Eating Disorder Relapse Prevention

James “Buck” Runyan, MS, MFT, LPC, CEDS, F.iaedp

Eating Disorder Hope: Good afternoon everyone! Welcome to our Eating Disorder Hope Twitter Chat!

Eating Disorder Hope: Today, we are featuring our special guest, James Runyan, Executive Director of Remuda Ranch at the Meadows.

Eating Disorder Hope: We will be tweeting with James about Eating Disorder Relapse Prevention, and James is tweeting on behalf of @RemudaRanch.

Eating Disorder Hope: Welcome James! @RemudaRanch

Eating Disorder Hope: If you’re joining us, please feel free to introduce yourself as we go along.

Remuda Ranch: Thank you for having me, glad to be here!

Eating Disorder Hope: Let’s get started with our questions!

Eating Disorder Hope: Q1: @RemudaRanch Can you please tell us about yourself and your current role at Remuda Ranch?

Remuda Ranch: I have been privileged to work with females and males with eating disorders since 1994 (23 years) in many roles.

Remuda Ranch: I have also been an active member of iaedp as a Board Member and President of the Board of Directors for a term.

Remuda Ranch: For @RemudaRanch my role is Executive Director designing, overseeing all aspects of the treatment teams, tx program and setting.

Remuda Ranch: My counseling credentials include CA – Marriage and Family Therapist, AZ – Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified ED Specialist

Eating Disorder Hope: Wonderful, thank you so much for sharing @RemudaRanch! Thank you for your invaluable work in the #eatingdisorder community

Eating Disorder Hope: If you are in need of treatment now, please call Remuda Ranch @ 888.496.5498.

Eating Disorder Hope: Q2: What defines a relapse in eating disorder recovery?

Remuda Ranch: First a person must define what recovery is for them.

Remuda Ranch: In a general sense this would include a reasonable quality of life..

Remuda Ranch: Supported by being physically sound within a nutrition program which allows
optimum physical, psychotically and social function.

Remuda Ranch: Based upon a person’s particular position in recovery, they may be susceptible to periodic behavior

Remuda Ranch: That in and of itself could be related to eating disorder behavior, but in the moment may not be.

Remuda Ranch: The behavior may be traits 1 has as to monitor closely but at a particular time may not be promoting development of malnutrition.

Remuda Ranch: Eating Relapse covers several areas of a person’s life: medical, social, psychological (emotional/cognitive) and performance.

Remuda Ranch: When quantity or quality of nutrition becomes inappropriate to maintain physical balance,the consequences of malnutrition set in.

Remuda Ranch: When malnutrition affects one’s ability to function fully and completely in normal daily life and social routines.

Remuda Ranch: When one’s quality of life begins to diminish due to malnutrition.

Remuda Ranch: When unusual physical complaints are present which have no medically determined cause.

Remuda Ranch: Like tiredness, intestinal distress or pain, constipation,decreased stamina or coordination, sudden weight changes or fluctuations

Remuda Ranch: When personality changes occur like becoming overly reactive to environmental changes, becoming self-critical, etc….

Remuda Ranch: The quantity of life activities and the quality of life decrease.

Eating Disorder Hope: Thank you so much for explaining James! @remudaranch

Eating Disorder Hope: Q3: What risk factors might increase a person’s risk for relapse in eating disorder recovery?

Remuda Ranch: There are three basic categories that seem to rise to the top of many relapse episodes.

Remuda Ranch: 1) Change in one’s environment. Change alters the sense of security a person has.

Remuda Ranch: Some people do not tolerate the fluid and at times rapid nature in which life changes.

Remuda Ranch: This could include alterations to one’s relationships, environment or welfare.

Remuda Ranch: 2) Experience of fear. This could be described as a “trauma” regardless of how big or small the actual event was.

Remuda Ranch: The fear experience is real to the one affected and consequently the emotion of fear can be internalized to the intestinal tract

Remuda Ranch: 3) A medical condition such as a severe or prolonged illness which facilitates rapid or prolonged weight changes.

Remuda Ranch: This could include a bout of the flu, mononucleosis, the flu or even a surgery.

Eating Disorder Hope: If you are in need of treatment now, please call Remuda Ranch @ 888.496.5498.

Eating Disorder Hope: Q4: Are there any steps that can be taken to prevent relapse? If so, what might these be?

Remuda Ranch: Yes, have clearly listed descriptions of ones behaviors and their progression to facilitate severe malnutrition.

Remuda Ranch: Know the different experience of one’s thought patterns & mood states from that had in recovery& those had when the ED is in play.

Remuda Ranch: Develop a group of Recovery support people including professionals, family and friends.

Remuda Ranch: Remain in treatment for as long as it takes for you to be fully established with a solid foundation…

Remuda Ranch: And realistically confident & competent you can maintain your stability under the unforeseen life events which will come your way.

Remuda Ranch: Also know when to ask for help. Learn to ask for help daily and always do it sooner than later.

Eating Disorder Hope: Q5: What are the best steps to take if relapse has been experienced?

Remuda Ranch: Tell someone who knows what to do to get you help.

Remuda Ranch: Maintain the support structures needed to support progress including tx at the level of care: Out Patient, IOP, PHP, RTC, InPatient mind. Follow their lead.

Remuda Ranch: Know that the professionals at every level of care have your best interest in

Eating Disorder Hope: Q6: What services are available through Remuda Ranch to support a person who is struggling with eating disorder relapse?

Remuda Ranch: Remuda Ranch provides three very important levels of care.

Remuda Ranch: We follow closely the APA Guidelines for The Treatment of Eating Disorders.

Remuda Ranch: The levels of care include. Partial Hospital Programing, Residential Treatment Programming and Inpatient Treatment Programming.

Remuda Ranch: Our patients will attend the level of care that best suits their needs to gain stability and move toward recovery.

Remuda Ranch: Each level of care has Primary Care Providers, Psychiatric Providers, RDs, Licensed Therapists, RNs, & variety of support staff.

Remuda Ranch: The Remuda Ranch programs consist of nutrition rehab, culinary skills training, group/individual/family therapy, group education…

Remuda Ranch: As well as nuerofeedback, biofeedback, art therapy and wide variety of other tx experiential session.

Remuda Ranch: Family members are encouraged to attend a 5 day Family Week Intensive to learn many important things 2 support recovery process

Remuda Ranch: Remuda Ranch has an equine program which implements Egala like therapy sessions &horsemanship skills training with trail rides.

Eating Disorder Hope: Thank you for sharing, James! Great to hear of all the helpful resources available for #eatingdisorder recovery @remudaranch

Eating Disorder Hope: You can also find out more about Remuda Ranch at the Meadows and the programs they offer on their website: remudaranch.com

Eating Disorder Hope: If you are in need of treatment now, please call Remuda Ranch @ 888.496.5498.

Eating Disorder Hope: Thank you for being with us today and for sharing this helpful info on #eatingdisorder relapse

Remuda Ranch: My pleasure! Thank you for having me.

Eating Disorder Hope: This concludes our Twitter Chat on Eating Disorder Relapse Prevention – thank you for those who could join in!

Eating Disorder Hope: Thank you again to our special guest, James Runyan, Executive Director for Remuda Ranch at the Meadows.

Eating Disorder Hope: For more helpful eating disorder resources, visit www.eatingdisorderhope.com.

Eating Disorder Hope: No matter where you may be today, be encouraged in your recovery journey and know that you do not walk alone. Take care everyone!

Eating Disorder Hope: Our patients will attend the level of care that best suits their needs to gain stability and move toward recovery.