Unpack Your Eating Disorder

Book excerpt: An invaluable resource for adolescents suffering from anorexia nervosa There are few things more difficult for an adolescent than battling Anorexia Nervosa (AN). While family, caregivers, and friends can support them to eat and recover, psychological recovery is a solitary journey clouded by fear and uncertainty where they are overwhelmed by feelings of guilt, shame, and disgust about who they are and how they look. This book has been written specifically for the adolescents who are on this terrible journey. The authors promote the view that adolescents deserve to be fully involved in their treatment, to be heard, and to be given a voice to tell their story. It is through being understood by others that they can then understand themselves and make progress on their journey to recovery. This book emphasizes the crucial need for adolescents to develop a deep sense of who they are and an awareness of the many valuable resources which they can draw upon despite their internal conviction that they have none. Every aspect of AN is addressed with a focus on helping adolescents understand that they do not need the illness to function. It helps them explore ways to stand up to AN instead of being captive to the illness and provides multiple methods for overcoming significant obstacles that AN puts in their way. Most importantly, it outlines a framework of psychological support for adolescents during the recovery process. The information in the book is based on the latest evidence and the authors' combined clinical expertise over many years of working with adolescents and listening to their needs. This book is also a valuable resource for parents to help them understand and support their child as well as an indispensable guide for clinicians working in the field as it provides several effective treatment strategies focusing on adolescents. About the Authors Maria Ganci is a Registered Clinical Mental Health Social Worker and Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytical Psychotherapist. Maria has over 30 years' experience working with families, children, and adolescents in Mental Health Services. She has devoted the past 15 years to treating children and adolescents with Eating Disorders. Maria is the Co-Director of APT Therapeutic Solutions Pty. Ltd. and runs a successful private practice providing training, supervision, and consultation both nationally and internationally in the treatment of eating disorders. Maria is the author of Survive FBT: Skills Manual for Parents Undertaking Family Based Treatment (FBT) for Child and Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa. Dr. Linsey Atkins is a Registered Clinical Psychologist with 15 years experience providing child, adolescent, parent, and family therapy for eating disorders. Praise for Unpack Your Eating Disorder "Unpack Your Eating Disorder is a brilliant resource for parents, caregivers, clinicians, and most importantly, the adolescents themselves who are experiencing the anorexia. It is the missing link in anorexia treatment today. It gives the adolescent a voice, understanding, and validation while providing critical and practical information about what is going on in the brain and why reactions and perceptions are not always as they seem. Reading this book in conjunction with the journal will no doubt help guide many struggling teenagers to have a better understanding of what is going on and help teach them to develop a healthier view of self as they work toward their recovery-Highly recommended." Christine Naismith, Parent. Eating Disorders Families Australia, EDFA (edfa.org.au)