A Hunger Artist

Anorexia Nervosa

Letting Go and Letting Yourself Go: Benefiting From Both in Anorexia Recovery

Emily T. Troscianko on March 31, 2024

Shifting our often unspoken scripts during or before recovery from anorexia can help dissolve the fear of “she let herself go” and lean into the subversion of letting go.

Shifting our often unspoken scripts during or before recovery from anorexia can help dissolve the fear of “she let herself go” and lean into the subversion of letting go.

Self-Control

"Letting Go" as the Essence of Recovery from Anorexia

Emily T. Troscianko on March 30, 2024

How easily do images of “letting go” come to mind for you? What does it mean to let your life be changed by them rather than by the “letting yourself go” alternatives?

How easily do images of “letting go” come to mind for you? What does it mean to let your life be changed by them rather than by the “letting yourself go” alternatives?

Fear

“Letting Yourself Go” as a Block to Recovery

Emily T. Troscianko on March 26, 2024

What does the phrase “she really let herself go” conjure up for you? What might it be preventing you from doing in your life right now?

What does the phrase “she really let herself go” conjure up for you? What might it be preventing you from doing in your life right now?

Guilt

Inducing Anticipated Regret and Ignoring Anticipated Guilt

Emily T. Troscianko on December 2, 2023

Anticipated regret works to change intentions and behavior, so how do you get it to work for you? And how to avoid getting sidetracked by anticipated guilt?

Anticipated regret works to change intentions and behavior, so how do you get it to work for you? And how to avoid getting sidetracked by anticipated guilt?

Eating Disorders

Anticipated Regret for Doing vs. Not Doing

Emily T. Troscianko on November 30, 2023

How does the old adage about regretting the things you didn’t do play out in the context of anorexia recovery?

How does the old adage about regretting the things you didn’t do play out in the context of anorexia recovery?

Eating Disorders

Anticipated Regret and the Longing for Presence

Emily T. Troscianko on November 28, 2023

A Personal Perspective: Regret can be hard to access in anorexia and recovery.

A Personal Perspective: Regret can be hard to access in anorexia and recovery.

Eating Disorders

Connections Between Anticipated Regret and Anorexia Recovery

Emily T. Troscianko on November 27, 2023

What is anticipated regret, and what gives it the potency to help us take action where fear and rational considerations may fail?

What is anticipated regret, and what gives it the potency to help us take action where fear and rational considerations may fail?

Appetite

The Role of Food Dislikes in Recovery From Anorexia

Emily T. Troscianko on August 30, 2023

Food likes and dislikes strongly influence eating disorder recovery. Here's why many in recovery dislike so many foods, and how to change the defaults.

Food likes and dislikes strongly influence eating disorder recovery. Here's why many in recovery dislike so many foods, and how to change the defaults.

Eating Disorders

How to Break the Malnutrition and Mental Function Deadlock

Emily T. Troscianko on June 8, 2023

How much of the cognitive damage inflicted by anorexia results from malnutrition? And how can we break the vicious cycles of rigid thinking and restrictive eating?

How much of the cognitive damage inflicted by anorexia results from malnutrition? And how can we break the vicious cycles of rigid thinking and restrictive eating?

Eating Disorders

Complex Dynamics in Mental Functioning With Anorexia

Emily T. Troscianko on June 7, 2023

Cognitive function in anorexia sometimes looks surprisingly good. But how can it contribute to helping anorexia survive? Should we even talk of “damage” and “limitations”?

Cognitive function in anorexia sometimes looks surprisingly good. But how can it contribute to helping anorexia survive? Should we even talk of “damage” and “limitations”?

Eating Disorders

Why Does Recovery Not Seem to Help With Mental Functioning?

Emily T. Troscianko on June 1, 2023

Design flaws in studies and reviews of anorexia and cognitive functioning help account for findings of little or no improvement after weight restoration or full recovery.

Design flaws in studies and reviews of anorexia and cognitive functioning help account for findings of little or no improvement after weight restoration or full recovery.

Eating Disorders

Does Recovery From Anorexia Bring Cognitive Improvements?

Emily T. Troscianko on May 29, 2023

An overview of evidence suggesting that weight restoration, remission, or recovery from anorexia does not bring cognitive improvements.

An overview of evidence suggesting that weight restoration, remission, or recovery from anorexia does not bring cognitive improvements.

Eating Disorders

Does Anorexia Cause Cognitive Difficulties or Vice Versa?

Emily T. Troscianko on May 27, 2023

Examining the cause and effect of cognitive function and anorexia, including whether recovery from anorexia brings cognitive deficits to an end.

Examining the cause and effect of cognitive function and anorexia, including whether recovery from anorexia brings cognitive deficits to an end.

Eating Disorders

How Anorexia Damages Our Mental Capacities: Correlations

Emily T. Troscianko on May 25, 2023

Anorexia nervosa goes hand in hand with a wide range of cognitive and emotional deficits. This post unpacks the correlational evidence.

Anorexia nervosa goes hand in hand with a wide range of cognitive and emotional deficits. This post unpacks the correlational evidence.

Eating Disorders

How Anorexia Damages Our Mental Capacities

Emily T. Troscianko on May 24, 2023

The evidence about the impact of anorexia nervosa on cognitive function.

The evidence about the impact of anorexia nervosa on cognitive function.

Intelligence

Closing the Gap Between Insight and Action

Emily T. Troscianko on September 30, 2022

Certain structures, beliefs, and practicalities may make it easier to intellectually understand than to act accordingly.

Certain structures, beliefs, and practicalities may make it easier to intellectually understand than to act accordingly.

Cognition

The Gap Between Insight and Action: Causes and Responses

Emily T. Troscianko on September 29, 2022

The ease and satisfaction of interpretation and the devaluing of practical relative to intellectual change are avoidable contributors to paralysis.

The ease and satisfaction of interpretation and the devaluing of practical relative to intellectual change are avoidable contributors to paralysis.

Eating Disorders

The Gap Between Insight and Action

Emily T. Troscianko on September 27, 2022

How can we understand—and then bring to an end—the frustration and damage caused by having insight and persistently not acting on it?

How can we understand—and then bring to an end—the frustration and damage caused by having insight and persistently not acting on it?

Eating Disorders

Free Will, Restaurants, and Eating Disorders

Emily T. Troscianko on July 9, 2022

The restaurant game helps break the deadlock of exerting control and fearing losing it in eating disorder recovery, by creating experiences that are less about “me” deciding.

The restaurant game helps break the deadlock of exerting control and fearing losing it in eating disorder recovery, by creating experiences that are less about “me” deciding.

Free Will

The Restaurant Game and Free Will

Emily T. Troscianko on July 8, 2022

A Personal Perspective: Playing games with menus gives you the chance to experience making decisions differently—and even challenge your assumptions about who’s doing it.

A Personal Perspective: Playing games with menus gives you the chance to experience making decisions differently—and even challenge your assumptions about who’s doing it.