Regaining Your Self: Breaking Free From the Eating Disorder Identity: A Bold New Approach

by Ira M. Sacker, Sheila Buff

A new understanding and approach to eating disorders from a renowned expert, coauthor of the classic Dying to Be Thin Nearly 5 percent of Americans face an eating disorder -- and eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Long considered an affliction of young women, they are now common among young men, middle-aged women, and even children as young as five. This is a health crisis of epidemic proportions. Regaining Your Self offers hope in the battle against eating disorders through a radical new therapy technique pioneered by Ira M. Sacker, M.D. A leader in the field, Dr. Sacker has been treating patients with eating disorders for thirty-five years. This breakthrough book, filled with firsthand accounts from patients, family members, friends, and others, provides what patients and their families desperately a therapeutic model that heals.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Health, Self Help

224 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 2007

About the author

Ira M. Sacker, MD has specialized in eating disorders since 1975. Dr. Ira Sacker, a Los Angeles native, graduated from UCLA School of Medicine in 1968. Residency was at New York University Hospital and Bellevue Hospital.

In 1987 was co-author of the groundbreaking book, Dying To Be Thin: Understanding and Defeating Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia - A Practical Lifesaving Guide.

In 2010 his newest book, Regaining Your Self: Understanding and Conquering The Eating Disorder Identity was published.

Currently, Dr. Sacker is Clinical Assistant Professor; Department of Pediatrics NYU Langone Medical Center and Visiting Clinical Professor at Bellevue Hospital Medical Center.

Reviews

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Nourishing the self*

Ira Sacker's approach to treating eating disorders is indeed a bold new one. His refreshing approach known as PIRT (Personal Interactive Rational Therapy) takes the focus away from the food and the eating and shines the spotlight where it is most needed--on the individual's path of self-discovery. PIRT transcends traditional approaches to treating eating disorders as it provides the client the safety, space, and support to discover her own identity, independent of the confines of her eating disorder.

This book presents a comprehensive overview of eating disorders in such a compelling, fascinating, and illuminating way. Ira demystifies the lure of eating disorders by explaining how they can serve as ways (albeit unhealthy ones) to help individuals relieve their anxiety, while also giving them a sense of identity. His therapy focuses on helping the individual redefine themselves in terms of their passions and interests--and not by their body shape and weight.

Regaining Your Self is filled with compassion and understanding for those suffering from eating disorders. Ira stresses that effective treatment is one that respects the individual's difficult journey of giving up the eating disorder identity and replacing it with their newly discovered personal identity. This journey is beautifully summarized in a quote by Anais Nin that appears in the final chapter of the book:
"...and the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom..."

[Emily Persico · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up. Not triggering for those in recovery, and very helpful for everyone in the support system: the patient, the family, the doctor, the therapist, etc. It’s sad that Sacker’s “Bold New Approach,” is still a bold new approach 18 years later, but almost everything he said was like holding up a mirror to my heart, mind, and soul. Perhaps oversimplifying certain issues at times, he nonetheless maintains a diverse and person-first approach that reinforces the humanity and complexity of patients.

[Marnie]

I learned alot about regaining passion for my life!

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me two hours to read but it was such a good read, pretty informative.

[Ulla · Rating 4 out of 5]

We have recently discovered that someone close to us that we love and care about has secretly been struggling with anorexia for a long time. In order to try to understand what is going on and why, I decided to read this book that was recommended to me by people in my network who have struggled with the illness themselves.

It is an excellent account of what this disorder is and how it takes control of a person to such an extent that it takes over the actual identity of that person. It is an eyeopener in that it shows that this type of illness is something that could happen to just about anybody. It also gives you an idea of the massive time commitment that is needed to beat it once the patient is actually ready to embark on a road of recovery.

I like the author's recommended approach of respect for the patient and no manipulation or pressure, but it is also frustrating to have to accept that treatment has proven to only be effective when the patient is a willing participant. It's going to be hard to watch from the sideline and wait for that moment...

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone who has an eating disorder, who has acquaintences with eating disorders or even for people who have obsessive compulive/anxiety tendancies. Ira Sacker has broad experience and seems to be truly wise and wanting to help people regain the identity that was lost due to anxiety, compulsions and eating disorder. He looks at the point where and why a person is lost to such anxieties, helps them to see that their identitiy is not their anxiety and gives tools to help such a person realize that they can have power over their anxiety.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An overview of Dr. Sacker's personal method of eating disorder treatment, based on his 30+ years of experience. He emphasizes developing identity outside of the eating disorder as a major focus of clinical treatment. Easy to read, clearly written, some good tips for family/friends. Would have felt it more useful if more empirical data were included to support his ideas.

[Jo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't much care for this book. I ended up mostly just skimming it, and then reading all the quotes from the women. Sacker seemed to want to pigeonhole everyone into the same category, so that he could prove his ideas were right. Sensing the Self deals with similar issues, but, in my opinion, is a much better book.

[Treloar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I've read so far on eating disorders because the authors realize that fundamentally, the eating disorder becomes the identity of its victim. Great insight into identity development and restoration.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

No bold new approach included. A decent attempt with short case histories chronicled but no new insights or life-changing ideas.

[Sadie Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

The beginning gave great information as to subconscious issues and underlying complexities which create and sustain eating disorders. But unfortunately the healing plan seemed limited. The author wrote a lot about how things would go down if you were a client in his office; in contrast to the ideal and purpose of a self-help book: practical applications which you can use on your own without being a client. In the end, it came across more like a sales pitch to get more clients and less of a self-help book.