woman-sad-at-laptop

“Demeaning,” “Angering,” “Offensive”: NEDA Community Members Respond to Pro-Anorexia Sweatshirt Sold on Amazon

,
Eating disorders kill. Eating disorders are a public health crisis. Considered the deadliest mental illness, an estimated 30 million Americans suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lives.Content note: Potentially triggering language…
1suicide-and-suicidal-behavior_thumb

I Lost 12 Classmates to Suicide and I Refuse to Stay Silent About It

,
National Suicide Prevention Month is a time when we mourn the loss and celebrate the lives of those who have been taken from us by suicide, as well as raise awareness for the various precursors to suicide: anxiety, depression, eating disorders,…
relapse eating disorder recovery 1243333

Letting Go of Perfectionism in My Recovery from Anorexia

,
Just like every other human emotion and experience, eating disorders are full of color, chemicals, and different combinations. No two experiences are the same.I am a self-described overachieving perfectionist, who has cared far too much about…
aa ed banner-smv-820x466

Atypical Anorexia: An Invisible Battle

,
Saturday evenings were gym evenings.The wind of the air conditioner beat down on my bare shoulders like rays of sun, the fluorescent light glaring above. Most of the time, I struggled to eat three meals, but didn’t want to miss out on going…
wallpaper-beach-sunset-silhouette-woman 22

Dear Lesley: Is it Common to Binge Eat During Recovery from Anorexia?

,
Dr. Lesley Williams is a certified eating disorder specialist, family medicine physician, and positive body image advocate. She co-owns Liberation Center, an eating disorder treatment facility, in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Williams is dedicated…
girl-1575756_1920 km blog

How I Learned to Challenge My Anorexic Rules and Rituals

,
I was 30 years old when I started restricting. It wasn’t a choice or an attempt to lose weight. I had just found out my husband was having an affair. When I confronted him, he left to live 450 miles away and I became a single mum to our two…
walking-in-nature_orig

Embarking on the Long Road to Recovery

,
I grew up in a very athletic family. Every morning, the first thing we did was go for a run and lift weights. After that, we typically took walks and went water skiing. We were always busy working out and being active. Trigger warning:…
Bammer image Asian man at laptop

Anorexia for an Asian American: A Recovery Story

, , ,
I was 11 years old when I started struggling with my first eating disorder. I did not know what anorexia was, nor did I know that the pinching of skin folds between my fingers, under my arms, and on my stomach, was symptomatic. I did not know…
22 madeline sacks motherhood eds

Balancing Motherhood and Self-Care

,
There is a tendency for the media to portray eating disorders as superficial illnesses of female adolescence. The limited scope of these stories mitigates both the severe emotional and physical consequences inherent to eating disorders, as well…
rachel happ headshot

The Healing Touch

,
Growing up with anorexia, I came close to losing my life. Several times. I remember the first time my eating disordered thoughts began. I was seven. I am blessed with an amazingly loving family. But even so, something in my brain told these…