Hey everybody
Happy Wednesday.
And when it's Wednesday, since it's a W, I'm on my website.
katimorton.com
And if you haven't been on there.
You might want to check it out.
And I've been looking in to revamping it.
And making things easier and better for you.
So if you ever have any tips or ideas
or things that you would like us to change on the website.
Let me know.
Because I'm always looking for things.
I'm trying to figure out what app that would work best.
And things like that.
So always let me know what you think.
Because you never know.
Maybe I'll be able to switch things around.
I don't know.
If it's free and it's easy enough for me to manage and navigate.
Because I'm not very tech savvy.
Then I can probably do it.
Okay. Anyway.
Without further adieu.
I'm also on youtube.
So if you asked your questions on yesterday's video.
Using the #KatiFAQ
Or if you go on my website.
And under 'Kati's Videos',
You went down to #FAQ Videos
And you asked your questions there.
I've answered some, yay.
So, and I also have a journal topic.
So thanks Megan for that.
But let's get going.
Because Wednesday's are a little longer.
Because I have two places that I am on.
And so we have more questions, and blah blah blah.
So. First question:
'Hey Kati, I wondered if any of you have experience'
Or any of you.
It's because it's to everybody and see if anybody else would answer as well.
So let me know if you have things and
tips for this person after I'm done reading the question.
And you can leave them below.
It says, 'I wondered any of you have experience recovering from an eating'
'disorder without the support of a treatment team? Treatment isn't'
'an option for me at the moment. And I have been finding my meals'
'really difficult lately. I don't know whether it's because, I don't know'
'whether it's better to be planning my meals ahead of time to reach'
'all of the recommended daily amounts. Or letting my body give me the cues'
'and eating when I am hungry, then stopping when I am full.'
'The problem is that I find it very difficult to make a healthy plan.'
'It often triggers me to restrict. But with intuitive eating I drift towards'
'restriction unconsciously. Any tips would be great. Do you go for intuitive eating'
'or meal planning in recovery? I am a little stuck at the moment.'
And I thought that this was really good to talk about.
Because I talk about intuitive eating a lot.
And I think that the reason that I do so.
Is because I see patients on the outpatient basis.
They come to me.
They're not in a residential treatment facility.
They are not in a partial hospitalisation program.
They're not in that level of care.
They have already done that usually.
By the time that they get to me.
And they are either on a meal plan still.
Or they have kind of drifted off of it.
And they are doing fine.
Now intuitive eating works well for those patients.
Because they're better able to pick what's 'good for them'.
Being what their body needs.
The nutrients and the energy.
That your body needs.
Um, they're better able to pick it.
Without letting your eating disorder be like
'That's too much. You're so fat and stupid. Blah.'
And you're like 'Ahh, no more.'
So we're able to fight it off.
And we're able to make good decisions anyway.
But when we are really struggling.
I go back to a meal plan.
Always.
Even when my clients are doing really well
If they say that they are struggling in
Meals and they find themselves leaving
Out their additions or, I don't
Know what you guys call them.
But I call them additions in the meal
Plans that I work with.
A lot of the nutritionists that I work with are on the same type of thing.
I don't do exchanges very often.
I don't have many dietitians I work with that do exchanges.
But many of them do.
So anyway.
They'll be leaving off additions.
They will miss, 'miss' some snacks during the day.
And stuff like that.
And so we will go back to a meal plan.
And we will structure things.
And we will get things prepped.
And we'll have all of our snacks in the little zip locks ready for the day.
And blah blah blah.
So if you find yourself struggling.
Then I would go onto a meal plan.
Because obviously I know if you are creating your own meal plan
It may be something that you would want to do with your doctor.
If you can't see a dietician or nutritionist.
Because financial reasons or just availability in your area.
I'd work with your primary care doctor.
Make an appointment and have them put it together for you.
That way it takes away that part of you that's like,
'Well maybe I can get away without putting that on, but that, you know that's kind'
'oh a trigger if it's a little harder for me to eat that.'
It takes that away from it.
And you kind of have to go on your meal plan.
Because that's what you're doing.
And there's nothing wrong with being on a meal plan.
I encourage my clients to stay on them as long as they see fit.
Obviously if it's years and years, then I'm like,
'Hey, we should probably try intuitive eating for a bit.'
That would be an issue.
But at the beginning stages.
When we are struggling.
A meal plan can be a nice structured / safety net to fall into.
Okay.
And let me know what you think below.
If there are other things,
Obviously, let us know.
Question number two:
'Hey Kati, I hope I'm not too late.'
You're not. Because I got it.
'Can older people have eating disorders?'
'My grandmother just turned 70 and she just doesn't eat.'
'She isn't super skinny but she seems to be losing weight quite rapidly'
'and complains that she's fat all of the time. I'm worried about her.'
'Help. What can I do to help her?'
A, ah.
The first thing.
Eating disorders do not discriminate.
Nor do any mental disorders.
If you think that a certain mental disorder is only something that
Happens in our teens.
And then we 'grow out of it'.
I hate when people say, 'Oh I thought you 'grew out of that'.'
That's a bunch of bullshit.
I'm sorry.
It's not true.
They don't discriminate: age, sex, race, any kind of religious belief.
It doesn't matter.
Mental illness is mental illness.
And your grandmother could definitely have an eating disorder.
It's funny because I was just talking to a psychiatrist about this today.
About ADHD.
And how initially we thought ADD and ADHD we 'grew out of'.
It was a childhood thing.
Even though obviously now we recognise that adults,
It could start in adulthood, or it can continue from childhood into adulthood.
Things that you can do to help your grandmother.
It's a little trickier when they're older.
And you're the child.
You're the grandchild.
But I would say things like,
'You know, I'm just really concerned. Is there a reason?'
Because when we get older,
It could be attributed to um.
I just tried to fight a yawn.
And it made my eye like want to water.
Um, sorry.
Been a long day.
But when we're older.
It can be attributed to health reasons.
Maybe they are having severe pain.
And so their, um, their desire for food.
Any hunger, fullness, they have nothing.
They have none of that.
It could be that.
So that could be something they might need to talk to their doctor about.
I think that will be the first thing I would try to get to have happen.
I would talk to my grandma.
And I would say,
'You know grandma, I'm really worried about you.'
'And it seems like you're not really eating. Are you, should we take you'
'to the doctor? Do you feel like you just don't have any hunger any more?'
I would, you know, talk about it like that.
And see where that gets you.
Because then if you, if your mom or someone is the one to take her to the
doctor, they can be the ones to speak up with the doctor and say,
'You know, she's just not eating. She's complaining about being fat all the time.'
And that would be the time when referrals can happen.
And you know we can try to get her the support that we want.
But I would definitely first get her to the doctor.
Just a primary care doctor.
And get everything checked out.
Because as we age.
It can be a lot of other things.
It can be very complicated.
Okay.
Questions number three:
'Hey Kati, when do you know how much anxiety is too much?'
How much?
'For example, last year I used to throw up from stress almost every morning.'
'And from what I remember that lasted for several months. I've overcome that now.'
Thank goodness.
That would be horrible.
'Although I still throw up from time to time. Is that considered excessive?'
'Thank you. I love your videos.'
Oh. Thank you.
Um, that's way too much anxiety.
That. Anxiety is a, it's an interesting thing.
I honestly believe that there is a certain level that we all just tolerate.
As human beings in the modern world, we have things going on.
We have tests to study for.
We have projects to finish.
We have people to get in touch with.
I have to do lists as long as my leg.
I have got patients to see.
And bills to send.
And we have all of these lists and things.
Right. Am I correct in thinking that?
And there is a certain level of anxiety that comes with that.
When anxiety is stopping you from doing your every day regular life schedule.
When it's impeding you from meeting with friends.
Impeding you from being able to eat and keep your food down.
If you are throwing up all of the time because of it.
If you have ulcers.
If you get splitting headaches.
If you get really irritable and it's hard for you to be around people.
If your anxiety is becoming such a problem that it's permeating your life.
It's too much.
You should be able to go about your every day.
And every once in a while have a flare up,
where things,
You know all these things culminate.
Where you are like 'Why is this project due, and my mom is stressing me out.'
'And then I lost that shirt that my friend wanted back.'
And everything comes together at once.
And we're like 'Ahh'
We have a kind of an anxiety freak out.
That will happen from time to time.
But is shouldn't happen more often than not.
I know it's not like a strict black and white thing.
But life isn't black and white.
Remember.
We live in the grey.
So if you find your anxiety ruining your day more days than not.
Please talk to someone and get some help.
Okay.
Journal topic.
Thanks Megan.
And this was a really cool one.
So get ready.
It says,
'Find two songs that describe you or your mental illness.'
'Or two poems'
Depending on what you like.
If you like songs, if you like poems.
'Or plants, or animals, shoes.'
Really anything that you can find meaning in.
Pick two.
'The first one that you pick,'
'Is who you consider yourself to be now.'
'The second one that you pick'
'Is the one that you want to become some day.'
'Then somehow express how you are going to get there.'
'Whether it's through journalling, painting, signing.'
Oh singing is what I think she meant.
etc.
'So that might be confusing,'
'so here is my example.'
I like it when you give examples.
'I chose a snake and an elephant to describe me and my mental illness.'
'A snake because I find them sneaky,'
'Sometimes mean and poisonous.'
Very very powerful.
I like this one.
'They also get a really bad wrap.'
'A lot of people are scared of them.'
'Then the elephant is what I am working towards.'
'There are many reasons I chose the elephant.'
'But one of them is because they leave big footprints wherever they go.'
Isn't that just so cute.
'I've always felt invisible.'
'But no one can ignore the elephant in the room.'
Ba-dum-bum.
She's good.
'They have a great memory.'
'And I want to be memorable.'
'Since I'm quiet and shy,'
'People don't usually remember me.'
'I'm working towards getting over my anxiety so that I can be more outgoing.'
'And leave an impact on the people I interact with.'
I thought this was really great.
And however you want to do this.
If you want to draw the creatures that you imagine yourself being.
Or sing the songs that you are pertaining to where you are now,
And where you want to be.
However.
Please share them with me.
I think this is a really really cool, creative way for us to express
Where we are now.
And where we want to be.
And it really can just help us along in our journey.
So thanks Megan.
I love you all.
I will see you tomorrow.
I will be on twitter.
So ask your questions there.
Using the #KatiFAQ
Bye!
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