Favorites

I thought I might share some of my favorite websites, authors, and resources that I have discovered along my journey…

Brené Brown, PhD

She is a researcher in social work who specializes in shame. My first introduction to Brené Brown was her TEDx talk, “The Power of Vulnerability” (https://youtu.be/iCvmsMzlF7o). Her book, The Gifts of Imperfection, literally changed my life, the way I think about myself, and my entire world perspective. She has two additional published books and is releasing another. I can’t wait to buy my copy!

The Self-Compassion Test

This test is the work of Kristin Neff, PhD. Her website is full of resources and information about her research on self-compassion.  http://self-compassion.org

Learning how to practice self-compassion is pretty critical to eating disorder recovery. It was elemental to my own recovery, and there is plenty of research demonstrating that the ability to love oneself, forgive oneself, and be compassionate toward oneself is a big part of sustained recovery. (Not that anyone is every perfectly self-compassionate! Part of being self-compassionate is being compassionate with yourself when you’re not self-compassionate! Try wrapping your head around that one!) I am constantly in need of reminders why it is important to be patient and gentle with myself. Here are some good ones…

• Kelly AC, Carter JC, Borairi S. Are improvements in shame and self-compassion early in eating disorders treatment associated with better patient outcomes? Int J Eat Disord 2014; 47:54-64. Available for download at http://self-compassion.org/wp-content/uploads/publications/ShameEatingDisorders.pdf. (Accessed 11 Nov 2015)
• Robb S and Drouillard L. “Self Compassion,” National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) Blog, 15 Dec 2013.
• Diamond S. “Self-Compassion:  A Tool for Shame Resilience and Body Image Work,” Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA) Online, 29 Oct 2015.
• Biasetti AS. “What’s Self-Compassion Got to Do With Eating Disorder Recovery?” Recovery Warriors, 20 Jul 2015.

Recovery Warriors

I don’t use the website, app, or other resources, but I do follow the Facebook page for daily inspiration and motivation.

C.S. Lewis

The man was a genius. When I was first trying to make sense of, “Why is all this shit happening to me,” I was angry at God, the world, the universe, myself, and everyone and everything in between. I started reading The Problem of Pain, and I just kept reading. All of his books are sitting on my bookshelf, but so far I am only through The Screwtape Letters, and The Great Divorce. I am so grateful that C.S. Lewis decided to be an author and write down his thoughts for the rest of the world to read. His writings focus more on Christian theology and philosophy than psychology or eating disorder recovery, but this is a key component to my personal understanding of myself and my struggles.

Yumi Sakugawa, Your Illustrated Guide to Becoming One With the Universe, Adams Media, 2014.  This book can be read in an hour or two and is a phenomenal overview of mindfulness, acceptance, distress tolerance, getting in touch with your emotions, loving your imperfections, etc.!

Harriett Lerner, Dance of Connection:  How to Talk to Someone When You’re Mad, Hurt, Scared, Frustrated, Insulted, Betrayed, or Desperate, HarperCollins Publishers, 2002.  (Book)  I’m working on this one right now, and it is pretty much exactly as titled.

Here are some more books/workbooks that helped me along my journey…

David Burns, The Feeling Good Handbook, Penguin Publishing Group, 1999.  This was the first book recommended to me and consists of about 600-or-so pages of self-directed cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. It laid the foundation for all the good things that followed.

Karen Koenig, The Food and Feelings Workbook, Gurze Books, 2006.  What are feelings?  I thought I knew… I had no clue.

Some websites that offer additional information about eating disorders, including educational materials, assistance with accessing treatment, links to even more resources, and telephone hotlines…

• National Eating Disorders Association (United States)
• Binge Eating Disorder Association (United States)
• National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (United States)
• National Eating Disorder Information Centre (Canada)
• National Eating Disorders Collaboration (Australia)
• The Butterfly Foundation (Australia)
• Beat – Beating Eating Disorders (UK)
• Anorexia & Bulimia Care (UK)
• MGEDT – Men Get Eating Disorders Too (UK)