A Journey Through Eating Disorders Support & Recovery

We are in a situation that most of us have never experienced. Amidst strict CDC recommendations to help contain the novel coronavirus COVID-19, many of us are practicing “social distancing” for the first time. Self-isolation, physical distancing, quarantine, and shelter in place actions are significantly changing the way we live our day-to-day lives. For many of us, staying home can…

Today I celebrate four years recovered, four years free from my demons, four years of living life without my eating disorder. To celebrate my recovery anniversary, I decided to write a letter to myself who was starting on her recovery journey, and had no idea what these past four years would hold. Dear Amy, Today you learned that what you…

If you’ve been working on recovery from your eating disorder, you are probably well aware of the importance of staying connected. But how does this work if you’re socially distancing? Here are three areas that you can focus on during this time. Connecting with Self. Social distancing is offering us a rare opportunity to have extra time to connect with…

I’ve loved ballet for as long as I can remember. As a toddler, I would use the safety rail on my bed as a ballet barre while wearing a tutu and ballet slippers, leading my mom to eventually ask me if I wanted to start taking dance classes. From my first class, I was hooked. For the majority of my…

When times get hard, especially like the trying times we're going through now, it can be easy to allow anxiety and fear to overwhelm us. However, it is during these very times that we can use our best coping skills to help us through. No matter where we are in our lives; in or out of recovery, currently seeking treatment,…

The rules governing an eating disorder include a focus on body distortions, obsessive thoughts and a quest for perfection. When our body speaks, but our mind is not listening, conflict is created. Sustaining recovery requires reclaiming an authentic connection with ones’ own self - that includes awakening the ability to envision new ideas and bring forth unique solutions and options…

Movement and exercise play a complicated but important role in eating disorder treatment. Exercise, perhaps more than any other aspect of an eating disorder, has a very complicated and controversial relationship with recovery. So…can I exercise during my eating disorder recovery? The short answer is, “maybe.” The challenge is in recognizing how to reap the benefits of exercise without allowing…

For those living with an eating disorder, maybe 2020 can be the year you start to work toward recovery. No matter how long you’ve struggled, know that you can find health and wholeness. If entering a treatment program or fully committing to recovery seems intimidating, here are eight steps you can take right now. 1. Confide in a Trusted Person…

New year, new you? NOPE! It is the time of year when the airwaves are filled with messages of resolutions guaranteed to make our lives better, our bodies slimmer and our wallets fatter. But this year, instead of buying into the BS diet culture, what if we resolved to stop resolving? What if we embraced the thought that happiness lies…

As we celebrate the holidays, we are reunited with many family members and loved ones. We know from experience as we gather together, it doesn’t take long for negative food and body image talk to begin; sometimes it can even start at “hello.” Often our loved ones mean well, but these comments can hurt and can be a trigger for…