Trauma, PTSD, & Eating Disorders | Dr. David Wiss |

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder which can result from exposure to (witnessing or experiencing) a traumatic event. Examples can include violence (actual or threatened), sexual assault, traffic accidents, and other dangerous situations or terrifying incidents. However, not everyone exposed to these events develop PTSD.

The symptoms of PTSD fall into four categories: 1) intrusion; includes intrusive thoughts that are difficult to control, such as flashbacks, 2) avoidance; can be a conscious or subconscious avoidance of any reminders of the traumatic event, including talking about or even remembering the incident, 3) altered cognition and mood; can include distorted thoughts about the cause or consequence of the event and negative emotions leading to social disconnection, and 4) altered arousal and reactivity; this can include anxiety symptoms and increased threat vigilance, as well as sleep difficulties. It actually makes a lot of sense that symptomatic individuals might consume highly palatable food as a form of self-medication.

At Wise Mind Nutrition, we use a trauma-informed approach to nutrition education and counseling. We believe in the biopsychosocial model of health and disease. For this reason, our treatment program is designed for individuals with hyperactive autonomic nervous systems and disorganized attachment patterns. We believe in resilience and take the position that nutrition can play an essential role in the recovery process at both biochemical and behavioral levels. We focus on the here-and-now and stay curious about the possibilities ahead of us. We help people to recover one day at a time and even one bite at a time!

#PTSD #Trauma #Nutrition #EatingDisorderRecovery #Recovery

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