Local therapist offers advice for those struggling with eating disorders during pandemic

With the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting our normal routines, mental health problems like eating disorders can be triggered.

TURNING OUR HOMES INTOCLASSROOMS. WORK OFFICES.

ANDGYMS. IT'S EASY TO FEELANYTHING BUT NORMAL.23ABC'S KALLYN HOBMANN SPOKEWITH LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALSABOUT THE WAYS THIS LACK OFNORMALCY CAN IMPACT OUREATING HABITS.

AND THOSE WITHEATING DISORDERS.SHE JOINS US LIVE FROM THEBAKERSFIELD BEHAVIORALHEALTHCARE HOSPITAL.

KALLYN?WE'RE STAYING HOME TO KEEPOURSELVES SAFE AND HEALTHY.BUT THIS DISRUPTION TO OUR USUALROUTINE CAN BEAN ISSUE FOR MENTAL HEALTHPROBLEMS LIKE EATINGDISORDERS.COVID-19 HAS DISRUPTED OURNORMAL WAY OF WORKING.

GOINGTO SCHOOL.

WORKING OUT.

ORGETTING DINNERLICENSED MARRIAGE AND FAMILYTHERAPIST MELISSA DELISSAYS THIS MAJOR CHANGE TO DAILYROUTINES CAN TRIGGERDISORDERED EATING AS A COPINGMECHANISM."IT'S THEIR KIND OF GO-TO, SOWHENTIMES OF STRESS ARE HEAVY, OFTENSYMPTOMS AND COPING WILLINCREASE.

PEOPLE CAN FEELCOMPELLED TO DIET OR RESTRICTTHEIR FOOD INTAKEOR RESTRICT CERTAIN TYPES OFFOOD."BAKERSFIELD BEHAVIORALHEALTHCARE HOSPITAL'SDIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTAMBER SMITHSONSAYS THE FIRST STEP TO GETTINGHELP IS ACKNOWLEDGINGTHE PROBLEM."IT'S, AGAIN, IMPORTANT TORECOGNIZE WHETHER OR NOT YOU'REKIND OF GOING DOWN A NEGATIVE ORUNHEALTHY ROUTE."SMITHSON ENCOURAGES THOSESTRUGGLING TOUSE ONLINE AND IN-PERSONRESOURCES."YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUARESTILL SEEKING OUT THAT HELP THATYOU NEED.

YOU'RE STILL SEEKINGOUT THATSUPPORT THAT YOU NEED."SMITHSON SAYS THE NATIONALEATING DISORDERSASSOCIATION WEBSITE HASSCREENING TESTS..

AND YOUCAN SEARCH FOR SUPPORT GROUPS INYOUR AREA.BARBER RECOMMENDS FINDING LOCALPROFESSIONALSFOR HELP TOO."REACHING OUT TO A TREATMENTTEAM, ATHERAPIST, REGISTERED DIETICIANTHAT SPECIALIZES INDISORDERED EATING, IS A GREATWAY TO KIND OF FIGURE OUT WHATSOME NEWCOPING SKILLS ARE AND REALLY GETTO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM."FOR ANYONE STRUGGLING WITH ANEATING DISORDER.BARBER SAYS SHE WANTS YOU TOKNOW YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

ANDTHERE ARE MANY ONLINE RESOURCESREADY FOR YOUTO USE.AGAIN.

SMITHSON SAYS NATIONALEATING DISORDERS DOTORG IS A GREAT ONLINE RESOURCETO USE IF YOU ORANYONE YOU KNOW NEEDS HELP ORGUIDANCE.

FORNOW HERE AT BAKERSFIELDBEHAVIORAL HEALTHCAREHOSPITAL..KALLYNHOBMANN..23ABC..

CONNECTING YOU