DR MARIANNE MILLER
CARING EATING DISORDER TREATMENT IN SAN DIEGO AND THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA, TEXAS, AND WASHINGTON D.C. FOR ADULTS & TEENS
A Mini-Guide to Practicing Self-Love in Binge Eating Treatment and Recovery
My word of the year is love. Yes, yes I got this idea from Lizzo’s album Special and from Sonya Renee Taylor’s book, The Body is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love. After listening to the album hundreds of times and reading the book over and over again as I treated eating disorders in San Diego and coached recovering from binge eating in cities like London, Chicago, Atlanta, and New York, I figured it out. I linked the power of self-love to the binge eating recovery process. In order to help yourself recover from binge eating, You have to learn to love yourself. It may sound hard. It may even feel impossible. I’m here to give you hope that self-love is not only possible, it’s inevitable when you get the right binge eating help.
Five Mindful Places to Visit in San Diego When You're Feeling Stressed During the Holidays
As Thanksgiving is coming round the corner, and other holidays are fast approaching, it’s easy to feel caught up in the holiday frenzy. Whether it’s traffic, shopping, or your full calendar, things just can seem crazy. It’s especially challenging while in eating disorder recovery, as there can be more triggers than usual this time of year. Sometimes you just need a peaceful place to go in San Diego where you can take deep breaths and soak in positive energy so you can feel grounded and renewed. I’ve asked top eating disorder therapists and dietitians in San Diego for their recommendations of mindful places to visit, and I’ve listed five of my favorites. Enjoy!
What to Do When You're Sick During Eating Disorder Recovery
I’ve recently recovered from a nasty bought of the stomach flu, and it got me thinking about how illness can affect eating disorder recovery. You’re on your recovery journey in San Diego and elsewhere, and things are progressing nicely, when WHAM!! You get the flu, get a cold, or even learn that you have a a serious condition that needs more intense medical care, like surgery. It can be incredibly overwhelming, and it can definitely affect how you eat and how you see your body.
I’ve outlined three tips on how to navigate the rough waters of illness while in eating disorder treatment in San Diego and around the world. These three tips expand beyond the typical steps, such as seeing your medical doctor and take over the counter remedies. The reason is because eating disorders are incredibly complex—physiologically, nutritionally, and psychologically. Tackling all three areas when you are feeling crappy can be a challenge—so these strategies are quick, simple, and can help you get back on the road to recovery ASAP.
How Can Yoga Help Eating Disorder Recovery?
Curious about how yoga can help you in your eating disorder recovery? Feeling scared to take the first step and start a yoga practice, but don’t know where to begin? It can be nerve-racking in San Diego to get out of your comfort zone and start something new—especially when it has to do with moving your body! I’ve interviewed Christin Conkle, LMFT, who is both an eating disorder therapist in San Diego, a yoga instructor, and a firm believer in how yoga can be a helpful part of eating disorder treatment. She explains how yoga can benefit people in eating disorder recovery, and she shares tips on how to begin a yoga practice.
Tap into Your Creativity in Eating Disorder Recovery: Meet Artist Jennifer Shiman
Looking for new ways to practice self-care in your eating disorder recovery? Feeling like you aren’t really creative, but need a new outlet to help process your emotions this summer in San Diego and elsewhere? Art and creativity can be a key component to eating disorder recovery, but often we feel as though we aren’t “talented enough” to engage in it. Well, I want to let you know that you don’t have to be super-talented to be creative (take it from me, as I draw stick figures!)—EVERYONE has a creative process!!! I’ve interviewed artist Jennifer Shiman who believes just that. She also happens to be my fantabulous sister-in-law (I’m sooooooo lucky to have her in the family!). One thing I really appreciate about Jennifer is that she really ties the creative process to being authentic and practicing self-care, which is a vital component of eating disorder recovery! I’m so happy that you’ll get to know more about her awesomeness.
How to Get Help for Binge Eating Disorder
Struggling with binge eating? Feeling out of control of your eating and don’t know where to turn? I have an excellent starting point for you. I discussed what binge eating disorder is and how to get help on a recent podcast on the Embodied & Well Mom Show that I did on with the fabulous Lindsay Stenovec, MS, RDN, CEDRD of San Diego’s Nutrition Instincts. I have provided a transcription of the main part of the podcast in this blog post. Enjoy!!
Let's Talk About Sex and Body Image! Meet Sex Therapist Dr. Nicole Van Ness, LMFT
Have you been struggling with your body image so much that it has been affecting your sex life? Is your partner complaining that you don’t want to have sex that frequently, and you feel hesitant to share that it’s because you feel uncomfortable in your own skin? Whether you live in San Diego or elsewhere, you likely know that having a regular and fulfilling sex life is important for intimate relationships. The reality is that A LOT of people struggle with sexual intimacy, and when you have an eating disorder and feel negatively about your body, it becomes a drain on your life and relationships.
Needing answers? I have brought top expert, as well as friend and former top doctoral student of mine, Dr. Nicole Van Ness. Nicole went to school and learned her trade as a sex therapist in San Diego, and in recent years she has moved to Texas, where she has a private practice and is adjunct faculty at Southern Methodist University. Nicole has maintained her California license as a marriage and family therapist, and she provides videoconference services for individuals and couples in San Diego and other parts of California.
Four Tips to Navigating Triggering Family Situations in Eating Disorder Recovery
Do you ever struggle with all of the focus on “family” and “togetherness” this time of year? Does it seem as though you can barely get through family events without feeling like you want to run out of the room screaming? Holidays can be such a challenge if you have an eating disorder. A lot of family-focused activities center around food, which can trigger a lot of anxiety and other uncomfortable emotions. It is hard when parents, spouses, grandparents, great-aunt Petunias, or whoever comment about your body and what you are (or aren’t) eating. Especially in San Diego, when in December you can be wearing tank tops, shorts, or a skirt as you take family trips to the beach. It can feel as though your body and how you eat is on display. It may seem that loved ones have free reign to comment on it. It really, really sucks. As an eating disorder therapist, I love helping people navigate family situations that can be tricky and triggering, so I’m here to help you get started.