If you have recently been diagnosed with a mental illness, you are probably quite confused at first. But the good news is that there are ways to understand the condition and help your loved one recover. There are some simple steps you can take to get the best possible treatment.
Anorexia
Glennon Doyle was anorexic and suffered from bulimia before she was pregnant. She is a former speaker, writer and activist. She is the author of Untamed and Carry on, Warrior.
Doyle has been open about her struggles with eating disorders. Her book sold over two million copies worldwide. It was also chosen as the number one bestseller by Reese’s Book Club.
After relapsing from bulimia, she sought clinical care. But when her doctor told her that she was anorexic, she was not ready to accept the diagnosis.
Doyle was very upset by the news. In fact, she wanted to get back to normal. At the time, she was reading a lot about anorexia, but she still didn’t believe she was anorexic. Thankfully, her doctor was confident in her diagnosis.
When Glennon Doyle learned she was anorexic, she had trouble adjusting. It felt like a different religion. During the process, she had to learn to heal alone.
Doyle had an intense fear of gaining weight, so she was careful about what she ate. This led to her using willpower, discipline and control to beat bulimia.
Anorexia and bulimia are very different disorders. The difference between the two is that anorexic people are afraid of gaining weight. They also drastically reduce their calorie and carb intake. These habits may include purging, vomiting, or doing extreme exercise routines.
Existential OCD
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disease. It affects some adults and can last for decades without treatment. OCD is characterized by obsessions, compulsive behaviors and an inability to let go. Fortunately, treatment is available and the patient’s quality of life will likely improve. Nevertheless, patients are often afraid to seek help for fear of stigma.
Having a disorder like OCD can cause people to suffer from depression and suicidal thoughts. However, there are a few tricks of the trade to help alleviate these symptoms. For instance, there are antidepressants and pharmacotherapy that can help. Surgical options are also available, though most are experimental. Using deep brain stimulation can also alleviate OCD symptoms.
Other treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy. The latter may be the most effective of the two. In a nutshell, a therapist helps the patient identify and overcome the root causes of their symptoms. Among other things, the therapist helps the patient develop coping skills to cope with the stresses of living with OCD. Another helpful gimmick is the development of a support group of peers to whom the patient can turn for a listening ear. Often, the patient’s social network is the most important aspect of treatment.
The best way to treat or prevent OCD is to understand the disorder and learn to manage its manifestations. There are a wide range of options, including specialized therapies, medications, and cognitive behavioral techniques.
Addiction
Glennon Doyle has battled mental health issues since she was a child. She is a non-profit executive, a public speaker and the author of several books, including the New York Times bestsellers Untamed and Carry On, Warrior.
Earlier in her life, she was bulimic and went to a mental hospital as a teenager. She also had an addiction to alcohol and drugs. But her recovery is one that’s been well documented. Her memoirs describe her struggles and the steps she took to overcome them.
Eventually, Doyle found a way to overcome her addictions and is now a bestselling author and public speaker. She has also founded a nonprofit organization, Together Rising, that helps people suffering from addiction.
As a public speaker, Doyle is a force to be reckoned with. She recently told her story at the Innovations in Behavioral Healthcare conference in Nashville.
Doyle has a podcast, We Can Do Hard Things, with her sister, Amanda. The two co-hosts discuss everything from mental health to racism. They interview guests such as Sarah Paulson and Brandi Carlile.
Aside from her work as a podcast host, Doyle is also an advocate for women’s rights. When she was pregnant for the second time in a few months, she made a decision to get sober. This led her to attend 12-step meetings, where she met people in recovery.