Educate Yourself. Learn about eating disorders to understand what your loved one is experiencing. Knowledge reduces misconceptions and helps you provide informed support. In particular, since eating disorders are unique to each individual, learn about your loved one’s behaviors and how the disorder manifests in them. It starts with a real, honest conversation with them about their struggles with a key question being “how can I support you?” During the conversation, listen actively by offering an ear without judgment. Let them express their feelings and concerns. Your non-judgmental presence can be very comforting.
Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that affect millions worldwide, transcending age, gender, and cultural boundaries. They are not simply about food but involve a range of psychological, physical, and social issues. Supporting a loved one through this struggle can be challenging, requiring understanding, patience, and knowledge of the right approaches to truly make a difference.
In this series, we aim to shed light on the most effective ways to offer support, understanding, and hope to those battling an eating disorder. We are talking to psychologists, nutritionists, doctors, therapists, and survivors, who can provide valuable perspectives on nurturing recovery, fostering resilience, and promoting healthy relationships with food and body image. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Allan Benham, CEO of Alsana, a leading eating disorder treatment provider and recovery community.
Allan Benham, CEO of Alsana, is a dynamic healthcare executive renowned for his transformative leadership in the behavioral health treatment sector. With a career spanning 20-plus years and a passion for changing lives through recovery, Allan brings a wealth of expertise to his role as CEO of Alsana. He is an inspirational leader who builds and fosters a positive organizational culture and delivers world-class client care.
Allan began his journey in direct patient care as a behavioral health technician and continued on as a Registered Nurse where he quickly realized the impact that addictions and eating disorders have on an individual and on their families. While working closely with patients, he recognized the impact that the professionals working with those in treatment can have on recovery.
A devoted family man and avid outdoorsman, Allan finds joy in spending time with his wife, Molly, and their two grown children, as well as embracing adventure through horseback riding, scuba diving, and immersive cultural experiences. With a passion for changing lives through the healing and recovery journey and a proven track record of success, Allan is poised to lead Alsana to new heights of innovation, compassion, and clinical excellence.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive into our discussion, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career path?
I stumbled into addictions and eating disorders accidentally. Right after the 9/11 tragedy in 2001, I found myself in a career that was severely impacted. As a single father of two young children, I knew that I needed to switch careers to something more stable. In thinking through my options, I kept returning to an interest from my high school days: nursing. I contacted my family for support as I restarted my career and returned to school. My mother offered to help me with housing and childcare while I worked my way through school — she was working as a therapist in the trauma and addictions field at an agency and suggested that I apply for a position. I asked her, “What do they do there?” — clearly, I had no idea what I was getting into. I started off looking for a job to pay the bills and fell into a career and lifelong passion for helping individuals and families impacted by disorders and diseases that we, as clinicians, work with.
I gravitated toward eating disorder treatment because of its severe impact. Those who struggle with disordered eating behaviors are some of the most passionate, intelligent, and creative individuals in the world. While they build, lead, and inspire those around them, they are also wounded and terrified individuals. When I see individuals and families who struggle with eating disorders, I see the impact of a condition and the ways that it tears families and lives apart. Being a part of the healing process is one of the passions of my life. It’s an incredible opportunity to inspire others throughout their recovery process.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
When I completed my nursing degree and passed the exams to become a registered nurse, my mother gave me a wall hanging with a quote from E.E. Cummings: “It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” It has become my favorite quote, especially for individuals in recovery.
I believe that one of the keys to treatment of eating disorders is through the lens of compassion-focused therapy, which involves a lot of introspection and self-acceptance. This is the treatment model we utilize at Alsana. Our clients don’t often come to our program with these two elements in place.
That’s why it’s important that those who are struggling with the self-hatred that comes along with eating disorders face those internalized beliefs, realize the changes that must take place and work toward those changes. It takes an incredible amount of courage and hope.
No one enters treatment on the best day of their lives, but the best days are yet to come if we can just create an opportunity for them to realize who they were meant to be and stretch for that.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?
We are looking to expand Alsana into new geographical areas and even into new lines of service. For example, we’re very excited about the Virtual Care program. More than 60 million individuals live in underserved or rural areas of the country, but if they have access to the internet and a willingness to explore treatment, we want to be there to help them as partners in the recovery journey.
We recently started our virtual operations in both Florida and Georgia and are looking to expand into other states across the nation. If we can expand eating disorder awareness, we can ensure that more individuals receive the critical care they need, regardless of their location. Our focus on virtual care not only broadens our reach but also allows us to innovate in delivering personalized, accessible, and effective treatment solutions. As Alsana continues to grow, our commitment to leveraging technology to support and empower our clients remains at the forefront of our mission.
According to this study cited by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, at least 30 million people in the U.S. of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder. Can you suggest 3–5 reasons why this has become such a critical issue recently?
In the recent years, we have learned that eating disorders transcend gender, age, ethnicity, and culture. It can strike families and individuals anywhere and everywhere. The influence of social media, especially Instagram and TikTok, has also propagated the idea of idealized body image, often showcasing unrealistic body standards, leading to increased body dissatisfaction. This leads to comparisons and peer pressure among peers and influencers. Seeing them promote certain body types can amplify feelings of inadequacy and pressure to conform.
Social media is full of pro-eating disorder content, despite efforts to curb it. This is content that promotes disordered eating behaviors that can negatively influence vulnerable individuals.
The mainstream media’s coverage of conversations about body image and diet culture can contribute to unhealthy relationships with food and body image. To combat this, we have to keep increasing the awareness in both families and in individuals who may be struggling with eating disorder behaviors. While awareness and conversations about body image issues are important, they sometimes stimulate conversations or concerns on the parts of individuals or families. This may increase anxiety around body image, leading to more eating disorder diagnoses — but, there’s a risk that we shed a light on them as already existing.
I don’t think we can minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, even now, several years later. We are just now starting to see the results of the increased isolation and anxiety stemming from the shutdown of society. The pandemic led to increased stress, and disruptions in daily routines, which can exacerbate or trigger eating disorders. Additionally, when families isolated together, there was an increased awareness of abnormal individual behaviors around food. These people often promised that they would change or improve yet failed in their attempts to do so.
Families and loved ones truly started to become aware of the issues and educate themselves about it during this time. With the return to work and previously normative lives, some of those behaviors are starting to hide again, making it even more important to educate families on how to identify an intervene on eating disorder behaviors.
The importance and role of early intervention can’t be stressed enough. Increased awareness around mental health and body image issues has led to more diagnoses, as people are more likely to seek help. Families, schools, communities, physicians, and therapists are more actively identifying and addressing early signs of eating disorders. Identifying and intervening at an early age or early in the disorder process increases the likelihood of recovery from the behaviors and a return to a more normal life.
Lastly, we have to change the cultural and societal pressures that inadvertently lead to eating disorder behaviors. We have an achievement culture — there is societal pressure to excel in every aspect of life, which can contribute to perfectionism, a trait often linked with eating disorders. In addition, gender norms and expectations have to be looked at.
Both men and women face societal expectations about their bodies, which can contribute to disordered eating patterns. These issues arise within and around an individual struggling with disordered eating behaviors — they frequently start within the family system. An individual who receives any level of treatment for eating disorders will, and must, return to their family or loved ones for support. That’s why changing the narrative around the expectations in culture and society starts with the family.
Based on your insight, what concrete steps can a) individuals, b) corporations, c) communities and d) leaders do to address the core issues that are leading to this problem?
Addressing the core issues leading to struggles in eating disorder treatment field requires collaborative effort on multiple fronts and some action items.
For individuals, education is key — this includes learning to recognize the signs of eating disorders, such as drastic weight loss or gain, obsessive focus on food, and changes in behavior or mood and then providing loving, but accountable, support. Approach the individual with empathy and concern. Avoid judgmental language — this can range from emphasizing that they need care to suggesting that they seek professional help.
Overall, the number one need is communication. Eating disorders thrive in darkness and isolation. Those who struggle with these behaviors want to keep the parts of their life private, especially those who may know a little bit about their condition. They compartmentalize the people around them to keep their behaviors secret and safe.
Maintaining open, non-judgmental communication, between family members and with the individuals struggling with the behaviors, both during and after treatment, supports recovery, reduces stigma and the isolation that these individuals feel. It also helps to educate those around the person suffering, allowing them to have visibility into the processes of eating disorder treatment. It fosters an environment of encouragement and supports new behaviors to help an individual thrive in recovery.
In the corporate world, organizations can sponsor and lead internal and external awareness campaigns to educate employees about eating disorders and the importance of mental health. It helps to reduce stigma and provides education at the same time. Policies that allowing individuals who struggle with eating disorders with the necessary time off to receive treatment without fearing for their jobs is equally important.
Employee assistance programs are another great corporate resource that provides access to mental health resources and support including counseling and wellness programs. Fostering a healthy and proactive work environment, along with a culture that promotes positive body image and discourages unhealthy diet practices allows workers to feel supported and able to speak up.
Community efforts also start with public education, such as hosting community events and workshops about identifying and understanding eating disorders. In addition, support networks led by neighbors, friends, families and the people just like the individual who is suffering makes it feel more normal while also breaking down the walls created by the disorder. Creating and strengthening local support groups for individuals and families affected by eating disorders brings people together to develop and support cultural change to promote positive body image and self-esteem through local programs and media initiatives.
For leaders in the industry, the key is to fund research to better to understand the underlying eating disorder causes in order to develop effective treatments. Through advocacy, we can create policies that increase access to mental health care and ensure insurance coverage for eating disorder treatments. Leaders can also help through technology integration by supporting innovations in treatment, such as virtual care programs to reach underserved areas will expand access and awareness at the same time.
By working together, individuals, corporations, communities, and leaders can create an environment that supports recovery, reduces stigma, and promotes healthier, more positive attitudes towards body image and mental health.
As you know, one of the challenges of an eating disorder is the harmful, and dismissive sentiment of “why can’t you just control yourself”. What do you think needs to be done to make it apparent that an eating disorder is an illness just like heart disease or schizophrenia?
Addressing the harmful and dismissive attitudes towards eating disorders and emphasizing that they are illnesses like heart disease or schizophrenia requires comprehensive efforts in education, individualized treatment, and compassionate care.
Here are some key approaches. It starts with destigmatizing eating disorders through educational campaigns, the sharing of personal stories, and professional endorsements. Public health campaigns that can clearly communicate the impact of eating disorders and the seriousness of the mental illness that frequently occur with eating disorder behaviors is one example. This includes ensuring that the biological, psychological, and environmental issues and factors are highlighted.
Sharing personal stories in the education campaigns makes it more real for those still struggling. They hear about the challenges that they are facing from someone who has walked the same path. It helps to humanize the condition and breaks down stereotypes. When you add to that professional education and endorsements from healthcare professionals, especially those who see and treat eating disorders, it reinforces the medical legitimacy of the disorders and starts to highlight how a person’s health is impacted by the disorder.
Individuals who struggle with eating disorders are each unique. The disorder appears differently in every person. Individualized treatment is a requirement for recovery — one size does not fit all. A singular approach to treatment can be ineffective because of the diverse symptoms in each person. Eating disorders manifest differently in each individual. The disorder has varied causes, meaning that the underlying causes can range from genetic predispositions to environmental triggers. Additionally, each person’s journey to recovery is unique, requiring tailored intervention strategies.
At Alsana, our Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) approach helps patients develop compassion for themselves and others. It also addresses shame and helps patients to reduce these feelings, along with self-criticism that often accompany eating disorders. This is accomplished through emotion regulation through strategies to better manage and regulate emotions, such as coping mechanisms that don’t rely on disordered eating behaviors.
The Adaptive Care Model advocates for personalized care based on the individual’s specific needs and conditions, rather than a rigid protocol. It utilizes an interdisciplinary approach by combining the expertise of psychologists, nutritionists, medical doctors, and other specialists to create a comprehensive, cohesive treatment plan. The plan is always in a state of dynamic adjustment, which means the ability to adjust the treatment plan as the patient progresses or encounters new challenges, ensuring continuous and relevant support.
The challenge is to shift perspectives — practical steps to do so involves integrating eating disorders deeper into medical training programs. This might mean a comprehensive training on eating disorders in medical and mental health professional curricula to provide future practitioners with the tools to recognize and treat these illnesses respectfully and effectively. It also involves legislation and policy changes to advocate and recognize eating disorders as legitimate health concerns to ensure insurance coverage and access to treatment. Lastly, it’s important to encourage responsible media portrayals of eating disorders, focusing on them as serious illnesses rather than lifestyle choices.
By combining educational efforts, tailored treatment approaches, and compassionate care models, it is possible to shift the perception of eating disorders from a matter of self-control to recognizing them as the complex illnesses they truly are. This multifaceted strategy can help reduce stigma, promote understanding, and encourage those affected to seek the help they need.
Here is the main question of our interview. Can you please share with our readers 5 ways to support a loved one who is struggling with an eating disorder? If you can, can you share an example from your own experience?
Supporting a loved one with an eating disorder can be challenging, but your care and understanding can make a significant difference. Here are five ways to offer support:
1. Educate Yourself. Learn about eating disorders to understand what your loved one is experiencing. Knowledge reduces misconceptions and helps you provide informed support. In particular, since eating disorders are unique to each individual, learn about your loved one’s behaviors and how the disorder manifests in them. It starts with a real, honest conversation with them about their struggles with a key question being “how can I support you?” During the conversation, listen actively by offering an ear without judgment. Let them express their feelings and concerns. Your non-judgmental presence can be very comforting.
2. Encourage Professional Help. Eating disorders are frequently more insidious and stronger than a family can handle on their own. Even if the family has health care professional in it, they are frequently too close to the issues and dynamics to be objective. Gently suggest seeking help from a therapist or a healthcare provider. Remind them that professional treatment can significantly aid in recovery. In addition, the family should seek aid for themselves. There is a change needed in the system and it starts with everyone in the system looking within, and then focusing on helping each other and professional help is the start of both of those processes.
3. Avoid Focusing on Food. Don’t make comments about their eating habits or body. Instead, focus on their feelings and experiences. Avoid diet talk, weight discussions, or trigger foods around them. Create a supportive and judgment-free environment. Invite them to participate in activities that they enjoy, which do not center around food and can help boost their confidence and mood.
4. Be Patient. Recovery is a long process. Show patience and understanding and remind them that you’re there for them through every step of their journey. Be there for them in good and bad times. Offering emotional support can help them feel less isolated and more understood. There will be ups and downs in the process, including successes and failures. Allow everyone in the family to be human and to have struggles. It is through adversity that things change and eating disorders are no exception to that idea.
This idea leads me to the last suggestion.
5. Celebrate Progress. Celebrate their successes and progress, no matter how small. Positive reinforcement encourages continued effort and resilience. Recovery from an eating disorder is not a single leap, it is a series of small changes, of tiny shifts. Finding and celebrating the successes more than denigrating the failures provides an emotional lift to the entire system, it provides hope and the needed energy to take on the next challenge.
How do you navigate the balance between offering support and respecting the autonomy of a loved one with an eating disorder?
Navigating the balance between offering support and respecting a loved one’s autonomy during their recovery from an eating disorder is a delicate and crucial process. Some strategies that I have seen work for families in the past are:
- Open communication. Check in regularly to ask how they’re feeling and what they need. Open and honest communication helps gauge their comfort and boundaries. While doing so, provide mutual respect. This means respect their wishes and listen actively, showing that you value their autonomy and feelings.
- Educate them about relapse, and that recovery is not linear. There will be good days and bad days. Relapses are a normal part of recovery and not a failure if they return to recovery behaviors. This can reduce feelings of shame and guilt. Focus on progress, highlight their achievements and use setbacks as learning opportunities to reinforce resilience.
- Encourage independence through empowering decision making such as decisions about their treatment and recovery. This reinforces their sense of control and self-efficacy.
- Offer choices and provide options instead of directives, allowing them to choose what they feel comfortable with regarding meals or activities. A key to that process is setting boundaries and then following through with potential consequences. Recovery is about a series of successes and failures — finding the desire and the path is the challenge a loved one faces.
- Provide non-intrusive support, be available, not overbearing. Let loved ones them know you’re there for support without hovering. This demonstrates your trust in their ability to manage their recovery.
- Respect their privacy and give them space to process their emotions and thoughts without feeling monitored constantly. Eating disorders are a disease of control. If a person struggling with an eating disorder feels controlled, the behavior will go underground or come out in a different way.
- Celebrate small wins. Acknowledge these achievements to build confidence and reinforce positive behavior. Encourage self-compassion and promote self-forgiveness. Emphasize the importance of being kind to oneself, especially during tough times.
- Set boundaries, define your role. Clarify how you can help and set boundaries to avoid becoming overly involved. This maintains a healthy relationship dynamic. Ensure that your loved one is practicing self-care. Take care of your own mental and emotional well-being to prevent burnout and maintain a balanced, supportive posture.
- Support therapy appointments. Encourage and support attendance at these sessions but respect their pace and choice.
- Collaborate with professionals. Recovery and treatment don’t happen in a vacuum. Work with healthcare providers to understand how best to support your loved one without undermining professional advice.
Is there a message you would like to tell someone who may be reading this, who is currently struggling with an eating disorder?
To someone who is currently struggling with an eating disorder, I want to share this message with you:
Dear Fighter,
Firstly, I want you to know that you are incredibly brave. Acknowledging your struggle is a significant step forward, and I commend you for your courage.
You are not alone. While it may feel like a dark and lonely place, it’s essential to recognize that you are not alone in this battle. Many people have faced and overcome eating disorders. You have a support system, whether it’s friends, family, or professionals, who care deeply about your well-being. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help; your feelings are valid and deserving of support.
Believe in your strength. A positive mindset is vital during treatment. Believing in the possibility of long-lasting recovery can be a powerful motivator. While the journey may have its ups and downs, every small step forward is progress. Relapses do not define you; they are just part of the process. Your strength lies in your ability to keep moving forward, even when it’s challenging.
Practice being kind to yourself. Recovery is not about perfection but progress. Forgive yourself when things don’t go as planned and understand that healing is a gradual process. You deserve patience, love, and respect — from yourself most of all.
Visualize your health and happiness. Keep envisioning a future where you are healthy and free from the grips of your eating disorder. Visualizing a positive outcome can be incredibly empowering. Remember that recovery enables you to rediscover joy, strength, and freedom — things that are very much within your reach.
Above all, you are worth it! Believe that you are worthy of recovery and happiness. Your life has immense value and potential, and you deserve to live it fully. Pursue recovery not just to survive, but to truly thrive.
Every step you take towards recovery, no matter how small, is a testament to your strength and resilience. Keep moving forward with hope and determination. Recovery is not only possible but within reach.
We believe in you.
Remember, if you or someone you know is struggling, professional help is available and can make a significant difference on this journey.
In your experience, what are the most effective strategies for building resilience and a positive self-image in individuals recovering from an eating disorder?
Building resilience and a positive self-image in individuals recovering from an eating disorder is multifaceted and requires a personalized approach. It starts through practicing self-compassion. This is indeed a lifelong practice, pivotal in maintaining recovery long after formal treatment concludes. It involves being kind to oneself, recognizing one’s suffering, and understanding that everyone experiences difficulties. Self-compassion can mitigate feelings of shame and self-criticism, common in eating disorder struggles.
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) is instrumental in aiding self-compassion. It teaches individuals to develop compassion for themselves through mindfulness, understanding their emotions, and practicing self-kindness. This therapy helps in reducing internalized shame and promoting a healthier self-image.
Building resilience starts by establishing support networks, Having a supportive network of family, friends, or support groups can create a safe space for sharing experiences and fostering encouragement. This network plays a crucial role in building emotional resilience. It continues through setting realistic goals.
Setting small, achievable goals can boost confidence and provide a sense of accomplishment. These goals should be specific, manageable, and celebrated upon completion.
Building positive self-image starts with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It helps in identifying and challenging negative thought patterns and beliefs about oneself. Plus, it promotes healthier and more realistic self-perceptions. Techniques used in CBT include restructuring negative thoughts, which can significantly enhance self-esteem and body image.
Body positivity and acceptance also helps in the process of recovery. Engaging with the body positivity movement can encourage acceptance and appreciation of one’s body regardless of societal standards. This involves focusing on what the body can do rather than solely how it looks.
Developing healthy habits such as utilizing balanced nutrition and exercise is also key. Learning about and maintaining balanced nutrition helps to instill a positive relationship with food. Engaging in physical activities that are enjoyable rather than obligatory promotes a healthy body image. Journaling and documenting thoughts, feelings, and progress allows for reflection and self-expression. It can be a helpful tool in seeing growth and understanding emotional triggers.
Continuing therapy even after formal treatment can provide ongoing support and strategies for maintaining recovery. Therapists that specialize in eating disorders provide tailored guidance to navigate challenges.
Participating in workshops on self-esteem, body image, and resilience building can provide new tools and perspectives to strengthen recovery.
In conclusion, building resilience and a positive self-image is an ongoing journey that combines self-compassion, therapeutic practices, and supportive networks. CFT, in particular, is beneficial in fostering kindness towards oneself, vital for long-term recovery. Remember, recovery is not just about overcoming the disorder but building a fulfilling and empowered life.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the largest amount of people, what would that be?
A movement that could bring the most good to the largest number of people would focus on a holistic approach to mental health. A holistic approach would provide comprehensive care and embrace the connection between mind, body, and spirit. It doesn’t just focus on symptoms but seeks to understand underlying causes. It can lead to more effective, long-term healing while highlighting preventive measures by promoting wellness through nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, and stress management. Ultimately, this approach can prevent the escalation of mental health issues. Preventive measures can reduce the overall mental health burden significantly.
As I previously stated, it would help to reduce stigma. Holistic health approaches often normalize mental health care, encouraging people from all walks of life to seek help without shame. This inclusivity can lead to better mental health outcomes for everyone. Providers could integrate traditional and modern practices into treatment such as yoga, meditation, and community support — this provides a well-rounded treatment plan that caters to diverse needs.
How can we implement a holistic mental health movement?
It starts with education and awareness by creating nationwide campaigns to educate people on the importance of mental health, similar to physical health. Schools, workplaces, and community centers should offer workshops on mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and stress management.
Lastly, we need community support. Fostering community-based programs where individuals can receive support in a non-clinical environment. Peer support groups, mental health first aid training, and community wellness events can build a supportive culture.
A holistic approach to mental health can fundamentally transform how society views, treats, and prioritizes mental well-being. By addressing mental health comprehensively and inclusively, we can improve the quality of life for countless individuals, making a significant, widespread positive impact. This movement, supported by education, policy, accessibility, and community, has the potential to bring profound good to the largest number of people.
How can our readers continue to follow your work online?
I invite readers to visit alsana.com to learn more about eating disorders. Feel free to also follow me on LinkedIn or email me at [email protected]
Thank you so much for this. This was very inspirational, and we wish you only continued success!
Allan Benham Of Alsana On How To Support A Loved One Who Is Struggling With An Eating Disorder was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.