Eating Disorders: How Much Snooze Can You Afford to Lose?

Ralph E. Carson, PhD, RD

The journey of recovery from an eating disorder is long and complicated. There are numerous treatment models that address this devastating health problem, but it has only recently come to light the importance of sleep in expediting the recovery process and its role in relapse prevention. With over 60% of the population reporting episodes of insomnia, those struggling with addictions report a much higher incidence. Sleep is the time the brain heals. Therefore, not only is it important that one gets enough sleep, but the quality of that sleep is a key to long-term recovery.

The Pine Grove Women's Center is a residential treatment program for women coping with eating disorders, women coping with chemical dependency, and women coping with both. This unique setting allows the ability of the treatment team to triage treatment components based on the patient's individual and unfolding needs.

Work is done on the behavioral, cognitive, and affective level. Patients are supported in dealing with behavior, thoughts, and feelings. The program also integrates several theoretical perspectives including medical, psychiatric, socio-cultural, feminist, and 12-step.

Ralph Carson, R.D. B.S., B.H.S., Ph.D., is a nationally recognized clinical nutritionist and exercise physiologist. Dr. Carson is a frequently requested speaker on a variety of nutritional topics for medical groups, pharmaceutical companies, universities, athletic training camps and corporations. He has a successful clinical practice as well as being a faculty member of the University of Alabama at Huntsville for over 20 years. Dr. Carson is also a nutritional advisor to numerous university athletic departments including the University of Tennessee National Basketball Champion Lady Volunteers. Dr. Carson received his B.S. from Duke University, his B.H.S. in pathology (Cum Laude) from Duke University Medical School, and his Ph.D. in nutrition (Phi Kappa Phi) from Auburn University. Dr. Carson currently manages Oprah Winfrey’s web page on eating disorders and is the consultant for Pine Grove’s eating disorder program, The Women’s Center.

Visit http://www.pinegrovetreatment.com/ or call 1-888-574-HOPE (4673) for more information.