During this week on OWN’s Addicted to Food, the group of 8 move into another phase of therapy. We are at the mid-point into Day 21 and drama begins to be around the house. While the group is moving forward in the process…this appears to be a major hurdle in treatment  – getting to and through the half way mark.

Some of the drama includes a person who has relapsed and is secretly purging in the group. While no body owns up to the multiple events, there is a lot of finger pointing and high emotions around whom it is. Drama and anxiety fill the treatment center this week…and just getting though the episode, we can only imagine what the people involved must be going through.

Someone having a hard time this week is Dejuaii. Defensive, emotional and closed down, Dejuaii seems to be having a hard time connecting with letting people in…or letting herself out. As Dejuaii looks for any word other than “joy” to describe herself, she finds herself wanting to run away from treatment and from the situation.  But through the help of others…and with giving into the process, she stays and turns the corner. 

As the week continues to unfold, we are also introduced to a healing ritual that the Shades treatment program has implemented. Eating disorder people don’t like their bodies. So, at the table right after mealtime, patients stand up and tell one thing that they “love about their bodies.” Tennie says that she believes that they need to say it until they believe it. “It can change the way they feel about themselves, to just say it out loud.” Simple steps…changing lives.

For more advice and thoughts on this episode, take a look at the chat notes from this show after the post….and join in the discussions at www.Oprah.com/OWN after the Addicted to Food episodes!