Looking Glass: Helping Young People in Canada Suffering with Eating Disorders

Those in Canada are most likely familiar with this commercial. It's horrifying, heart-wrenching and saddening. What can be done to help these poor young people? To find answers, I conducted an interview with Cindy Dobbe from Looking Glass BC. This phenomenal organization reaches out to young women and men suffering with eating disorders. Unsatisfied with the lack of support and treatment for sufferers, a group of caring individuals got together to create a safe place young people to get healthy and take their lives back. Their ultimate goal is to create Canada's first full treatment facility for adolescents and their families. I hope you find my chat with Cindy as insightful and inspirational as I did.

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CHYNNA: Thank you so much for your willingness to chat with me today, Cindy. I love how you've used the imagery of the mirror as the theme to your organization. That leaves one with a powerful message. What is the mission for Looking Glass?

CINDY: Our mission is to create a residential centre for the professional treatment of youth with eating disorders. As we are working towards that goal we also offer support groups, parental support, "Ask An Expert", advocacy, summer camp and a scholarship program.

CHYNNA: I'm sure I'm not alone in my view that this sort of support for these young people is a long time coming! Now, for those readers who are not familiar with eating disorders, what are the various categories?

CINDY: Anorexia Nervosa: people with this condition severely restrict their eating in a determined effort to attain and maintain a weight lower than what is normal for their sex and height. They will be preoccupied with thoughts about food and the need to lose weight. They may also exercise excessively.

Binge Eating Disorder is a type of eating disorder not otherwise specified and is characterized by recurrent binge eating. Over time, this can result in significant weight gain. People find themselves locked into a cycle of dieting, bingeing, self- recrimination and self- loathing

Bulimia Nervosais a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by a cycle of bingeing followed by behaviors such as self-induced vomiting designed to undo or compensate for the effects of binge eating

The most common symptom is denial of the illness.

CHYNNA: Thank you for the clarification on the different sorts of eating disorders. Eating problems are not, as many of us believe, exclusive to girls, are they?

CINDY: Eating disorders cover all ages, cultures and sex. The number of young men suffering has risen dramatically and Judy Teffer of ANAD now estimates that of the 8 million Americans with eating disorders, 1 million are now men. The stigma for young males is even greater than young women and it hinders their ability to seek the necessary help.

CHYNNA: Those statistics are absolutely astonishing! And so sad that it's society's opinions that prevent these people from getting the help they so desperately need. What do parents, friends, caregivers, etc. need to watch out for if they suspect someone they love is suffering with an eating disorder? What are some of the specific signs/symptoms in each category?

CINDY: As a parent I noticed an intense preoccupation with food, a change in diet and a need to exercise or visit the washroom after meals. The hardest part was watching the depression take over and the withdrawal from the people and activities that had been part of her life. Here are the signs to watch for within each category:

Anorexia: Refusal to sustain a minimally normal body weight. Intense fear of gaining weight, despite being underweight. Distorted view of one's body or weight, or denial of the dangers of one's low weight.

Bulimia: People with bulimia can fall within the normal range for their age and weight. They often fear gaining weight, want desperately to lose weight, and are intensely unhappy with their body size and shape. Usually, bulimic behavior is done secretly, because it is often accompanied by feelings of disgust or shame. The binging and purging cycle usually repeats several times a week.

Binge Eating Disorder is characterized be recurrent binge-eating episodes during which a person feels a loss of control over his or her eating. These episodes are not followed by purging, excessive exercise or fasting. As a result people with BED often are over weight.

CHYNNA: I would imagine there would be a feeling of great helplessness watching someone you love suffering with an eating disorder. What are some of the current forms of treatments out there? Should family members and friends also receive treatment?

CINDY: The Maudsley Approach is a family based treatment program that is showing a great deal of success. (www.maudsleyparents.org/)

Another form of therapy that's proved quite successful has been Cognitive Behavioral Therapy through a trained therapist. (Chynna's notes: This sort of therapy focuses on the idea that the way we think affects the way we behave - body and mind working together. The idea behind it is a caring therapist works with the person to help him or her change maladaptive thought patterns. A lot of times this is done by getting the person to re-focus on more positive things and to slowly change distorted views of eating and body image. But it isn't an easy road, especially for those with anorexia nervosa.)

Family therapy is a good choice to enhance an understanding of the sufferers needs and to work together to overcome the illness.

Finally, Individual Therapy is highly suggested as no one can ever be prepared for caring for an individual who is afflicted. We all need support and understanding.

CHYNNA: Thank you so much for outlining those therapy options. I'm a firm believer in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Okay, when should more aggressive forms of treatment, such as medicinal or hospitalization, be sought?

CINDY: Work with a team that consists of a doctor, a psychologist and nutritionist making sure to meet as often as necessary. That might be meeting with one every week or all once a month. Make sure there is constant monitoring of physical and emotional well being as it is important to intervene quickly. If medication is recommended then it is being done on the advice of a physician and should be monitored.

I learned a great deal about the medication and though horrified at some of the side effects listed, my child benefitted from it.

CHYNNA: Fantastic advice. What forms of support does Looking Glass offer? What resources do you provide, suggest or offer?

CINDY: Our programs include, support groups, parental resources and support, ask an expert, advocacy, summer camp and a scholarship program. We are well established and committed to lessening the burden sufferers and their families are exposed to when afflicted by these life-threatening disorders.

Remember it is an illness and must be treated as such.

CHYNNA: Those are all wonderful resources, Cindy. And I thought it was awesome to see that you even offer a scholarship program to these young people! What can family or friends do to help these young people?

CINDY: I would encourage everyone to learn all they can and be supportive even when it gets difficult. Sometimes all we can do is love and support them, while the experts take on the eating disorder. It is also important for those affected to remember that they are not alone in their struggle and many have suffered and are now living healthy fulfilling lives.

More importantly don't ever blame yourself, just as your loved one didn't choose this you didn't either!

CHYNNA: Very profound advice from a mother who has been there. Thank you. How can we help Looking Glass with their mission?

CINDY: We can all speak up for change and challenge the myth that an eating disorder is a choice! Educate yourself and never be afraid to use your voice, sometimes we are the only ones who can speak for those who suffer.

Let people know we are out there advocating for timely and effective care.

CHYNNA: Well, you can definitely count on me to help with that! And I'm sure once the word spreads, there will be many behind you in your mission. What is Thrive and how do they help you?

CINDY: Thriveis a fee based centre that offers a multidisciplinary approach to eating disorders. There comes a time when families can no longer wait for a community or hospital based program and Thrive fills this void. They have extensive training in eating disorders and when a private counselor is needed we would refer them to the centre.

CHYNNA: How phenomenal that there are all these wonderful resources working together to help these people. Back when I suffered, there were no such treatment facilities and young people were treated as psychiatric patients. No wonder they tried hiding their disorders. What's happening here today is incredible. Any pearls of wisdom for those of us out there who don't understand or don't know what to do?

CINDY: Don't ever take this on alone, reach out to someone you feel you can trust and take the time to tell your story. You need to it is too great a burden to keep inside. Take care of yourself as sometime the path is long and we get lost, but we all must hang on to that little glimmer of hope. Please remember even in the dark days that recovery is possible and probable.

CHYNNA: Advice we all need to take to heart, Cindy. Thank you, and everyone else at Looking Glass, for all that you do. You are truly angels on earth.

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Please visit both Looking Glass BC as well as Thrive! and see what you can do. As a person who suffered with anorexia and bulimia herself I can tell you there are many different reasons a person can develop an eating disorder. What matters the most is that those people are carried back to happiness and good health. Watch for the signs, take their hands when they reach out and, for God's sake, help them. You may save a life!