Dying to Please

This second edition updates the 1983 work (“a gem”—Booklist) with a wealth of new information. The author, a therapist and recovered anorexic, draws upon her own experience and extensive research to produce a comprehensive account of the symptoms, causes and treatments of anorexia nervosa. She illuminates the anorexic’s paradox—self-annihilation in service of self-preservation—and the central task of recovery: development of a Self. The author addresses the origins and attributes of anorexia and accompanying disorders, the use and misuse of the Internet, and the concept of recovery. She addresses different therapies in detail, as well as therapies for families and interventions. A directory of organizations, a list of resources for information and referral, a bibliography and index are included.

Avis Rumney is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, an Eating Disorder Specialist, and a Certified Interventionist in private practice in Marin County, California. More information on eating disorders can be found at her website AvisRumney.com.

Avis Rumney
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 200
Bibliographic Info: directory, appendices, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2009
pISBN: 978-0-7864-4378-9
eISBN: 978-0-7864-5391-7
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      v
Preface to the Second Edition      1
Introduction      7

Part One: Anorexia
1. The Paradox of Self-Annihilation in Service of Self-Preservation      11
2. What Is Anorexia and What Causes It?      16
What Is Anorexia Nervosa?      16
How Prevalent Is Anorexia Nervosa?      17
What Causes Anorexia Nervosa?      17
Is Anorexia an Addiction?      23
3. Uses and Misuses of the Internet      25
4. Disorders That May Accompany Anorexia      28
Depression      28
Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders      29
Body Dysmorphic Disorder      31
Bulimia Nervosa      32
Alcohol or Drug Addiction      32
Personality Disorders      33
5. Some Attributes of Anorexia      34
Perfectionism      34
Competition      38
Unresolved Grief      43
Immature Sexuality and Relationships      50
Distortion of Body Image      61

Part Two: Treatment and Recovery
6. Understanding Recovery      75
What Constitutes Cure?      75
Challenges in Evaluating Recovery      76
The Foundation of Recovery: Development of a Coherent Sense of Self      81
My Journey Towards Self-Development      83
7. Approaching Treatment      89
Essential Components in the Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa      89
Considerations in Treatment      90
Aspects of Treatment      91
8. Therapy for an Anorexic      98
Psychotherapeutic Modalities      98
Experiential Modalities      113
Psychopharmacology      137
9. Therapy for Families and Family Members      143
Family Therapy      143
Therapy for Individual Family Members      148
10. 12-Step Programs      155
11. Intervention      161

Epilogue      167
Appendix A. Treatment Centers for Eating Disorders      169
Appendix B. Resources for Information and Referral      176
Bibliography      179
Internet References      186
Index      187

• “Rumney succinctly synthesizes current understanding of anorexia and offers her own case…cogently explains what constitutes a cure…a gem”—Booklist
• “considerably updated…an excellent overview from a uniquely knowledgeable, qualified, and hopeful perspective. Essential”—Choice
• “compelling insider information…Rumney does an especially good job of combining personal anecdote with fact. Recovered and recovering anorexics will especially be drawn to the book”—Library Journal
• “interweaving the insights of her own personal story of recovery with decades of clinical experience, Rumney provides a powerful treatment manual for anorexia nervosa. An excellent source for individuals in recovery and their families, as well as students, this book thoroughly describes the multidimensional aspects of this disorder and recovery from it.”—Leigh Cohn, MAT, CEDS, Editor-in-Chief, Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention
• “Avis Rumney guides readers on a journey of understanding anorexia from the inside out in this comprehensive and well-researched second edition.”—Caroyln Costin, MA, MEd., MFT, CEDS Director, Monte Nido Treatment Center and Affiliates, and author, Eating Disorder Sourcebook
•  “interesting…useful…thorough…impressive…helpful…well-organized…a book to recommend to others”—Journal of Pediatric Psychology
• “a first-rate work…thoroughly documented”—Small Press Review
• “personal and comprehensive”—Parents Press
• “detailed…precise”—American Anorexia/Bulimia Association Newsletter
• “well organized…in-depth…informative”—Eating Disorders Foundation of California
• “well-balanced…insightful…well worth reading”—Science Books & Films