119: How to Identify an Eating Disorder, interview with psychotherapist Lauren Harding (Body Positivity Series)

This is the 19th episode in our incredible Body Positivity Series. This life changing series will help you see, think and feel differently about your body. Listen to all the episodes and share them with the people you love!  And start being proactive about how you think and feel about your body today! The magic happens on the mat.

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Today's insightful interview is with Lauren Harding, LSW.  Lauren is a psychotherapist and certified eating disorder coach. She received her masters in social work at IUPUI and has experience working with a variety of clients including those who have experienced trauma, anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. She also has experience working at an eating disorder residential eating disorder treatment center and over time has developed a passion for helping individuals who struggle with eating disorders/disordered eating, chronic dieting, activity addiction, and negative body image. She completed an independent eating disorder recovery coaching training and certification through the Carolyn Costin Institute and is specially trained to support a client and the client’s treatment team in making day-to-day behavior changes necessary for recovery. Lauren is passionate about helping others to heal their relationship with food, their body, but most importantly with themselves. You are going to love her!

Today you will hear about...
1. Common misconceptions about eating disorders like...

• That people with eating disorders look emaciated.
• That people with eating disorders always make themselves throw up.
• That its an eating disorder only when people have really OVERT behaviors.

2. How do you recognize if there is an eating disorder present?
-It’s tricky because our culture has normalized so many behaviors that COULD BE a red flag, so look for CONSTANT...

• preoccupation with external self
• always trying to change self
• dieting
• exercising 
• trying to better themselves & become perfect defined by external & unreal expectations

-Do you or your teen struggle with anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorders? They are more at risk to develop an eating disorder.

3. So what do we do?!

• First look at yourself. There might be something going on with your OWN relationship with food that you need to work on.
• Let go of the shame of inevitable failures. 
• Important to ask questions to understand where your kid is at BEFORE it becomes a disorder. Have “help me understand” conversations. 
• Get help from a therapist, psychotherapist, counselor etc
• Educate yourself. Knowledge is power. 

NEDA https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
Youtube Search: "Parents and eating disorders"
"Your Dieting Daughter" by Carolyn Costin
https://www.amazon.com/Your-Dieting-Daughter-Dissatisfaction-Disordered/dp/0415890845