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College student finds healing, silver linings during eating disorder journey

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In March of 2020, when the pandemic caused the closure of businesses, schools and activities, my daughter Maureen was a junior in high school. School became virtual and the dance classes she loved disappeared. But instead of curling up in…
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The Autistic Anorexic: An Unexpected Divergence on Recovery Road

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“I must say, Ryan, you present one of the more interesting cases of Autism I’ve ever studied.” “Autism?!” I parroted the passive diagnosis back to my evaluator. Did he just call me autistic? I thought, as I looked towards, though…
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War with Myself

As a child, I lived a life of sexual abuse and high school bullying. As an adult, I found myself engaged in a battle with the most challenging opponent, myself.Feeling scared, helpless, and hopeless, I had lost all control of my life. As…
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100 Things I Learned in Recovery

It was only once I recovered from my eating disorder that I began to understand its gravity. I kept some journal entries, various gems left to be uncovered in the margins of my planner, nuggets of wisdom to be siphoned from my notes app of those…
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I Said Goodbye to My Eating Disorder

Editor's Note - CW: Physical/Mental Abuse I have debated back and forth about writing this because it could be shared with thousands of people. I have always been ashamed of my story but I think it’s now the right time to share it. I…
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#BoycottTheBefore: Sharing Our Recovery Stories Responsibly

As not every eating disorder recovery story is discussed in the media and not every eating disorder sufferer feels valid in their struggles, it is imperative for us to work towards building a most inclusive community. What this means is that…
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The Importance of Communication in Recovery

What I’ve learned in ten years of therapy is this: Honesty and communication are two of the most essential components of eating disorder recovery. There are, inarguably, a number of additionally crucial tenets of recovery; for the sake of…
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The Intersection of Disability and Eating Disorder Recovery

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From a young age I knew I was different from other kids. I can’t pinpoint an exact eureka moment when I became aware that I was visibly disabled, but I do remember photographers arguing about where to put me in school photos. I couldn’t…
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How NEDA Inspired Change

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I didn’t choose to have an eating disorder, but rather an eating disorder decided to choose me. Years ago, my “innocent” diet crossed a line from disordered eating to a full-blown eating disorder. I didn’t realize that I had a biological…
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Why I Smash Stigma

I started believing that I was broken and unworthy as an infant. I wasn't thin enough, I wasn't smart enough, I wasn't attractive enough, I just wasn't enough, period. I developed a full-blown eating disorder when I was 14 years old.  For…