Author: Sarah Shawaker

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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Offers a New Perspective

When you’re planning for addiction and mental health recovery, it can be hard to know where to start. There are countless types of therapy, and each of them treats a different issue. But in most programs, one approach stands out: cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT.

This treatment focuses on the idea that our thoughts shape our lives. And negative thoughts can be a normal response to addiction or mental health issues. But you are not your thoughts. And the skills you learn in a rehab with cognitive behavioral therapy can guide you toward a brighter future.

What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

CBT teaches you to address issues by reframing your own perspective. You’ll learn practical ways to respond to triggers, thought distortions, and limiting beliefs. And once you break out of those well-worn thought patterns, your emotions will likely become more manageable. This, in turn, empowers you to act in ways that support your goals.

A wealth of data shows that CBT effectively improves patients’ quality of life. ((“What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?” Https://Www.Apa.Org, https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/cognitive-behavioral. Accessed 7 Mar. 2023.)) That’s easier to measure because it’s a goal-oriented form of psychotherapy. During sessions, you’ll spend most of your time learning and then practicing new skills. And when you do talk about past trauma, you’ll consider it through the lens of how it’s impacting you in the present day.

What to Expect in a Session

In a CBT session, your counselor can meet you right where you are. Therapists use the same techniques in individual therapy, group sessions, and family therapy. CBT is a short-term treatment method. Most patients attend between 5-20 sessions.

In your first meeting, your therapist will get to know you. You’ll also talk about your goals for treatment, and any specific diagnoses you’re healing from.

In future sessions, you’ll learn to identify your triggers and the way they make you feel. And once you understand where your emotions come from, you can begin to regulate them. To reach that goal, your therapist will teach you some practical skills. Depending on your exact treatment goals, you might focus on different techniques. There are numerous CBT skills, but a few are especially common:

  • Imagery-based exposure: ((McEvoy, Peter M., et al. Imagery-Enhanced CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder. Guilford Publications, 2018.)) First, you’ll recall a painful or triggering memory. Then, you’ll dig into the thoughts and feelings you associate with that experience. By revisiting those emotions in a protected environment, you’ll learn new ways to respond. So if you get triggered by the same memory in the future, you’ll already know what to do next.
  • Thought records: ((McManus, F., et al. “Examining the Effects of Thought Records and Behavioral Experiments in Instigating Belief Change.” Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, vol. 43, no. 1, Mar. 2012, pp. 540–47. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtep.2011.07.003.)) You’ll keep a daily written record of your thoughts, feelings, and the events that caused them. This technique is similar to journaling. But instead of freewriting, you’ll fill out a worksheet and answer specific questions. Then you’ll review your progress with your therapist.
  • Interrupting cognitive distortions: ((Greg Dubord MD. “Part 8. Cognitive illusions.” Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Series. Canadian Family Physician, Vol 57. Praxis. https://www.cfp.ca/content/cfp/57/7/799.full.pdf)) It’s easy to mistake your thoughts for facts. But CBT teaches you to identify inaccurate thoughts. For example, you might feel lonely even if you have a strong support network. And noticing that distinction can ground you in reality.

Over time, you can learn to use these skills intuitively. That’s a skill, too—and an important one for your long-term recovery.

What Does CBT Treat?

CBT is the “jack of all trades” of treatment. You can access it in most rehab programs, or attend sessions on an outpatient basis. And CBT can help with a wide variety of mental health conditions: ((“Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) | Royal College of Psychiatrists.” Www.Rcpsych.Ac.Uk, https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/treatments-and-wellbeing/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-(cbt). Accessed 7 Mar. 2023.))

CBT doesn’t only address mental health issues. It can also treat some medical and emotional challenges:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Addiction

CBT is a highly effective treatment for addiction. ((McHugh, R. Kathryn, et al. “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Substance Use Disorders.” Psychiatric Clinics of North America, vol. 33, no. 3, Sept. 2010, pp. 511–25. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2010.04.012.)) In part, that’s because addiction affects more than your thoughts and feelings. It’s also a behavioral pattern. CBT shows you how your emotions influence your actions. And when you understand that link, you can disrupt the thoughts that lead you to drink or take drugs.

Experts at Footprints Beachside Recovery, a rehab center in Florida, view CBT as a key part of long-term recovery. ((“How Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Plays a Role in Addiction Treatment.” Footprints to Recovery | Drug Rehab & Alcohol Addiction Treatment Centers, https://footprintstorecovery.com/addiction-therapy/cognitive-behavioral-therapy/. Accessed 7 Mar. 2023.)) In their program, some CBT sessions focus on relapse prevention. Patients learn how to recognize warning signs and interrupt old behavioral patterns. If you practice these skills during rehab, you’ll be better prepared for the next phase of healing.

Treating Mental Health With CBT

Unlike some other treatments, this therapy is extremely versatile. In fact, CBT is one of the most popular therapies ((“What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?” Https://Www.Apa.Org, https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/cognitive-behavioral. Accessed 7 Mar. 2023.)) for mental health. That might be because it addresses the root cause of each issue, and not just the symptoms. As a result, CBT can help people with a wide variety of diagnoses. But it’s especially popular for a few conditions.

Depression

CBT is a firmly established treatment for depression. And it can have long-lasting effects. Research shows that CBT for depression lowers relapse rates ((Sudak, Donna M. “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression.” Psychiatric Clinics of North America, vol. 35, no. 1, Mar. 2012, pp. 99–110. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2011.10.001.)) significantly. It might even be more effective than medication alone.

In each session, you’ll learn how to challenge negative beliefs about yourself and your life. Your therapist might also assign homework to help you reframe the way you think. For instance, you might reward yourself every time you do something that’s hard for you, like folding laundry.  So over time, you’ll start associating those tasks with good feelings.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Recovering from trauma can be overwhelming. CBT teaches you to work with that fact, instead of fighting it. Treatment helps you unpack complex feelings, separating painful memories from your present reality. And over time, this process can bring you a new sense of clarity.

CBT is a very effective way to treat trauma symptoms. ((Kar, Nilamadhab. “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Review.” Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, vol. 7, no. 1, Apr. 2011, pp. 167–81. www.dovepress.com, https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S10389.
)) Some rehab programs even offer specialized types of this therapy for people healing from trauma:

  • Prolonged exposure therapy (PE) ((VA.Gov | Veterans Affairs. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand_tx/prolonged_exposure.asp#:~:text=Prolonged%20Exposure%20(PE)%20is%20a,been%20avoiding%20since%20your%20trauma. Accessed 7 Mar. 2023.)) encourages patients to work through triggering memories in the safe space of a therapist’s office.
  • Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) ((VA.Gov | Veterans Affairs. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand_tx/cognitive_processing.asp. Accessed 7 Mar. 2023.))teaches you to challenge unhelpful thoughts or beliefs that stem from past trauma.

You can access these types of therapy in many settings, including outpatient treatment. But in residential rehab, you can often find them in programs that offer trauma-informed care.

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders commonly stem from a vicious cycle of negative thoughts. For instance, thinking about your weight might lead you to skip a meal. CBT offers a new perspective, which can help you break out of old patterns.

CBT is the leading form of treatment for eating disorders, ((Carolyn Coker Ross, MD, MPH. “Eating Disorders, Trauma, and PTSD.” National Eating Disorders Association. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/blog/eating-disorders-trauma-ptsd-recovery)) especially bulimia. It can be even more effective when patients also engage in eye movement therapy (EMDR).

Forge Your Own Path With CBT Skills

Healing isn’t easy. That’s true for everyone—even if you’re well on your way to recovery. And CBT doesn’t remove the obstacles in your path. Instead, it prepares you to face them. Although this treatment has a limited number of sessions, the skills it teaches you can last a lifetime.

Explore rehabs that offer cognitive behavioral therapy to learn more and reach out to centers directly.

Reviewed by Rajnandini Rathod

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Finding Freedom Through Gestalt Therapy

You can’t be defined as just one thing. So healing requires looking at all of the things that make you, you. Gestalt therapy shows how all the facets in your life impact you. This approach honors that both you and your environment are always shaping each other. And you can learn how to make this relationship a positive one. 

In rehab, gestalt therapy can empower you to move forward from what’s holding you back.  

What Is Gestalt Therapy?

A “gestalt” is a whole that’s greater than the sum of its parts.1 According to this approach, if you want to understand something, you have to look at its context. Gestalt therapy helps you realize how different areas of your life impact you. 

This therapy works by bringing you into the present moment to heal.2 It focuses on the here and now. You can still look at past experiences that you want to work through. But by focusing on what you’re feeling right now, you’re better able to understand and regulate your feelings. Gestalt therapy aims to help you make peace with the past, so you can move on to a brighter future.

This healing journey encourages you to reconnect with and accept buried parts of yourself. It also urges you to be accountable for how you live your life. While we can’t always control our circumstances, learning to adapt to the unpredictable can be hugely empowering.

How It Works

The key to Gestalt therapy is trust: trusting your therapist and trusting yourself. Doing so helps you develop the self-awareness to recognize patterns you want to change. 

In session, your therapist focuses on empathizing with you. By giving unconditional acceptance, they’ll provide a safe space for you to heal. They’ll do much more listening than talking. 

Gestalt Therapy Exercises 

Gestalt therapy takes a hands-on approach to healing. This experiential therapy will have you do more than just talking. In a session, you might do exercises like the following, including some that focus on analyzing body movement:

  • “I” statements: Instead of “they were mean to me,” for example, you might say: “I feel that they’re being mean to me.” Using this kind of phrasing helps you take responsibility for your thoughts and emotions instead of blaming them on others. 
  • The empty chair: You’ll face an empty chair, representing someone or something, and have an open conversation with it. Here, you’ll work through your unprocessed experiences—what Gestalt therapy refers to as “unfinished business.” The empty chair method3 releases negative feelings, making life more joyful. 
  • The reversal technique: Your therapist will encourage you to act in ways you normally wouldn’t. If you’re normally passive, for example, you might act assertively. This allows you to overcome self-imposed labels and get in touch with your full self.
  • Top dog vs. underdog: You’ll speak as both the “top dog” and “underdog” of your personality. That is, you’ll speak as your own dominant side versus your submissive side. This exercise reveals internal conflict and empowers you to work toward a middle ground. 
  • Exaggeration: Your therapist will ask you to repeat certain actions, like your leg bouncing or picking your nails, that you do while talking. By doing this action again, you’ll see what emotion it’s tied to. Understanding this mind-body connection is grounding and allows you to develop control of your emotions. 

Is Gestalt Therapy Right for You?

Gestalt therapy treats a variety of mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. And you don’t have to have a diagnosis to benefit from it. Gestalt therapy is also used for low self-esteem4 and relationship problems. 

Gestalt therapy is process-oriented,5 unlike many other therapies. This means that it follows the flow of the therapy session and does not have specific rules or a timeline. If you need more structure, Gestalt therapy may not be a fit.

Gestalt Therapy for Mental Health

When you’re in the present moment and self-aware, your mental health benefits. If you’re feeling stuck in old ruts, Gestalt therapy may be able to help you break out of them.

Gestalt Therapy for Trauma and PTSD

Your body stores trauma.6 And Gestalt therapy can help you safely explore it. Focusing on how your body is currently moving or feeling can help you process your past. As trauma expert Dr. Bessel van der Kolk explains: 

“If you have a comfortable connection with your inner sensations—if you can trust them to give you accurate information—you will feel in charge of your body, your feelings, and yourself.”7

For PTSD patients, Gestalt therapy revisits past emotions that are tied to traumatic events.8 By fully processing the effects on your mind and body, you can move beyond the hold your past has had on you. 

If you have bodily or sexual trauma, approach Gestalt therapy with caution. Trauma sits differently for everyone, so what may work for others could be triggering for you. Your treatment team can help you decide which modalities are best suited for your goals. 

Gestalt Therapy for Trauma Anxiety

Anxiety often starts from stress about your past or about the unknown future. Gestalt therapy can decrease anxiety9 by helping you focus on the now. It can also increase self-love by showing you that all parts of you are worthy. For many, recovery is a lifelong process, and this therapy can support lasting healing. 

Addiction and Gestalt Therapy

Addiction might begin as self-medication to cope with stress or other mental health concerns. Learning to accept your life in the present through Gestalt therapy could be a powerful tool for setting yourself free. 

Your therapist will look at you as a whole person, instead of just a set of addiction risk factors. Professionals at Monarch Shores explain that the biggest goal in recovery with Gestalt therapy is growth. As you grow to accept your life, you’ll also grow to embrace who you are. And in doing so, you’ll be more motivated to make positive changes. 

The fundamental skills Gestalt therapy teaches are also useful for preventing relapse.10

Healing Your Present–and Your Future

You are a collection of every experience in your life. When you learn to love and accept all of the elements that make up who you are, you become a stronger whole. Radically accepting everything you feel can help you focus on the present moment—and find freedom from the past.

Look for rehabs that offer gestalt therapy and reach out to their admissions staff directly.

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What Is Disordered Eating?

Disordered eating can be inconsistent. One day you might happily eat dinner with friends, and the next you could feel like it’s a struggle to make toast. And that sort of emotional roller coaster can make it hard to label what you’re going through. So how do you know when you need to rethink your relationship with food?

First and foremost, you can learn about the criteria for disordered eating. This behavioral pattern can be harder to recognize than other eating disorders. From there, you can find clarity—about your own feelings, and about whether you need treatment for disordered eating.

Recognizing the Signs

This collection of behaviors is a little different for everyone. And it doesn’t always fit neatly into a diagnosis, like anorexia nervosa or binge-eating disorder. You might experience a wide range of disordered eating habits,1 and they might change over time.

According to experts at The Emily Program Anna Westin House St. Paul, these patterns still put you at risk. Often, the primary goal is weight loss or a change in appearance. But prioritizing those goals over your own health can be extremely harmful.

the emily program st paul
The Emily Program Anna Westin House St. Paul offers in-person and virtual eating disorder treatment with personalized options for adolescents and adults of all genders.

What Does Disordered Eating Look Like?

In today’s culture, there’s a fine line between staying fit and eating unsustainably. And you might not even know if you’ve crossed it. If you’re not sure, you can take an objective look at your own behavior.

Start by answering these questions:

  • Do you follow rigid routines around eating?
  • Do you feel guilty after you eat a satisfying meal?
  • Do you feel like you have to “earn” the right to eat by exercising?
  • Does your concern about food interfere with your daily life?

If you said yes to any of these questions, there’s a chance that you have at least some disordered eating habits. Tell your doctor or therapist what you’re going through, and ask their advice about what to do next. They’ll help you understand the cause of your disordered eating and start to plan for recovery.

What Causes Disordered Eating?

Mass media rules today’s society. Movies, TV, and social media trends dictate beauty standards. And for most people, those standards are unachievable. This can do a lot of damage to your self-image, especially for young people.

Social pressure raises the risk of disordered eating.2 And that pressure can come from anywhere. You might want to earn approval from your parents, peers, work colleagues, or romantic partners. But external validation is rarely enough to make you feel better. By the time you need treatment for disordered eating, you might have more serious mental health concerns.

How Does Disordered Eating Affect Mental Health?

Pre-existing diagnoses, like anxiety and depression can contribute to disordered eating.3 Some people use this behavior as a coping mechanism. By controlling what you eat, you might feel like you can also control your emotions. But in the long term, the reverse is often true.

Addiction and disordered eating4 often appear as co-occurring disorders. And either one can cause the other. For example, you might take a drug that suppresses your appetite. Or, you might eat smaller portions so you can get drunk more easily. These 2 issues can have severe impacts on your physical and mental health. And, if left unchecked, disordered eating habits can turn into full-blown eating disorders.

wellness resource center boca raton
Wellness Resource Center in Boca Raton, Florida offers multiple levels of care, including a partial hospitalization program (PHP) and intensive outpatient program (IOP) with supportive housing for eating disorder patients.

Eating Disorders vs. Disordered Eating

Disordered eating is a descriptive phrase,5 not a diagnosis. This pattern of behavior is less extreme and more common than eating disorders.6 There are a few diagnosable eating disorders, which have very specific criteria:

  • Anorexia nervosa: severe food avoidance or restriction, and possible distorted body image or fear of weight gain
  • Bulimia nervosa: cycles of binging and purging
  • Binge eating disorder: episodes of uncontrollable binging
  • Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): severe food avoidance and restriction, without distorted body image or intense fear of weight gain

Even if none of these describes your behavior, you can still have disordered eating habits. And it’s never too early to start recovery.

Treatment for Disordered Eating Behaviors

Disordered eating patterns can become more extreme7 over time. By treating your symptoms early on, you can stop them from escalating. You don’t even need a diagnosable eating disorder to get support.

Nutrition Education

Nutrition education is vital for recovery. Patients learn how to plan healthy meals that meet their unique needs. And by eating well during rehab, you’ll replenish any vitamins and minerals you may lack. This sets you up for success, both physically and mentally.

In this type of treatment, you don’t just learn what to eat. You also learn why you’re eating it,8 and how it fits into your lifestyle. And that can inspire you to improve other parts of your routine, from your exercise regimen to your work-life balance. These practices can help you stay centered throughout recovery.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a popular treatment for disordered eating.9 This talk therapy focuses on problem solving. First, your therapist helps you identify problematic thought patterns. Then, you’ll explore how those thoughts affect your behavior.

CBT equips you with the practical skills you need to break out of unhealthy patterns. Treatment encourages you to accept your body, just as it is. You’ll also learn new ways to regulate your eating habits.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

New data supports using acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to treat disordered eating.10 This method helps patients regulate all their emotions—even pleasurable ones like happiness. Patients don’t try to “fix” the way they feel about food. Instead, you’ll use mindfulness techniques to accept those feelings. ACT empowers patients to build meaningful lives, honoring the richness of their emotions.

Reconnect With Yourself in Recovery

Your body is always changing. Whether you’re losing weight, growing out your hair, or just getting older, you look a little different every day. That means your relationship with your body is changing, too. Recovery from disordered eating is an opportunity to redefine that relationship, on your own terms.

Explore eating disorder rehabs to learn about their treatment methods, housing options, insurance coverage, and more.

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Breaking the Cycle of Chronic Relapse

When you start addiction recovery, sobriety might be your primary goal. But getting there isn’t easy—and staying sober can be even harder. It’s common for people to relapse after residential rehab. And if that happens more than once, you might need treatment for chronic relapse.

What Is Chronic Relapse?

According to the team at Phoenix Rising Recovery, “the overall relapse rate for substance use disorders is between 40% to 60%.”1 And relapse rates for addiction and other chronic medical illnesses are actually very similar.2 Many experts believe this is a normal part of recovery.

Relapse means different things to different people. For example, a person in treatment for cocaine addiction might continue to drink socially. Or, they might view any substance use—including the use of prescribed medication—as a form of relapse. Whatever your recovery goals are, chronic relapse interrupts your progress over and over again.

This isn’t a moral failing. Addiction and relapse have direct impacts on your brain chemistry. And data suggests that the more you relapse, the more vulnerable you are to relapsing again.3 Once you get into this cycle, you’ll likely need expert help to get out of it.

What Causes Repeated Relapse

If you just relapse once, it might be easy to pinpoint the trigger. Maybe you went out with an old drinking buddy, or you got some bad news. And once you understand what happened, you can start working through it.

Chronic relapse is more complex. If you’re stuck in a loop of using drugs, getting sober, and using drugs again, there are probably bigger issues at hand. And identifying those issues can be the first step toward healing. Everyone’s journey is different, but chronic relapse has a few common causes:

  • Stress: Life is often stressful, and that’s not always a bad thing. You might be stressed about getting a promotion, or planning your wedding. But ongoing distress—or stress about negative things—can lead to chronic relapse.4
  • Lack of social support: Healthy emotional intimacy is a powerful coping skill. For some people, it might even replace the urge to use drugs. Data shows that strong relationships protect you from recurring relapse.5 People with family support, in particular, relapse less often and less severely.
  • Untreated mental health issues: Co-occurring disorders are common among people with addiction. And some of them, like depression, can increase your risk of relapse.6 But with comprehensive treatment, you can manage your symptoms and stay focused on long-term recovery.

These are just a few potential reasons for chronic relapse. But whatever the cause, the solution is clear. If you’re relapsing repeatedly, you probably need to develop new coping skills. That could mean medical treatment, a new type of talk therapy, or another stay in residential rehab. The important thing is to find the approach that works for you.

Plan Your Recovery from Chronic Relapse

Bill, a former Recovery Centers of America patient, “went to a couple different rehabs and realized I was caught up in a cycle that I knew I couldn’t get out of on my own power.” But during his last stay in rehab, something changed. “This time around I was honest, open-minded, and actually let myself heal,” he says. Now sober for many years, Bill finally broke the cycle of chronic relapse.

When you first start rehab, you’re not just healing—you’re also learning how to heal. And you might not learn everything right away. Some people try many different kinds of treatment before they find the right approach.

Trauma-Informed Care

Without proper care, trauma makes chronic relapse more likely.7 And childhood trauma, in particular, is a predictor of this condition. If you have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) complex post-traumatic stress disorder (c-PTSD), or other trauma symptoms, you might benefit from trauma-informed care.

This is a general philosophy, rather than a specific type of therapy. Trauma-informed rehabs recognize the impact your history has on recovery. And this approach does more than treat your symptoms. It also empowers you to heal the root cause of your addiction.

Long-Term Residential Rehab

If you haven’t reached your goals by using short-term interventions, long-term residential treatment might be your key to success. While you’re there, you’ll learn to identify the early warning signs of relapse. And then you’ll have more time to solidify your new coping skills.

Chronic relapse treatment almost always includes relapse prevention.8 That usually involves cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness techniques. These methods address both relapse itself and any underlying mental health issues. Most programs also help you set up continuing care, which will help you transition out of residential rehab.

Sober Living

Sober living environments offer a supportive, structured place for you to call home. You can stay in some sober houses for months or years. You’ll likely have house chores, attend support groups or 12-Step meetings, and get a job or go to school. You may also be required to take regular drug tests.

These communities are a great option for people who need to rebuild their support networks during recovery.9 You’ll have more freedom to set your own schedule, while still following some structure. And most importantly, you can develop a new sense of belonging among your peers.

One Step at a Time

Chronic doesn’t mean permanent. Returning to rehab is an opportunity to fine-tune your recovery goals. And with those goals in mind, you can perfect the coping skills you need to reach them.

Search rehabs that treat chronic relapse to learn about pricing, read reviews, and more.

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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