A Journey Through Eating Disorders Support & Recovery

Stereotypes based on weight, shape, and size run rampant in our modern society and help inform weight stigma, a dangerous attitude that can lead to very real mental, physical, and emotional complications. Events like Weight Stigma Awareness Week work to help people understand the truth about weight, shape, size, and inherent worth, and can help someone let go of these…

September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about suicide and fostering open dialogue on a subject that can be challenging to discuss. This month is an opportunity to engage in and encourage conversations about the importance of mental health, suicide prevention, and the need for comprehensive support. Discussions about suicide prevention often center…

Lauren Gerber says she always considered herself to be a fairly obsessive person. But she never identified as someone with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a mental illness characterized by uncontrollable and recurring thoughts (obsessions), repetitive behaviors (compulsions), or both. She was also never formally diagnosed with the condition—until 15 years after she’d recovered from her eating disorder. Her story is unique,…

Our society continues to perpetuate the myth that eating disorders are an issue primarily affecting young, thin white women. While research on eating disorders in marginalized groups has improved, our society has a long way to go to truly understand the scope of eating disorders within underserved populations. For example, though rates of binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa in…

As with any medical condition, early detection of an eating disorder (ED) is critical to improving the prognosis and recovery. However, eating disorders are often underdiagnosed or go unnoticed due to several factors, including a lack of understanding of these mental illnesses and pervasive societal biases about who is most likely to suffer from them. Common misconceptions can result in…

By reducing mental health stigmas, increasing awareness around the elevated risk of suicide among individuals with eating disorders, and promoting early intervention, prevention and healing are possible. Content Warning: This blog contains information and discussion around the topic of suicide. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health, suicide or substance use crisis, or emotional distress, reach…

Center for Discovery’s Path to Peace Program is a virtual intensive outpatient program (IOP) for adults with binge eating behaviors. The program prioritizes the unveiling of diet cultures' deceptiveness, respecting the wisdom of our patient’s coping strategies, and the program attempts to disrupt the ways that diet culture promotes mistrust in our patient’s bodies. Path to Peace invites patients to…

Some signs of eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) overlap, so it can be hard to know where one starts and the other begins. Both conditions can cause excessive mirror-checking, avoiding social situations due to body image concerns, and seeking reassurance about physical appearance. While eating disorders focus on overall size and shape, BDD can get stuck on specific…

The benefits of athletics are well-established. Participating in organized sports can help you build self-esteem, recognize the value of teamwork, set the foundation for a lifelong physical activity practice, improve mental health, promote social connections, open the doorway for scholarships or even a career, and teach important life skills, such as goal-setting and leadership. However, these positive outcomes come with…

Eating disorders and substance use disorders are mental illnesses – not moral failings. With early detection, treatment intervention, and ongoing support, recovery is possible. Key Points in this Blog Eating disorders (EDs) frequently co-occur with substance use disorders (SUDs). The relationship between these conditions is complex. Genetics, co-occurring mental health conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety), and individual coping mechanisms play a…