Dyspraxia and Anorexia: What’s the Connection?
Recovery, Special TopicsMy journey to diagnosis for anorexia started when I was 20. I’d had enough of feeling the way I did and being controlled by emotion and intrusive thoughts. During this time, we discovered it had started at 10 years old due to issues at school…
Love Heals: Eating Disorder Recovery Gave Me My New Best Friend
RecoveryWhen I entered residential treatment at age 21, I did not believe I deserved love. I had struggled with an eating disorder for almost a decade at that point and was tired, depressed, and frustrated. I didn't re-admit to treatment with the hopes…
Looks Matter, But They Don’t Define Who We Are
Body Image, RecoveryI am six years old, staring at the mirror, knowing there’s a difference between pretty and ugly. I know who’s “pretty” and who’s "ugly;” even my six year old self, learning to write e's and j's, to paint rainbows with my fingers,…
The Challenges of Eating Disorder Recovery in a Higher-Weight Body
Binge Eating Disorder, Recovery, Weight StigmaFrom a young age I was taught to believe that thinner equaled better, and larger equaled lesser. My dance teachers reinforced this, my father reinforced this, and the media reinforced this. Eating disorders are typically associated with thinness,…
When You Don’t Fit the “Eating Disorder Mold” As an African American
BIPOC, Recovery, Special TopicsThe first time I heard about eating disorders, I was in middle school. Our health class watched a film on the dangers of extreme dieting, and the implications it could have on mental and physical health. I watched intently as the film portrayed…
Throwing Away My Scale Was the Best Decision I’ve Ever Made
RecoveryI want to begin by introducing you to my ex best friend, the scale. During my struggle with an eating disorder, the feeling of being alone was masked by my new companion, someone who would never lie to me—or so I thought. I spent morning,…
Do Whatever It Takes: An Eating Disorder Recovery Poem
RecoveryMy inspiration for this poem came from a variety of sources. First and foremost, to educate others on how eating habits and body image perspectives can start from a very young age. Most people tend to forget that the mind is constantly shaping…
5 Reasons to Cook in Recovery
RecoveryWhether the kitchen is familiar territory or unmarked terrain, this space may be a minefield for someone in recovery from an eating disorder. While cooking may be challenging, the results go far beyond the dinner plate; empower your recovery…
Eating Disorders Have No Size
Recovery, Weight StigmaI was first diagnosed with an eating disorder in 2013 when I was 19, but my deadly eating disorder and terrifying habits had begun long before then. They started when I was 14 and progressed for five years until I was so deep in my eating disorder…
What Therapy Taught Me About Disordered Eating
RecoveryWhen I came forward for help with my eating disorder, I was given incredible support from concerned friends and family, as well as a dedicated team of professionals on my college campus ready to set me on a path towards recovery. It felt as…