret about mindfulness: anyone can do it. You can practice mindful meditation, or you can be mindful while you’re washing the dishes. And with enough practice, it can become a way of life.

When you act mindfully,2 you pay attention to your own experience, and to the world around you. You might notice tension in your shoulders, or the sound of the washing machine, or your sense of anxiety about catching the train. By cultivating this greater awareness, you can learn to regulate your feelings. And emotion regulation is a big part of healing from an eating disorder.

Mindful Recovery From Eating Disorders

Eating disorders can make it feel like your body and mind are out of sync. You might find yourself ruminating about your eating habits,3 so focused on what you think of your body that you forget how you feel. Those thoughts can manifest as unhealthy eating behaviors, regardless of your physical needs. In fact, eating disorders can make it hard to recognize natural cues like hunger and fullness.4

Mindfulness increases body awareness,5 addressing this disconnect. When you act mindfully you bring your body and mind back together, meeting yourself in the present moment. Many people find this practice grounding, comforting, and even empowering. There are several specific treatments that promote mindful, holistic healing.

Types of Holistic Recovery

Holistic rehab honors the fact that you’re a unique person, with a unique definition of wellness. While mindfulness is a big part of many holistic treatments, it’s not always central to recovery. Depending on your exact needs, your provider may recommend a combination of several types of therapy.

Yoga

Doing yoga in rehab helps patients build both physical and emotional strength. Certain poses may be hard at first, and it takes willpower to practice them. Over time, as you get better at it, you might also develop more confidence. And because yoga asks you to be present in the moment, you’ll also practice self-acceptance. This empowers you to observe and care for your body just as it is, instead of passing judgment.

Data shows that yoga can improve your body image6 and overall sense of well-being. Unlike some forms of exercise, the goal isn’t to look or even feel a certain way. Instead, it invites you to exist safely in your own body. For people with eating disorders, that can be transformative.

If you’re new to yoga, it’s important to learn from an expert. But once you understand the basics, you can practice almost anywhere, at any point during recovery. While you’re in treatment, some providers combine yoga and eating disorder education.7 And when you leave rehab, you can easily incorporate it into your plan for aftercare. This healthy coping skill can help you bridge the gap between different stages of healing.

Nutrition

Good nutrition is a vital part of eating disorder recovery. When you first enter treatment, you might need to replenish certain vitamins and minerals. In that case, your care team may personalize your meal plan, or even provide medical treatment. But there’s more to nutrition than receiving this type of care.

In some rehabs, you’ll also work directly with a nutritionist or dietitian. These experts can teach you to plan healthy menus based on your nutritional requirements. They might even help you shop for groceries or learn to cook. It’s important to practice these skills during treatment, so you’re set up for success when you return home. Over time, you’ll develop these healthier habits—and even more importantly, you’ll develop intuition about your own needs. By rebuilding trust within yourself, you can improve your relationship with food.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine8 in which thin needles are inserted into pressure points around the body. The goal of this is to unblock the flow of qi, or life force energy, promoting physical and mental health.

Because it treats both physical and emotional issues, acupuncture supports eating disorder recovery.9 This technique doesn’t just treat your symptoms. It also helps patients heal from the underlying causes of their diagnosis. For example, acupuncture can simultaneously reduce anxiety and improve digestion. By treating these issues together, it teaches patients how connected their minds and bodies really are.

Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training

Mindfulness-based eating awareness training (MB-EAT)10 uses guided meditations to support recovery. Treatment targets the negative thoughts associated with eating disorders. Patients also practice mindfulness and emotion regulation skills. For example, MB-EAT teaches you to notice how hunger and fullness actually feel in your body.

MB-EAT can be especially helpful if you have a binge eating disorder. By riding the waves of your urges, you can stay in touch with your body, but avoid unhealthy behavior. These skills help you accept your feelings just as they are, without always acting on them.

Find Wholeness in Rehab for Eating Disorders

You are more than the sum of your parts. Those parts include the way you look, the way your body feels, your mental health, and your healing journey. But that’s an incomplete list. Holistic treatment honors the complexity of each person’s identity. And it invites you to learn who you already are, and decide who you want to become.

Connect with a rehab that treats eating disorders to find out which holistic therapies they offer.

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Understanding Anxiety’s Effect on Eating Disorders

Eating disorders don’t develop in a vacuum. They often go hand in hand with other mental health conditions, like anxiety. And that can make it hard to get the treatment you need.

In rehab for eating disorders, providers know that mental and behavioral issues are connected. Eating disorders are unhealthy coping mechanisms, but they exist for a reason. And with help, you can learn better coping strategies. These skills empower people to recover from disordered eating and the anxiety that can trigger it.

Understanding Eating Disorders

These complex conditions are about more than just food. In fact, eating disorders affect 30 million Americans. ((Caceres, V. (2020, February 14). Eating Disorder Statistics. US Health News; US Health News. https://health.usnews.com/conditions/eating-disorder/articles/eating-disorder-statistics)) There are a few different types of eating disorders, ((Guarda, A. (2021, March). What are Eating Disorders? American Psychiatric Association. https://psychiatry.org/patients-families/eating-disorders/what-are-eating-disorders)) as defined by the American Psychiatric Association (APA):

  • Anorexia nervosa is the restriction of food intake. This “self-starvation” can result in weight loss and an unhealthily low weight.
  • Bulimia nervosa follows a cycle. People with this condition binge large amounts of food, then take extreme actions to avoid gaining weight. For example, a person might induce vomiting, restrict food intake, use laxatives, or exercise excessively.
  • Binge eating disorder follows a similar cycle, but does not include purging. It’s characterized by episodes of eating large amounts very quickly, followed by feelings of guilt, shame, and distress.
  • Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is an umbrella term. It describes any pattern of disordered eating that doesn’t fit the criteria for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder.

Disordered eating can appear as a wide array of symptoms and behaviors, and it’s important to not try to fit yourself into a box. Like any other diagnosis, the impact of these conditions goes beyond the definitions that you read online. And it’s especially complex for people with co-occurring disorders, like anxiety.

Where Does Anxiety Come In?

Much like eating disorders, there are a wide variety of anxiety disorders. And these 2 categories are more similar than you might think. In fact, research suggests that eating disorders could be classified as anxiety disorders. ((Altman, S. E., & Shankman, S. A. (2009). What is the association between obsessive–compulsive disorder and eating disorders? Clinical Psychology Review, 29(7), 638–646. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2009.08.001))

Even if you don’t have anxiety, most people with eating disorders have at least 1 other diagnosis. One study found that 97% of people hospitalized for an eating disorder had a co-occurring disorder. ((STATISTICS & RESEARCH ON EATING DISORDERS. National Eating Disorders Association. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/statistics-research-eating-disorders)) When you’re ready to start recovery, it’s important to seek treatment for every aspect of your mental health. Fortunately, many rehabs are prepared to treat co-occurring anxiety and eating disorders.

How Anxiety Impacts Eating Disorders: A Cycle

According to the team at Rosewood Ranch,

“about half of individuals with eating disorders also have an anxiety disorder ((Hunnicutt, C. (2020, February 18). The connection between anxiety and eating disorders. Rosewood Centers for Eating Disorders. https://www.rosewoodranch.com/the-connection-between-anxiety-and-eating-disorders/)) and most of the time, the anxiety disorder began prior to the eating disorder.”

These behaviors may form as coping mechanisms, albeit dysfunctional ones. Some people use eating as a distraction from anxious thoughts, ((Rosenbaum, D. L., & White, K. S. (2013). The role of anxiety in binge eating behavior: A critical examination of theory and empirical literature. Health Psychology Research, 1(2), e19.
https://www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/hpr/article/view/hpr.2013.e19/pdf)) or to feel a sense of control. But when you rely on harmful tactics to deal with your emotions, it gets harder to learn healthy ones. This creates a cycle that’s hard to break. And that cycle can be seen in people with any type of anxiety disorder.

Social Anxiety

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines social anxiety ((Division (DCD), D. C. (2013, February 9). What are the five major types of anxiety disorders? [Text]. HHS.Gov. https://www.hhs.gov/answers/mental-health-and-substance-abuse/what-are-the-five-major-types-of-anxiety-disorders/index.html)) as a “disorder characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations.” And that self-consciousness can turn into anxiety about your appearance. This opens the door to eating disorders. In fact, the fear of being negatively judged is linked to a desire for thinness. ((Levinson, C. A., & Rodebaugh, T. L. (2012). Social anxiety and eating disorder comorbidity: The role of negative social evaluation fears. Eating Behaviors, 13(1), 27–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2011.11.006))

These social fears are valid—but restricting your diet won’t necessarily make them go away. Studies reveal that levels of social anxiety are similar across all eating disorder diagnoses. ((Kerr-Gaffney, J., Harrison, A., & Tchanturia, K. (2018). Social anxiety in the eating disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 48(15), 2477-2491. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291718000752))

When you recognize how your anxiety impacts your eating habits, you can start developing healthier behaviors.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by anxiety and intrusive thoughts. Because of this, repetitive, self-destructive behaviors are a common symptom. Disordered eating can sometimes be one of those behaviors.

An article from Timberline Knolls says that for both OCD and eating disorders, the goal of the behavior “is to reduce levels of apprehension, anxiety and overall negative effect.” ((The relationship between eating disorders & obsessive-compulsive disorder. Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center. http://www.timberlineknolls.com/about/blog/the-relationship-between-eating-disorders-obsessive-compulsive-disorder/)) For example, you might binge a large amount of food in an attempt to self-soothe during a panic attack. These behaviors can snowball and worsen your anxiety, and keep you from learning how to handle it differently. You may need professional support to interrupt this behavioral loop.

Breaking the Cycle With Treatment

Research shows that it’s important to treat eating disorders and anxiety together. ((Kerr-Gaffney, J., Harrison, A., & Tchanturia, K. (2018). Social anxiety in the eating disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 48(15), 2477-2491. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291718000752)) Because of the overlap between these issues, you might want to attend a rehab that treats co-occurring disorders.

The good news is, therapy for either of these conditions may help you recover from both. For instance, experts agree that anxiety lessens when people get treatment for anorexia. ((Kerr-Gaffney, J., Harrison, A., & Tchanturia, K. (2018). Social anxiety in the eating disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 48(15), 2477-2491. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291718000752)) When you’re ready to heal, several types of therapy can help.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) ((Cognitive behavioral therapy—Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Retrieved August 12, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cognitive-behavioral-therapy/about/pac-20384610)) is a type of therapy that teaches you how to interrupt negative thoughts. It’s also the most recognized method for treating eating disorders. ((Eating Disorders, Trauma, and PTSD. (n.d.). National Eating Disorders Association. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/blog/eating-disorders-trauma-ptsd-recovery)) Most inpatient treatment programs offer some version of this therapy.

Holistic Therapies

Alternative therapies are an increasingly common way to treat mental health issues. These modalities encourage patients to heal their mind, body, spirit as one. In rehab, you might have access to a variety of holistic therapies. For instance, studies show that mindfulness is a powerful way to treat eating disorders. ((Wanden-Berghe, R. G., Sanz-Valero, J., & Wanden-Berghe, C. (2010). The application of mindfulness to eating disorders treatment: A systematic review. Eating Disorders, 19(1), 34–48. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640266.2011.533604))

Medication

Evidence shows that medication can treat eating disorders. ((Eating Disorders, Trauma, and PTSD. (n.d.). National Eating Disorders Association. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/blog/eating-disorders-trauma-ptsd-recovery)) This treatment is normally combined with talk therapy. The combination can be hugely effective. But like any treatment, it’s not right for everyone. If you have any physical health issues due to an eating disorder, talk to your doctor (or treatment team in rehab) about your concerns.

Recovery From Eating Disorders and Anxiety

Whatever types of therapy you pursue, there’s good news: eating disorders and anxiety disorders are very treatable. ((Kerr-Gaffney, J., Harrison, A., & Tchanturia, K. (2018). Social anxiety in the eating disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 48(15), 2477-2491. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291718000752)) With proper care, these conditions have high recovery success rates. And if you’re living with both diagnoses, many rehabs offer specialized care.

Connect with a rehab that treats eating disorders to learn more about the therapies they offer, housing options, and recovery from co-occurring disorders.

Reviewed by Rajnandini Rathod