The Kyla Fox Centre

Educating and teaching parents about how blurry the lines can be between a phase in your child's development or early signs of a potential eating disorder / disordered eating rituals deeply matters to Kyla Fox Thank you to CHCH TV for having Kyla on last week to talk about things to watch for and think about as parents if you feel your child is a very "picky eater" or is showing signs of ARFID. https://lnkd.in/g3Z_5VrZ #parenting #parents #kids #mentalhealth #ARFID #meals

As an eating disorder specialist and mother, I am acutely aware of my important role in shaping the ways that my daughters feel about food, bodies, and their sense of self. As parents, we cannot control or be responsible for EVERYTHING that our children are exposed to (that is just not possible). We certainly can learn how to be a safe landing, reliable sounding board, and a positive example for developing a safe relationship with food and the body. I was lucky enough to talk more in depth about this with Lianne Castelino on Where Parents Talk.com podcast. This podcast is a dream resource for parents. So many great guests talking about the wide ranging things and emotions we go through as parents. Community and honesty is a winning combo..... #parenting #parents #kids #mentalhealth

Parents: Your self criticism hits your kids deep. They hear it all. They're sponges to your every move, every word. And so, if your move, your words, is about your self hatred towards your body, you're affecting your kid in a big way. I know it's certainly not possible to become a parent and have all your struggles worked out all the time. But it is possible to always be doing the ongoing work to make safer home for you and your kids. Remember, you set the tone. And your body, and the things you say and feel about it, send a strong message to your kids about their bodies and about other peoples bodies. We need to keep doing the work to keep negative body talk, body shame out of the picture for our kids. Let's be parents who teach otherwise and raise kids who like what they live in. #mentalhealth #parenting #eatingdisorderrecovery

Recovery is vast in how it shows itself. When someone is working through their recovery, finding more seperation from the rules and the regime of their eating disorder, they are making many changes all the time - some more noticeable than others. These changes may be subtle at first, but over time, as as they're nurtured and acknowledged, they become more recognizable. Because eating disorders are not primarily about food and the body, but about the biological, social, psychological, environmental, relational factors surrounding a person, changes in all of these places are critical indicators of recovery and growth. The body is only one piece of a massive puzzle that is recovery. #mentalhealth #eatingdisorderrecovery #recovery

Yesterday Kyla Fox had the pleasure of going on Breakfast Television to discuss "picky eating" and ARFID specifically in children under 12 years old. A lot of parents come to us for ARFID support for their children. The goal of our clinical team is always the same: 1. Let parents focus on being parents and loving and supporting their kids. 2. We use our expertise to help the family and child learn about the ED and recover. 3. We work as a team. Family and clinical team together - Always. There are so many intricate and unique ways that eating disorders show themselves in the lives of children and adults and we cannot be quiet about it. Keep educating. Keep talking. Keep supporting. #eatingdisorders #mentalhealth #arfid https://lnkd.in/gt9kqcJ8

"I can't go out with friends for dinner because I have to get in a workout." "Chocolate only on weekends." "No eating before 10am" "Eat the whole tub of ice cream." "I have to get into that dress before the party." The examples are endless... Food and body rules - whatever you want to call them: Maybe eating disordered, maybe disordered eating, maybe dieting, maybe what's healthy or fit, or maybe what's "normal"... The label we attach to any of these rules/ thoughts / beliefs isn't what really matters. What matters is how much they impact us. And the impact is way bigger than just passive. They shift your LIFE, sense of self, worth, confidence, and take up SO MUCH TIME AND ENERGY - they're not just passive, they can be MASSIVE. If we can work to eliminate all the big thoughts / beliefs/ rules around food and the body - there's such a BIG opportunity to feel free. To live free. #mentalhealth #food #body #eatingdisorders #eatingdisorderawareness

How many times have you been through something painful and suddenly hated on your body? Or how about when you made a mistake at work and suddenly didn't like how you looked? Or maybe when you felt seen by someone you were interested in and you then loved what you saw in the mirror? Why? Because it's "easier" in those moments to make it about your body than about the real things that are affecting you. The body is tangible and that makes it feel more accessible to your self-critic. Feelings, life, work, recovery, relationships.... navigating it all, it can feel hard and putting those feelings out on your body can make it feel easier in the moment. Try asking yourself these questions the next time you notice the judgements you place on your body: "What am I really feeling here?" "What is really affecting me beyond my body?" "Why am I so focused on my body and what would I have to face if that wasn't an option?" #mentalhealth

Did you eat breakfast this morning? They always say "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" and our team says: "It's the most important start to shifting eating patterns in the day." When you eat an adequate, nourishing breakfast, you allow your body to begin to understand that it is not restricting and skipping it/ not eating enough, not binging and getting in more than it needs, and not purging and getting rid of it afterwards. This is such a critical message we want to give to the body each meal and snack time throughout every day in order to end binging, purging, and restricting cycles. Here are a few tips to get your breakfast going safely: 1. Plan it the night before so that there's really no need for decision making in the morning. 2. Eat with someone (if you can) - we all need accountability to make new patterns. A big part of our treatment is people eating with our meal support team for safety, accountability, and connection. 3. Be mindful when eating so that you can connect to the experience vs zoning out (no scrolling, TV watching) 4. Do it everyday. It will get easier. #eatingdisorders #eatingdisorderrecovery #eatingdisorderawareness #breakfast #mentalhealth

At The Kyla Fox Centre we work with anyone - everyone - who is feeling impacted by their relationship with food and/or their body. We work directly with the person who is suffering and with their loved ones who are also involved in the process of healing and change. We help with a wide variety of things (not just eating disorders) - diagnosed / undiagnosed with eating disorders - lingering eating disorders from the past - food and life patterns of binge / purge / restrict - over - exercising - preoccupations with food / body / fitness - feeling uncomfortable / unaccepting / dislike with your body - picky eating - history of yo-yo dieting - wanting to learn how to create safety with food for your kids / in your home / talking with your kids about food and the body - pregnancy / postpartum / fertility - menopause - puberty - what to eat? / how to eat? / when to eat? You don't have to identify as having an eating disorder to get help. You just may want to feel stronger, safer, less preoccupied, and more at ease. You may want to live without rules, rituals, or a regime, and ultimately you may desire openness, peacefulness, freedom, and ease with food and your body. It is possible. #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth #eatingdisorders #bodypositivity #food #eatingdisorderawareness #pregnancywellness

We all fall victim, as parents to negotiating with our kids. It's difficult at the best of times but it will never work when your child is battling an eating disorder. Parents negotiate as an attempt to keep their child safe, to help them, and to bribe/ force/threaten/fight/win against the eating disorder. Parents will do ANYTHING they can because they are so scared of what is/will happen if the eating disorder sticks around. Please please please notice if you're ever doing this. And if you are, notice how EXHAUSTED you feel because of it. Our clinical team cannot encourage enough how important it is for parents to get their own support and be a part of the treatment and change (even if your child isn't ready for recovery themselves) Recovery teaches parents about having effective, forward-moving ways to challenge the eating disorder. It teaches about how to set firm boundaries, show care and love and support, stay in your parent role, and heal your relationship with your child. You are not alone. And so you don't have to do it alone. We're here. #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #recovery #eatingdisorders #eatingdisorderrecovery #eatingdisorderawareness