We look forward to hearing Dr. Barlow’s research on anxiety disorders at Castlewood Treatment Center for eating disorders. Castlewood specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders which co-occur with eating disorders. Our staff therapists include Masters and Doctorate level clinicians who are anxiety specialists and work with our clients to develop anxiety hierarchies and develop Exposure and Response prevention protocols. We believe it is imperative to address the anxiety disorder simultaneous to the eating disorder in order for both to remit. Click here for more information on Castlewood’s anxiety services. 

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Research suggests that one in six American children between third and twelfth grade are bullied; 500,000 took part in a survey conducted by the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. If this isn’t worrying enough, the findings of another piece of analysis show a very strong link between those who are bullied and those who experience an eating disorder.

The results

A recent UK study of 600 people with an eating disorder found that 90% had been bullied at some point and 78% identified this bullying as having contributed to the development of their eating disorder.  The research carried out by Beat, an eating disorder charity, found that of those bullied, in 40% of cases this had been before the age of ten, indicating that hateful behavior towards someone at a young age may point to why people are experiencing eating disorders sooner in their lives, but the impact of bullying may also have lasting consequences. Of concern was the fact that the figures in this study were far higher – a staggering 67% greater – in comparison to when a similar survey had been conducted two years previously; equally more people were highlighted as having been bullied at a younger age.

Possible connections

Whatever form bullying takes, it is known to have a negative impact on mental health in a number of ways and can certainly knock self-esteem, which is a known factor that can lead to eating disorders. However, some who have suffered at the hands of bullies may use their altered relationship with food as a means to help manage the stress and anxiety associated with the harassment they experience. Eating disorders are often seen as a way of taking control of their lives, which have become so uncertain since they have been experiencing threatening behavior by others. They are also seen as a form of comfort and escape, allowing someone to take their mind off the abuse they have been exposed to.

Recognizing the problem

If schools and employers take reports of bullying seriously, there is more chance of a better outcome for the victims, with them being less likely to suffer mentally and to experience an eating disorder. The anti-bullying policies held by organizations must therefore be effective and used; there is little point these documents sitting on a shelf to gather dust. However, it is important that the signs of bullying are also recognized, as not everyone suffering will come forward – either due to fear or believing that they will not be taken seriously.

Although there are many indicators that someone might be bullied, there are some key outward signs to be aware of.

• Often they will become increasingly withdrawn, avoiding activities that they used to enjoy such as socializing with friends or taking part in a sport or music group.
• They may show signs of anxiety, report difficulty in sleeping or show changes in behavior, such as becoming more aggressive towards friends and family or displaying destructive traits such as running away.
• Their mood is also likely to turn, with unhappiness a common sign; if the bullying progresses, this may lead to depression.
• Victims of bullying can also perform less well in their school or college work, or during the working day if they have a job; their mind may well be elsewhere, they are less motivated due to low mood and have lost interest in attaining highly.  This may especially be the case if they are bullied for their successes. Increased frequency of absence from school and work may also be seen.
• Those at school and college may lose valuables and if bullying is physical, they may have unexplainable cuts and bruises – though this could also be a sign of self-harm, another form of behavior used to manage the situation.

• Appetite may be reduced or they may eat for comfort; this could be a sign that an eating disorder is brewing.

Many of our clients at Castlewood Treatment Center share that they were the victims of bullying in childhood and that this negatively affected their self image and body image. While we do not believe that bullying causes eating disorders it is a factor in their development as well as the maintenance and perpetuation of negative self esteem.

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This conference promises to be a thought provoking conversation regarding the development of our field and where research and clinicians collide. Summit for Clinical Excellence is the premier provider of Addiction, Mental & Behavioral Health Continuing Education for therapists and counselors.This training will be valuable for those working in the areas of: Mental Health, Behavioral Health, Addictions, Marriage & Family Therapy, Psychology, Nursing and Trauma.

Click Here to See the Full Brochure

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Stacy is the overnight nurse at our Castlewood II facility. She shared that her job entails “creating a safe environment where clients can rest and be ready for the next day of therapy.” Her responsibilities involve nursing duties such as performing vitals, nursing assessments, implementing tube feeding protocols and administering medication. Stacy said she also “help clients implement a healthy sleep routine (which a lot of clients  lack when they arrive at Castlewood),  as well as  helps them identify obstacles that interfere with a sound sleep cycle.”  But Stacy does much more than that, she is available for clients that need to process their day, or who cannot sleep and need someone safe to sit next to while they journal, and after all these years, she still makes the clients breakfast each morning.  Nancy Albus, CEO shared “Stacy is truly one of the constant aspects of Castlewood. She has cared for clients almost since the first day Castlewood opened their doors.  She is a kind and friendly face to many who need support in the middle of the night and she is a trusted member for those of us who go home and rest well knowing Stacy is in charge.”

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Stacy shared her favorite memory of working at Castlewood: “When we first started out, Mark would come over every morning to the main building at Castlewood 1 and get coffee, he would always want music in the living room to liven the atmosphere. He would dance around in the living room and we would all laugh, joke and dance. It would really help the clients relax before breakfast and before a day of intense therapy.”

Stacy obtained her degree in nursing from Lutheran Medical Center School of nursing. Prior to working at Castlewood she worked as a charge nurse in an acute psychiatric and chemical dependency unit. Stacy shared that “many of the psychiatric patients actually had a primary diagnosis of eating disorder, but unfortunately they were placed on the same unit as those suffering with psychotic disorders.” “I gained great experience working with clients with eating disorders but I wanted to work somewhere that was a bit more hopeful, provided better therapeutic services and was more interested in healing. As I looked for options, I was amazed that Castlewood had opened, applied right away, and have been here ever since,” said Stacy.

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As we take a look back over our experience treating thousands of clients with eating disorders, a few staff members took the time to share their favorite thoughts and memories about Castlewood.

Samantha Young, Assistant Program Director Monarch Cove had this to say about her years with Castlewood:

“It has been my privilege and honor to work at Castlewood since 2002 and be a part of the healing and compassionate work that Castlewood strives for.  I have many fond memories from my years here.  Some that stand out are:  a mud volleyball game that was a part of a staff get together.  There are some very serious volleyball players as part of the staff and this combined with a lot of mud and pouring down rain made for a very memorable game where we all were covered in mud and then some and had a fantastic game despite the not so favorable weather conditions.  Not to be outdone by mud, there were also some very intense water volleyball games with clients and staff that promoted fun while also challenging body image and fears around being in the pool.  With Castlewood being such a homelike, small environment there were many memorable interactions between clients and staff which included elaborate talent shows where our very talented clients were able to showcase their skills.  Also memorable  were the very unique and absolutely on target treatment plans that the clients one day decided to develop for each staff member outlining their strengths and goals that they might need to work on.  There are many other moments like this that stand out while getting to be a part of such a healing and compassionate organization.  Many congratulations and Happy Anniversary Castlewood!”

Deanna James- Director of Media Relations shared:

“Some of my favorite memories involving Castlewood surround snow storms. Watching the staff all come together to get clients and staff up and down the treacherous hill, staff spending the night to insure that clients have adequate support while other staff are stranded, and personally driving many staff members into Castlewood myself. It was always fun to have group therapy around the big fire place at Castlewood I and watch the snow fall. “

Mike Dillon- Facilities and Grounds Manager Castlewood I shared this:

“My favorite times working at Castlewood Treatment have surrounded ‘Van Therapy’. Remember to take your car down and lift your spirit up.” Mike escorts clients and staff up and down the hill at Castlewood I due to parking limitations and always provides great conversation, uplifting music, and our clients share that his positive attitude and zest for life have helped many of them when they needed an attitude adjustment.

Vanessa Curran- Research Coordinator shared:

“I remember my first day working here pretty clearly… everyone was so helpful, kind and welcoming. I was completely BLOWN AWAY when I stepped into my first group. The intelligence and insight of the clients was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before! One of the things that makes Castlewood special is that there isn’t one staff member here who doesn’t truly care about the clients we serve. I believe that genuine concern is felt by our clients and aids in their recovery process.”

Dayna Rabbit- Direct Care Counselor shared:

“One of my top reasons I enjoy working at Castlewood is the friendships and team players that have developed between the co-workers. I have had the privilege to work with some of the best staff in the St. Louis area. A very neat experience for me is to be able to work with coworkers and be able to grow as individuals and in the workforce. There is a time and place for everything: there are times we laugh, cry, and support our clients. Side by side we tag team support for a client, using different techniques, supporting clients in their exposures, driving them on outings, or taking them to AA. These memories from 2012 in my first year with Castlewood laid a foundation for not only my self-growth but how I’m called to serve. Thanks to my amazing peers that have trained me in direct care and who have now moved on to fulfill other rolls within the Castlewood walls. Thanks intake, awesome treatment team, supervisors, and clinical staff… And the super duper awesome direct care staff I work with now! Every one of you is a unique, special, talented, individual who rocks and helps keep the foundation of this ‘Castle’ together.”

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Over the past 13 years, Castlewood has developed from a small ten bed facility, into three thriving residential homes, two in St. Louis and one in Pacific Grove, California. We also have a Day Treatment house on the property of Castlewood II, Step Down apartments in St. Louis and Pacific Grove, Intensive Outpatient Programs and 150 staff members.  In the midst of the expansion we continue to offer a small well-chosen therapeutic community. We have hired additional experienced staff and divided group therapy and meals into smaller groups to provide individual attention. We continue to meet as a treatment team weekly at our residential facilities to collaborate among therapists, psychiatrists, clinical directors, and dietitians to develop detailed individualized treatment plans for each client. Our clients continue to receive six weekly individual sessions- four with the primary therapist, one with our psychiatrist, and one with the dietitian.

This growth has allowed our staff to cultivate sub-specialties in Binge Eating Disorder, Body Dysmorphia, various expressive therapies, attachment based psychotherapy, mindfulness techniques, DBT, EMDR, and trauma resolution therapies. We are now able to provide comprehensive treatment not just for the eating disorder, but for co-occurring anxiety disorders, OCD, and PTSD. The growth has allowed us to hire staff that has certifications and specialties in the treatment of Anxiety, OCD, trauma and substance abuse. They have incorporated new assessment tools, exposure and response prevention protocols, as well as individual and group therapy designed specifically for these areas.

Castlewood also offers an alumni program including 6 months of monitoring, post discharge check-in visits, and alumni community website and alumni weekends. We are providing more comprehensive discharge planning and follow up care than ever before!

Last year we announced our stabilization track-This clinical track is designed for clients who admit to our Residential Program and need increased focus on eating disorder or self-harm symptom stabilization or who require stabilization of PTSD symptoms before they can fully take advantage of our regular programming. This track is also available for clients who are struggling with relapsing symptoms after admission into Step Down or Day Treatment levels of care.

Castlewood provides FREE housing for both of our PHP programs- Day Treatment and Step Down. Clients with no residential insurance benefits and who do not need overnight supervision, can come to Castlewood, participate in our full day treatment program and have free housing just up the hill from Castlewood II in our new Day Treatment House. Clients who complete our residential program and need transitional living while they practice new life skills, and continue in therapy in our step down program can live in our step down apartments.

Castlewood looks forward to the future and the development of our programs and services in order to meet our mission and offer comprehensive, individualized treatment designed to treat eating disorders in addition to other co-occurring issues, with an emphasis on compassion, respect, and empowerment.

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This new information obviously needs to be substantiated by further research, but it does point to an alarming concern. One of the reasons bariatric surgery is often pushed by providers is to reduce an individuals risk of contracting cancer. This research would suggest that just by reducing obesity you may not be decreasing risk, and that in fact surgery may in fact increase your risk of developing cancer. Other reasons bariatric surgery may be encouraged is to reduce stroke, heart attack, and diabetes risk- all of which can be reduced through healthy eating, exercise and smoking cessation.

While we understand that for many individuals bariatric surgery may be the optimal solution, for others it results in many side effects, and has been linked to further development of complicating factors such as dehydration, anemia, kidney stones, body aches, bone disease, hypoglycemia, hernia and ulcers. Many of our clients with binge eating disorder have had bariatric surgery only to continue struggling with binge eating disorder, bulimia or even anorexia after their surgery. The surgery inhibits their recovery process as it requires a special diet, clients cannot eat normal amounts of food, and often have vitamin and mineral absorption problems. Most clinics say that they screen for clients with eating disorders, but most do not use standard screening inventories such as the EDI, or even the ED screening utilized by the National Eating Disorder Association.  As a result of lack of screening and proper pre-surgical counseling, many sufferers of eating disorders may use bariatric surgery as a solution to a psychological problem. Others who do not have an eating disorder may opt for bariatric surgery over sustained healthy life style improvements and not gain the “healthy” life they were promised by bariatric surgery because they are not able to follow the post surgical guidelines. And still others opt for bariatric surgery because of weight stigma and providers who are not aware of alternative solutions or that weight is not the whole measure of health. At Castlewood Treatment Center we encourage future research, better screening, and provider education on eating disorders and weight stigma.

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Castlewood Treatment Center is sponsoring the Gala event and proudly supports Project Heal and their initiatives. We work with our clients to fight for insurance coverage throughout their stay at Castlewood and recognize the importance of scholarships and grants to help with treatment costs. Many of those who suffer with eating disorders do not have insurance or do not have residential benefits on their policy. Castlewood is committed to helping causes like Project HEAL as they continue to help clients access life saving services.

Click here for more information on the Gala Event or to make a donation. 

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Click here for more information on the ACAM conference April 11-13, 2013

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Castlewood Treatment Center is excited to support the MOEDA annual gala as the Presenting Sponsor of the event. The evening promises to be a great event involving a dinner and silent auction with all proceeds benefiting MOEDA. We encourage area businesses and families to support the event with your attendance or a donation.

Click Here to View Sponsorship Information

Contact the MOEDA Gala Chairwoman, Lisa Iken-Sokolik at lisa.iken-sokolik@castlewoodtc.com for more information on sponsorship or to RSVP to the event.

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