Five of the most underrated coping skills

…according to Grey Thinking, at least.  I’ve seen so many coping skills lists full of bubble baths, deep breathing, positive affirmations, etc, and really am just bored with them.  Someone needs to come up with some creative and new alternative coping mechanisms!  I might as well start.  Here’s a list of some of my favorite / most-helpful coping skills, that I’ve never seen (or very rarely seen) on any “learning to cope” list.

Five of the most underrated coping skills:

1. card stores
2. bulletin boards
3. kudos charts
4. crafting
5. dvds

I have a lot to say about each one of these, so I’m going to break them up into different posts.  However, I’d love to hear you feedback and any alternative or underrated coping skills that you might use.

You’ve been in treatment too long if…

(in no particular order)

1. You measure the cost of things in nutrition appointments (ex: That shirt is one nutrition appointment. These shoes are worth two appointments).
2. You start dressing like your professionals (or maybe, they starts dressing like you…)
3. “Treatment” is a recurring event with no end date on your calendar.
4. You’ve never needed to purchase “Eating in the Light of the Moon” because at some point you have been given a photocopy of every chapter.
5. In group, no one sits in your seat, even when you’re not there (because you’ve been sitting there since last year).
6. The group therapist wishes you would just finish treatment already so that she could start recycling therapy topics.
7. You remember when some of the current therapists were interns.
8. You’ve modified the standard food log template to create your own (improved, of course)
9. Your therapist notices when you buy a new outfit (since she’s seen all of your other clothing).
10. When considering changing jobs, the new company’s mental health insurance is a deciding factor.

I am not guilty of all of these…. but more than a few.

You've been in treatment too long if…

(in no particular order)

1. You measure the cost of things in nutrition appointments (ex: That shirt is one nutrition appointment. These shoes are worth two appointments).
2. You start dressing like your professionals (or maybe, they starts dressing like you…)
3. “Treatment” is a recurring event with no end date on your calendar.
4. You’ve never needed to purchase “Eating in the Light of the Moon” because at some point you have been given a photocopy of every chapter.
5. In group, no one sits in your seat, even when you’re not there (because you’ve been sitting there since last year).
6. The group therapist wishes you would just finish treatment already so that she could start recycling therapy topics.
7. You remember when some of the current therapists were interns.
8. You’ve modified the standard food log template to create your own (improved, of course)
9. Your therapist notices when you buy a new outfit (since she’s seen all of your other clothing).
10. When considering changing jobs, the new company’s mental health insurance is a deciding factor.

I am not guilty of all of these…. but more than a few.

Grey issues in Eating Disorders

Top 10 Eating Disorder Controversies:
(In my opinion, and not in order of importance)

1. Full recovery is possible (to the point of being “cured”)
2. EDs are symptoms of a deep-seeded childhood trauma or toxic environment
3. Treatment should not be forced upon those who don’t feel ready to recover
4. Weight gain goals should be 100% of ideal body weight
5. Meal plans and/or monitored exchange/calorie counting is necessary
6. Without working through the underlying psychological causes of the eating disorder, one cannot completely recover
7. Anorexia, Bulimia, and Binge Eating Disorder are all on one disordered eating continuum
8. Society is largely to blame for eating disorders
9. Spontaneous recovery is possible (without professional treatment)
10. The AN diagnosis should not be dependent on weight or menses