Anorexia Nervosa includes an inadequate intake of food which leads to a very low weight; intense fear of weight gain and attempts to prevent weight gain; self-esteem that is overly connected to the person´s body image; difficulty recognizing the severity of the situation. Contrary to popular belief, some individuals with anorexia also engage in binge eating and purging behaviors as well.

Bulimia Nervosa involves frequent episodes of binge eating (consuming amounts of food that most people would consider excessive in a short amount of time) followed by behaviors to prevent weight gain which may include self-induced vomiting, laxative or diuretic use or excessive exercise; feeling out of control during moments of binge-eating; self-esteem that is overly connected to the person´s body image.

Binge Eating Disorder involves frequent episodes of binge eating, but without behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as excessive exercise; feeling out of control during binge eating; feelings of shame or guilt in regards to their binge eating; indications that the binge eating is out of control (examples include eating when you´re not hungry, to the point of discomfort or by yourself because you´re ashamed about your behavior).

However, for individuals who do not meet the criteria for one of the disorders listed above, but who still struggle with disordered eating and body image concerns that impact their quality of life, they may receive a diagnosis of ¨Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder¨ (previously known as EDNOS-Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified). Some examples may include: atypical anorexia nervosa (weight is not below normal), bulimia nervosa with less frequent behaviors, purging disorder (purging without binge eating), or night eating syndrome (excessive consumption of of food at night).

Despite the stereotypes portrayed in the media, eating disorders are not an illness found solely among young women. Eating disorders do not discriminate. They are found among all genders, ages, races and socio-economic statuses. If you are a male who suspects you may have an eating disorder, it´s important for you to know that you´re not alone. Millions of men and boys throughout the world struggle with some form of these illnesses.

Treatment of an eating disorder often involves a multidisciplinary team composed of some of the following members: medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist and/or nutritionist. Here at SINEWS we have both psychiatrists and psychologists who specialize in the treatment of eating disorders who have helped numerous patients during their recovery process. Our professionals understand the complexity of these disorders, as well as the diverse factors that leads someone to develop one. While no one chooses to develop an eating disorder, you do have it within your power to choose to seek professional help.

Only 5 to 10% of people that go through a grieving process will develop symptoms of “complicated grief”. After some time has passed from the initial phase of shock, they will not recover their normal level of functioning and will require professional help.

In SINEWS we have assissted hundreds of grieving families, and experience has taught us that both individual and group therapy provide a healthy and effective environment in which to overcome such a loss.

Therapy allows for a more honest and liberating connection with emotions; it helps to find ways to keep the emotional bond with our loved one as we continue to live our lives.

Grief support groups provide an environment of warmth and understanding for sharing pain while learning strategies to cope.

Within each person there is physiological information processing system by which new experiences and information are processed and assimilated as healthy memories. The information is stored on networks that contain related thoughts, images, emotions and feelings.

Traumatic experiences and persistent unmet interpersonal needs during periods of development can produce blockages in the capacity to process information. Therefore this information is stored in a dysfunctional manner in the brain. When stored information related to a traumatic experience is not fully processed, it cannot be used or integrated into the life of the individual. Consequently it produces reactions like fear, panic, sadness, repetitive dreams related to the experience, and flashbacks, among others.

When we perform EMDR, what we do is stimulate – through eye movements or other bilaterally stimulation- the information processing system. This helps the brain reorganize the dysfunctional information so the individual can assimilate the traumatic experience and be able to remember the event with the least possible pain. Thus, the memory ceases to affect in the present.