Erika Bent Erika Bent

Ways to Support Your Loved One During the Holidays

Navigating the holidays with a loved one recovering from an eating disorder can be challenging, but with thoughtful planning and support, this season can also be a time for meaningful connection. Here are ways to support your loved one as they work through recovery and experience the holidays with you.

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Erika Bent Erika Bent

Exercise in Eating Disorder Recovery

The reintroduction of exercise in recovery requires careful, structured planning, emphasizing a focus on both physical safety and mental well-being. In this post, we’ll discuss the risks associated with exercise during recovery, when it’s appropriate to begin reintroducing movement, and how a step-by-step process can best support sustainable recovery.

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Erika Bent Erika Bent

10 Practical Strategies to Support Your Journey Out of Depression

Depression can feel like a heavy cloud that never lifts, leaving you isolated and overwhelmed. But here's the good news: recovery is possible, and small steps can lead to big changes. Whether you're struggling to get out of bed, find joy in the things you used to love, or simply make it through the day, you're not alone—and there are real, practical strategies that can help. In this post, we'll explore 10 powerful ways to support yourself on the path to healing, reminding you that even in the darkest moments, hope is always within reach.

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Erika Bent Erika Bent

Suicide Prevention & Awareness

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time to recognize the importance of mental health care and the power of connection. Suicide can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background, and it’s often the result of untreated or poorly managed mental health struggles. This month, we emphasize the significance of reaching out—to friends, family, or professionals—if you or someone you know is struggling.

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Erika Bent Erika Bent

Empowering Teens: How to Build Lasting Self-Esteem

Self-esteem plays a crucial role in adolescent development, influencing emotional well-being, academic success, social interactions, and long-term mental health. This post explores practical ways teens can build self-esteem and offers guidance for parents to support their journey.

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Erika Bent Erika Bent

Am I What I Eat? Social Comparison and Eating Disorders

We as humans feel the need to assess our own characteristics and abilities, which we do by comparing ourselves to others. When we perceive an unfavorable difference between ourselves and others, we become motivated to adjust ourselves to minimize this difference. Social comparison can have an impact on our self-esteem, identities, and mental health.

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Erika Bent Erika Bent

Mastering Coping Skills for Mental Well-Being

In today's fast-paced world, prioritizing mental wellness has never been more crucial. Often, we focus on our mental health only when we're already feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or down. However, mental wellness isn't just about crisis management—it's about cultivating a daily practice that lifts our spirits, strengthens our resilience, and enriches our overall quality of life.

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Erika Bent Erika Bent

Raising Kids with Healthy Body Image

Body image dissatisfaction hasn’t always been a hallmark of the American population. Sure, our work is cut out for us to create a paradigm shift towards healthy body image, but it’s not an impossible feat. Understanding the impact of negative body image, the contributing factors, and effective strategies for prevention and treatment can help parents raise confident and resilient children.

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Erika Bent Erika Bent

ARFID and Interoception: A Balancing Act

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder characterized by a persistent failure to meet appropriate nutritional and energy needs, leading to significant health and psychosocial impairments. One key aspect often overlooked in ARFID is the role of interoception. Interoception refers to the sense that allows individuals to perceive and understand the internal state of their own bodies.

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Erika Bent Erika Bent

How to know if you have an anxiety disorder, and what to do about it

While every person will experience anxiety throughout their lives, approximately 40 million adults in the U.S., which is about 18.1% of the population aged 18 and older, are affected by an anxiety disorder each year. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders in the United States, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). Despite being highly treatable, only about 36.9% of those suffering receive treatment. Understanding the difference between everyday anxiety and an anxiety disorder can help you learn how to best support your mental health.

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Erika Bent Erika Bent

Understanding Orthorexia: When the Pursuit of Health Turns Dangerous

In today’s wellness-driven culture, the quest for a healthier lifestyle is ubiquitous. Social media is saturated with influencers promoting clean eating, and dietary fads emphasizing organic, unprocessed foods are more popular than ever. While adopting healthy eating habits is generally beneficial, there exists a potential pitfall: orthorexia. This lesser-known eating disorder centers around an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating, where the pursuit of dietary purity can lead to significant physical and psychological harm.

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Erika Bent Erika Bent

The Mental Health Impact of Eating Disorders on Teens

This blog post addresses an important and sobering topic that affects many families: the mental health impact of eating disorders on teenagers. When a young person is struggling with an eating disorder the effects extend far beyond physical health. These disorders can profoundly impact a teen's mental and emotional well-being, often leading to significant anxiety, depression, and other psychological challenges.

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