Eating disorders, body dysmorphia, somatic symptoms, stress-related illness

EATING DISORDERS, BODY DYSMORPHIA, SOMATIC SYMPTOMS, STRESS-RELATED PHYSICAL ILLNESS

Helping children and young people heal

This presentation is designed to help delegates to develop a deeper understanding of how trauma can manifest in the body in a myriad of ways. This is not new knowledge. All those years ago, Freud wrote extensively about how unresolved traumatic events can so easily be expressed in a physical way and converted into physical symptoms. Current research shows how right he was.

Presenters will discuss a range of physical manifestations of emotional pain coupled with a hyperarousal autonomic nervous system, including:

• Functional neurologic disorder (e.g. paralysis, non-epileptic seizures, speech symptoms, sudden on-set blindness). Symptoms are very real but don’t match up with recognised brain-related conditions or show up on blood tests or brain imaging MRI /CT scanning.
• Body dysmorphia, where a person spends a lot of their waking hours feeling shame/ worry about perceived flaws in their appearance, flaws are often unnoticeable to others.
• Somatic symptoms meaning extreme preoccupation with physical symptoms (real or imagined).

All of the above seriously affect quality of life and blight important relationships. In the forum there will also be fascinating content on stress-related physical symptoms and illnesses such as fibromyalgia and IBS, stomach and headaches, certain skin conditions, and how the whole body-mind can be re-tuned to ensure recovery.

‘Eating disorders’ can take over the lives of sufferers and in some cases lead to death. They can leave so many professionals feeling helpless and useless. In contrast, when underlying emotional pain is named (alexithymia is a key component of eating disorders) expressed and processed, taking into account family systems when relevant, people can go on to heal. Vicki Smith will discuss eating disorders, from underlying emotional pain to healing.

MORE INFORMATION

Event Type: Online CPD in Child & Adolescent Mental Health

Recordings: Access to this presentation's time-limited recording will be provided approx. 5-10 working days after the live event.

Breakout Sessions: Some presentations may include a short breakout session to reflect on the content.

Certificate of Attendance: Attend one or more of our live online CPD in Child & Adolescent Mental Health presentations (or their time-limited recording) to gain a CPD Certificate of Attendance.

Progression: Attend or view all 10 presentations to access three further IATE Certificated Awards. Visit our website for more information.

ABOUT THE PRESENTERS

Dr Margot Sunderland

Founding Director Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education (Higher Education College Academic Partner of the University of East London). Director of Education and Training Centre for Child Mental Health. Director of Innovation and Research Trauma Informed Schools UK (TISUK). TISUK has delivered training to over 20,000 school and community staff across the UK. They have University of East London and DfE approved trainings. Currently undertaking a random control trial for Home Office and Youth Endowment Foundation, on trauma informed practice in schools.

Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychotherapist with over thirty years’ experience. Author of over twenty books in the field of child mental health, which collectively have been translated into eighteen languages and published in twenty-four countries. Author of the internationally acclaimed book, ‘The Science of Parenting’ (Dorling Kindersley) which won a First Prize in the British Medical Association Book Awards (popular medicine) and endorsed by the world’s leading affective neuroscientist, Professor Jaak Panksepp. The book has also been voted as one of the top brain books of our time by The Dana Foundation.

Vicky Smith

UKCP and HCPC Integrative arts psychotherapist with extensive experience working in forensic services (both in HMPPS and the NHS), acute mental health services and specialist complex trauma services. Programme Director MA Integrative Arts Psychotherapy.