Overcoming My Addiction to Control: A Dancer’s Story
Athletes, RecoveryIt was my senior year of high school. I had spent countless weekends traveling up and down the east coast, auditioning for dance departments at prestigious colleges in the hopes of solidifying a plan for my future. I’d sit in the car, usually…
Letting Go of Perfectionism in My Recovery from Anorexia
Anorexia, RecoveryJust 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…
Choosing Recovery from My Eating Disorder and Drinking Problem
Recovery, Substance UseMy adolescence and teenage years were rocky, to say the least. On the surface, I fought to project an image of a person in control, a person who strived for perfection: I was the valedictorian of my high school class, I studied at Brown…
What I Wish I Knew About Eating Disorder Treatment
Recovery, Understanding Eating DisordersYes, eating disorder treatment involves all the wonderful things that are delicately spelled out in pastel pamphlets. Yes, there can be yoga mats and Rumi and more gentle nodding than the normal neck could take. There are a few things that…
How to Challenge a Friend’s Eating Disordered Talk
Parents & Caregivers, RecoveryMy best friend and I have always been candid about our eating disorders. We've known each other for 20 years, and when we met, we were in the midst of anorexia. Our eating disorders were similar: there was no magic moment when either of us announced…
The Power of NO in Binge Eating Disorder Recovery
Binge Eating Disorder, RecoveryHaving both an eating disorder and codependent traits, I am a professional at people-pleasing. From the time I was little, I never really got a fully-informed education in setting boundaries. I have been conditioned to accept what was happening,…
5 Ways to Take Care of Yourself During Troubling Times
RecoveryMy mom and I carpool to the train station every morning. I often request that we listen to music or her favorite goofy morning talk show, opposed to the morning news because more often than not, there is nothing positive to be said. While I…
Atypical Anorexia: An Invisible Battle
Anorexia, RecoverySaturday 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…
Dear Lesley: Is it Common to Binge Eat During Recovery from Anorexia?
Anorexia, RecoveryDr. 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…
9 Ways to Keep Up Your Summer Self-Care
RecoveryWhen people think of summer, certain words may come to mind, such as “sun,” “heat,” “beach,” “relax,” or “vacation.” While many of these words may be positive, that doesn’t mean that we can’t feel stressed or overwhelmed…