{"id":1629,"date":"2013-02-25T14:48:18","date_gmt":"2013-02-25T14:48:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optimumperformanceinstitute.com\/?p=1629"},"modified":"2018-10-03T14:08:15","modified_gmt":"2018-10-03T20:08:15","slug":"eating-disorder-awareness-statistically-the-deadliest-of-all-mental-illnesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.optimumperformanceinstitute.com\/eating-disorder-treatment\/eating-disorder-awareness-statistically-the-deadliest-of-all-mental-illnesses\/","title":{"rendered":"Eating Disorder Awareness – Statistically the Deadliest of all Mental Illnesses"},"content":{"rendered":"
\u201cEating Disorders,\u201d a hot topic of conversation in our national dialog this week because February 24th through March 2nd marks the National Eating Disorders Awareness Week<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cEating disorders affect over 11 million people in the U.S.,\u201d says one of many e-mails I recently received on this topic. Others inform me that:<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026.10-15% of those with eating disorders are male.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026statistically it is the deadliest of all mental illnesses.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbout 80% of the girls\/women who have accessed care for their eating disorders do not get the intensity of treatment they need to stay in recovery,\u201d says the South Carolina Department of Mental Health. \u201cThey are sent home weeks earlier than the recommended stay.\u201d<\/p>\n Eating Disorders are a big part of the dialog here within the OPI Living Programs<\/a>, too. This is because our Eating Disorder Track is expanding, especially with the growth of OPI Intensive for men and women 17-28 with Borderline traits and Borderline Personality Disorder.<\/p>\n But eating disorders are a common co-occurring condition<\/a> among participants at our OPI Intensive and OPI programs, as well as our Intensive Outpatient Program<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t discriminate between diagnoses,\u201d explained Emily Rabuchin, MFT<\/a>, clinical therapist at OPI and OPI Intensive who continues to recover from this disorder, herself.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an area I get really passionate about,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s not like drugs or alcohol. You can\u2019t just give it up. You have to face food at least three times a day. I love to instill hope that full recovery is in fact possible.\u201d<\/p>\n In the OPI Living Programs, participants struggling with an eating disorder attend a \u201cFood and Feelings\u201d group, meet regularly with Jacque Mullis, Director of Addiction Counseling Services<\/a>, and are driven to appropriate 12-step and other meetings in the community.<\/p>\n