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The holidays can be difficult for those battling eating disorders

By: Kim Kyle Morgan, Woodlands Online
| Published 12/21/2016

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THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- For most people, the holidays are known as a time of indulgence -- gifts, goodwill, family and food.

But for people battling an eating disorder, the food part of festivities can be extremely difficult.

"Not only is there the stress of holiday expectations and pressures with resulting emotional impact, but there is also stress related to the focus on food, which can be overwhelming for some," said Dr. Deborah Michel, clinical director at Eating Recovery Center (ERC), The Woodlands. "To take the focus off of food surrounding the holiday, I often ask individuals with whom I work to focus on what they appreciate in their lives. What they are grateful to have, to experience, and to be. I then ask them to plan their holidays to reflect those things with a spirit of gratitude, self-care, and connection to others."

Earlier this year, ERC celebrated the grand opening of its new 7,000 ft facility next to St. Luke’s Hospital in The Woodlands.

The center offers a partial hospitalization program and an intensive outpatient program, including psychotherapy, nutritional counseling, family therapy and medical monitoring.

One woman's experience

Tandi developed an eating disorder in college.

"I knew I had an eating disorder," Tandi said. "I tested the waters by throwing out a fishing pole, but then I would yank it away. I found ways to justify what I was doing."

Tandi went through bouts of anorexia, bulimia and orthorexia. While anorexia is defined as an obsessive desire to lose weight, orthorexia is an unhealthy obsession with eating only healthy food. Bulimia is defined as bouts of extreme overeating followed by purging.

Tandi went to ERC in The Woodlands in September 2015, just weeks after she got married.

"I told my husband 'if you ever want me to eat again, I need help.' And that's what I finally did," Tandi said.

Now 38-years-old, Tandi has a full year of recovery behind her.

"I can now think again like a human being," she said. "I'm learning to be my true self. Recovery can be uncomfortable, but I'm sticking with it. I have a life to live. And I still have a honeymoon to go on."

For more information about ERC, click here.

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