Why She Feels Fat by Johanna Marie McShane

Time for another sort of pet-peeve. There's a movement afoot in psychology that encompasses a few type of therapy and calls itself, collectively, "evidence-based" treatment. I think it's terrific and important to try to study things, including various modalities of therapy. And, I think the types of therapy that are termed evidence-based have a great deal of merit. What worries me is that, in our society, using terms like "evidence-based" or "scientifically based" implies that things that don't exactly fit into these categories (or don't choose to call themselves a name like these) are not real. And it implies that the things that aren't termed ''correctly" are less valuable than those that are termed correctly.

Oh, I don't know, Palmtreechick, I've never thought of anyone who has an eating disorder as a pain in any body part. It's such hard work recovering from these illnesses, and it can feel so isolating.

Just wanted to wish everyone a safe Thanksgiving. And I truly hope for each of us that we can find something we are thankful for, whether it is big, small, in between, conventional, unconventional... whatever is real for us- but you knew I'd add that last part, right?  :) 

And for those of us who endure tremendous suffering, I wish you peace and the knowledge that none of us should suffer alone. I wish you the ability and opportunity to reach out, and to find some way to connect- with yourselves, with others, with nature, with anything and anyone you can find. 

As a clinician and the writer of this blog, let me just say that one of the things I'm tremendously thankful for is that you all let me be a part of your lives, that you have the courage to ask questions and to let me try to answer them. It is truly an honor to be in connection with you all. Happy Thanksgiving, Johanna

MysteriousDream, what I typically say about eating disorders is that they don't happen in a vacuum. And they're not really only about one person in a family (although they appear to be a condition that affects one individual).

For many people, one of the challenges of the holidays is spending more time with family- family of origin, family we've married into, family we've created... all kinds of family. 

No matter how much we care about our families, it can be a challenge to retain what we've learned and gained in our recovery when we are in direct contact with them.

Oh yeah, I thought of one other thing I wanted to say about humor.

I'm glad, Palmtreechick, that humor is a part of your life, including part of your therapy. 

I thought I might add one other thought about humor, especially, since we are talking about it in relation to therapy and recovery.

I learned early on how helpful humor is in the treatment and recovery process.

Earlier in the week I was trying to explain to a father the way his daughter experiences her sense of self. I wasn't doing a great job of it and he wasn't getting it. Then I came up with this image and it clicked for him.

MysteriousDream, you ask a very good question. Since change is a constant process, it seems we shouldn't be so frightened of it. The answer to why we can be is similar to the answer about why it can be so hard to take risks and why it can be so difficult to tell our truths.