Welcome to The Renfrew Center Foundation Webinar. We will begin shortly

Transcription

1 Welcome to The Renfrew Center Foundation Webinar We will begin shortly 1

2 The Renfrew Center Foundation Founded in 1990, The Renfrew Center Foundation is the nonprofit arm of The Renfrew Center More than 30,000 professionals have received training under the auspices of the Foundation The Foundation s mission is to advance the education, prevention, research, advocacy, and treatment of ED The Renfrew Center, celebrating its 30 th Anniversary, has treated more the 65,000 women with anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders Facilities are located in California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas 2

3 Invisible Women: Eating Disorders and Midlife Kiersten Rapstine, LPC-S, CEDS-S Clinical Supervisor - The Renfrew Center of Texas And in private practice 3

4 Eating Disorders in Midlife It is often assumed eating disorders are a young woman/girl s thing. FALSE! Eating disorders often help women manage hard times. Types: Anorexia, Bulimia and Binge Eating Disorder Onsets: Chronic (it s been with her for a long time), Relapse, or Later Life Emergence 4

5 The midlife eating disorder is seeking treatment in greater numbers than ever before. Why? We are getting better at diagnosing Delayed treatment to focus on families, children, career Avoided treatment until it became acute Demographics baby boomers aging More awareness of eating disorders & treatment Less stigmatized HAES (Health at Every Size) Even Weight Watchers is getting on board! 5

6 Women in Midlife The world tends to think these things about women and it s not nice. Lack of identity beyond role as mother, grandmother, wife Most happy doing for others Caretaking duties by default Loss of sexuality Over-reactive/emotional/irrational/depressed Dependent (happy to have others make decisions) Men are assertive and women are bossy. 6

7 When midlife women ask themselves when will it be time for me to do something for myself? they can be accused of being disloyal, maladjusted, aggressive, or worse selfish. 7

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9 Major Midlife Transitions/Triggers Marital strain Divorce/Remarriage Infertility Chronic illness and disability Growing old/facing mortality Aging parents/death of parents Death of partner, siblings and friends Financial stressors Retirement Housing Changes Empty Nest/Cluttered Nest Menopause and other physical changes 9

10 Major Midlife Physical Changes Is this a good time to talk about body image? Body image is NOT what your body looks like. It is your opinion of your body impacted by your self esteem It is how it feel to be in your skin It is your belief of how you look Women gain 5-10 lbs per decade of life with body fat increasing with each developmental milestone Unrealistic expectations and media 10

11 I don t understand eating disorders. Just eat! Why are eating disorders so HARD to get rid of? 11

12 Eating Disorders in Midlife Whether you are 17 or 75 Self-worth tied to excessive concern with attractiveness, thinness, and perfectionism Body and food used to solve problems in living, to gain control, to manage stressful life transitions 12

13 Eating Disorders in Midlife Real Barriers to Getting Help Pessimism due to past treatment failures Medical problems more likely to be life-threatening Fear and devaluation of older women Unconscious envy/competition with younger generation Stigmatized by a disease thought only to affect the young Believe treatment will not apply to them/they will not fit into treatment environments. I ll be the oldest one there! 13

14 Eating Disorders in Midlife Real Barriers to Getting Help The high functioning eating disordered person can have a hard time seeing the problem as. Well, a problem. The eating disorder as identity---not what I do, but who I am May get negative feedback from supports as they ask for help and communicate assertively Difficulty accepting body as it moves further away from cultural ideal Responsible for the lives of others May see as last chance for recovery --> increased motivation which is good but increased pressure which can be good and bad. 14

15 Life without an eating disorder could look like. What I hope our clients get: Develop optimism Identify realistic role models Get accurate information about sex and aging Pursue activities that help them value their bodies and respond to their physical needs Grieve what has been lost to allow for forward movement. Plan for leisure activities Tolerate emotions without using body & food 15

16 According to our clients: Be careful of talking down to women in midlife or treating them like children Be careful of women who are more practiced at hiding their eating disorder behaviors from loved ones, caregivers and themselves Be cognizant of the fear of permanent impact long-term eating disorders can have Explain the reasoning behind allowing processed & sugary foods Education & support for spouses and families 16

17 It is never too late to be who you might have been. Maryann Evans (George Elliot) 17

18 Questions? 18

19 Invisible Women: Eating Disorders and Midlife Kiersten Rapstine, LPC-S, CEDS-S Clinical Supervisor at The Renfrew Center of Texas 19