Customer Reviews

The Deadly Diet: Recovering from Anorexia and Bulimia

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is very heavily based on cognitive and rational-emotive therapy as a way to control emotions, and therefor destructive eating patterns. Dr. Sandbek talks about the differences between constructive negative emotions (like sadness) and negative destructive emotions (like depression), and their consequent constructive and destructive behaviors. You learn to recognize that destructive emotions come from distorted thoughts. He recommends taking all the ugly things one says to themselves and thinking of it as a seperate internal voice. Then you learn to argue with and defeat the "Voice." Dr. Sandbek also emphasizes time management and stress reduction techniques. On the negative side Dr. Sandbek doesn't appear to have an iota of a feminist perspective in him (at one point he recommends anorexics look Playboy so they can see how much thinner they are then women "men consider attractive"), which is startling considering how many women this disease affects. This isn't too much of a concern however, since clearly his intent is to help women overcome disempowering emotions and behaviors, with clinical proven cognitive tools.

One of the best books I've read on Anorexia. A must have for any therapist treating eating disorders. I keep copies in my office to keep for patients. I wish it wasn't out of print. Glad Amazon is around to buy old copies. Useful for all eating disorders, by the way. Excellent CBT approach.

I do not have anorexia but Learned so much from this book My friend and I went through it like it was a college class. We loved it. We did the work and reaped the rewards. Thanks, Kitty