The Anorexia Workbook: How to Accept Yourself, Heal Your Suffering, and Reclaim Your Life (A New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook) - Softcover

Michelle Heffner; Georg H. Eifert

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1572243627 ISBN 13: 9781572243620

Publisher: New Harbinger Publications, 2004

Synopsis

Statistics suggests that as many as 2.5 percent of American women suffer from anorexia; of these, further research indicates that one in ten of these will die from the disorder. This is the only book available that addresses the particular needs of anorexics with the techniques of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), a revolutionary new psychotherapy. The authors of this book are pioneering researchers in the field of ACT, with numerous research articles to their credit

Despite ever-widening media attention and public awareness of the problem, American women continue to suffer from anorexia nervosa in greater numbers than ever before. This severe psychophysiological condition-characterized by an abnormal fear of becoming obese, a persistent unwillingness to eat, and severe compulsion to lose weight-is particularly difficult to treat, often because the victims are unwilling to seek help. The Anorexia Workbook demonstrates that efforts to control and stop anorexia may do more harm than good. Instead of focusing efforts on judging impulses associated with the disorder as 'bad' or 'negative,' this approach encourages sufferers to mindfully observe these feelings without reacting to them in a self-destructive way. Guided by this more compassionate, more receptive frame of mind, the book coaches you to employ various acceptance-based coping strategies.

Structured in a logical, step-by-step progression of exercises, the workbook first focuses on providing you with a new understanding of anorexia and the ways you might have already tried to control the problem. Then the book progresses through techniques that teach how to use mindfulness to deal with out-of-control thoughts and feelings, how to identify choices that lead to better heath and quality of life, and how to redirect the energy formerly spent on weight loss into actions that will heal the body and mind. Although this book is written specifically as self-help for anorexia sufferers, it includes a clear and informative chapter on when you need to seek professional treatment as well as advice on what to look for in a therapist.

About this title

Review:

"You will learn to accept and live with the uncontrollable thoughts and feelings that haunt you about your weight, and you will learn to take charge and move your life in directions that you value," promise the authors, both specialists in treating people with anorexia. They use the ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) philosophy: Accept the thoughts and feelings, and commit to actions that take charge of your life in a positive way. Step by step, you learn to understand that what you've been doing isn't working, deal with emotions and thoughts more effectively, identify your life values, start living a life that reflects those values, and cope with barriers. The overriding point is that you can act before you "get things right in your head." The style is warm, simple, and accepting--no stern lectures or commands to eat. The workbook has large pages and is well laid-out and easy to follow. Each chapter presents bulleted preview points at the beginning, clear content, and plenty of self-tests, exercises, and worksheets to get you immediately involved in each part of the process. Highly recommended for people challenged by anorexia and those who love them or work with them. --Joan Price

From the Publisher:

Leading researchers in acceptance and commitment therapy suggest to readers struggling with anorexia that strategies to control their disorder are themselves problems. Instead, they use the techniques of ACT to teach how better to cope with out-of-control emotions and thoughts. The goal of this book is to teach anorexia sufferers how to redirect the drive for thinness to achieve more healthful goals.

· Statistics suggests that as many as 2.4 percent of American women suffer from anorexia; of these, further research indicates that one in ten will die from the disorder
· This is the only book available that addresses the particular needs of anorexics with ACT-based techniques
· The authors of this book are pioneering researchers in the field of ACT, with numerous research articles to their credit.

About this edition

• Publisher: New Harbinger Publications
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1572243627
• ISBN 13: 9781572243620
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208