https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me daily 0.75 2026-04-02 https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/what-help-me-stayed-in-recovery-when-i-wanted-to-quit monthly 0.5 2026-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1774913330044-NZNQSSUDY4NR95SXKYAR/unsplash-image-4SNUcHPiC8c.jpg Words by Me - When you want to quit recovery: 5 ordinary tools to help you stay motivated - Make a list of people you feel safe reaching out to when you’re struggling. Write out a script for what to say, something like “I’m having a hard time, and I just need someone to know.” Before you act on a behavior, text one of these people. Assure them that you don’t need advice (unless you do) but that you’re just letting them know you’re in a difficult moment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1774913613942-2FFKBZHDLMGW5Q0SIN75/unsplash-image-sobwWfxwRDY.jpg Words by Me - When you want to quit recovery: 5 ordinary tools to help you stay motivated - Run an ice cube over your wrists or across your face. Play a song that feels opposite to the mood you’re in. Change environments—if you’re inside, step outside. If you can’t step outside, find a sunny indoor spot to stand in. Nuzzle under a weighted blanket or with a pet. Sip on some hot tea. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1774733110826-OLCFJEUEW1NBEKHCIQXV/unsplash-image-2eRNBtrRmDU.jpg Words by Me - When you want to quit recovery: 5 ordinary tools to help you stay motivated - Pause & Prompt What makes me want to quit recovery… What keeps me going… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/internalized-weight-stigma monthly 0.5 2026-03-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/7f7b14d5-8440-418d-b3c5-7d2ddb97ebed/unsplash-image-L9-sfN04jdk.jpg Words by Me - Internalized weight stigma: When bias becomes belief - Structural—These come from media portrayals, healthcare bias, and diet industry messaging. Interpersonal—Comments from family, peers, teachers, and/or doctors can also serve as a basis for weight stigma. Internalized—This is the transition point, where an individual may hear comments or read messages and start to believe them to be true. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/6fd6f6eb-8fad-4f90-a17b-daa31a292c39/unsplash-image-__QqvTI5Edc.jpg Words by Me - Internalized weight stigma: When bias becomes belief - As mentioned above, all our preconceived ideas about appearance and beauty come from somewhere. We’re not born with them—we learn them. So it’s possible to unlearn them and to question all the new ones that seem to incessantly flood the cultural zeitgeist. It’s worth reminding ourselves that diet culture is profit-driven. The advertising that stirs up insecurity is designed to get us to spend money on products, to “fix” ourselves to meet a manufactured beauty standard. But what if there’s nothing wrong with us in the first place? What if our wrinkles, cellulite, and gray hair are just parts of being human? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/4d40ffd6-ae71-4200-9d28-3fe21a4df918/unsplash-image-11-15cYOiQc.jpg Words by Me - Internalized weight stigma: When bias becomes belief - Pause & Prompt When/how did you first learn what bodies are “supposed” to look like? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/when-recovery-gets-quiet monthly 0.5 2026-03-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1772823378840-SWQ1K47XYX87OUKNKYZ5/unsplash-image-2bg1jPty490.jpg Words by Me - What happens when recovery gets quiet - Eventually, you may feel ready to cut back on appointments with your therapist, nutritionist, psychiatrist, and primary care provider. You may find you need fewer check-ins and are ready to employ what you’ve learned on your own. This is something to celebrate, but it’s also something to pay close attention to. The issue with ending whatever form of treatment you decide to end is that it communicates to the outside world that you don’t need it anymore, that you’re all better. But this isn’t always the case. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1772823713123-XV0IMTH72R87ZK27Y396/unsplash-image-52AAiXWoVi0.jpg Words by Me - What happens when recovery gets quiet - We might feel an urge to label this phase, to have a story or a status ready when someone asks us how we’re doing. Something like, “I’m in recovery,” but with no end date in sight. Even on days when nothing dramatic happens, when there are no major wins or losses to track in our recovery, we may exert an enormous amount of mental effort just to stay afloat. This can feel draining and defeating, work that is invisible to the people around us but is constantly on our minds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1772823938792-R1VLB93UFGGOJXK4X8PI/unsplash-image-2q_frVRXWfQ.jpg Words by Me - What happens when recovery gets quiet - Pause & Prompt When I’m met with still, quiet moments, I… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/a-conversation-on-food-purpose-and-recovery-with-author-amber-husain monthly 0.5 2026-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/743bcfbf-1ab2-490a-a0e2-2d268a82b42f/IMG_8125.jpg Words by Me - ‘Tell Me How You Eat’: A conversation on food, purpose, and recovery, with author Amber Husain - I was conscious that my route to feeling better was quite an unusual one, and given that standard treatments for eating disorders are acknowledged to be somewhat limited in their effectiveness, it felt important to ask myself what had gone so differently in my case. I knew it had something to do with restoring my will to live, my sense of hope for the world around me, and my sense of having a role (together with others) in trying to change it. But I wanted to understand better how food had figured in this. Why my despair had manifested in a struggle to eat, and how and why food and eating had been important to regaining it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1771683794209-83309SMYYLQZSMNJF93O/unsplash-image-JkWMM8x1sLo.jpg Words by Me - ‘Tell Me How You Eat’: A conversation on food, purpose, and recovery, with author Amber Husain - On a practical level, it means people descend further into illness as they wait for treatment, and when the treatment finally comes, it fails to address anything meaningful about the problem. Things like suffering, the nature of suffering, and the collective nature of suffering aren’t measurable, and therefore aren’t of interest to the medical system. We see something similar in the US, only the arbiters of illness and gatekeepers of medicine are, to a great extent, insurance companies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/7c51fad7-08db-4fdf-8f76-e3729f81fe49/unsplash-image-NetTkNVgdm8.jpg Words by Me - ‘Tell Me How You Eat’: A conversation on food, purpose, and recovery, with author Amber Husain - If you follow a vegan diet because you care about animals, or workers’ rights, or object to the cheapening of life by the capitalist food system, then it’s likely that, even if you’re struggling to eat in general, this will be helping you to eat, at least something. Whereas if you don’t really care about those kinds of things, then I can see how adopting a vegan diet could be just another form of restriction, a turning inward. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/06aae2ce-c2a7-4943-9a65-30a0d88de9bf/unsplash-image-I3adKpDNAjM.jpg Words by Me - ‘Tell Me How You Eat’: A conversation on food, purpose, and recovery, with author Amber Husain - Pause & Prompt When you imagine a life worth living, what does it look like? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/the-coping-skills-that-failed-and-the-ones-that-kept-me-going monthly 0.5 2026-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/aab9714b-5bf0-4eca-8b78-dff9bc29a1fa/unsplash-image-dO3qTKxwik0.jpg Words by Me - Coping skills in eating disorder recovery: Which ones kept me going, and which ones I left behind - I shared these fears with my support network, worried I’d be labeled one of the patients who just doesn’t have what it takes. Instead, I learned that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all coping skill that works for every recovery journey. It’s common to use tools, find out they don’t work, and move on to something else. Or to use skills early in recovery and eventually swap them out as needs change. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/3c9f87f8-0bf9-482c-8bdd-61bb05f98170/unsplash-image-Rq6WhP9vg28.jpg Words by Me - Coping skills in eating disorder recovery: Which ones kept me going, and which ones I left behind - When our minds are running at full speed and we can’t find the exit ramp to a more peaceful place, one way to slow things down is through mindfulness and/or grounding exercises. Activities like breathing patterns, noting physical sensations (e.g., naming what you can see, smell, hear, etc.), and meditation can serve as nervous system resets, bringing us back into the present moment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/b14cab3d-9eae-40f4-891c-1deff4b86008/unsplash-image-uQs1802D0CQ.jpg Words by Me - Coping skills in eating disorder recovery: Which ones kept me going, and which ones I left behind - A lot of us in recovery like to plan; we like to know what to expect. We latch onto structure and apply predictability to every aspect of life. Thinking too far ahead in time was ripping me out of the present moment. And being in the present moment was a skill I was trying to practice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1770730438420-JF8OM5I3DXA6CPCL25IR/unsplash-image-GVhAezjtX-4.jpg Words by Me - Coping skills in eating disorder recovery: Which ones kept me going, and which ones I left behind - Pause & Prompt Think about your current coping skills. Which do you find helpful? Which do you feel ready to release? Which old skills might you want to revisit? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/how-i-explain-my-recovery-to-my-friends-and-family-what-worked-what-didnt monthly 0.5 2026-02-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1770083862307-X7UACMVLEPY2DXDGM5DJ/unsplash-image-3b2tADGAWnU.jpg Words by Me - How I explain my eating disorder: What works, what doesn’t - You may worry that the person you tell will think less of you. Maybe they’ll wonder why you didn’t say something sooner. Maybe you’ll be the recipient of judgmental glares. Maybe you fear they’ll look at you differently. On the other hand, you may fear they’re going to try to diminish what you’ve been going through with statements like, “It’s not that bad” or “You don’t look sick.” These types of comments can be devastating, especially when you’ve built up so much courage to be transparent in the first place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1770083999088-UK0CNG4FQRECRH3ILQ0F/unsplash-image-sWRPYgjpygQ.jpg Words by Me - How I explain my eating disorder: What works, what doesn’t - Even if we know what our diagnosis means to us, we can’t know for sure what it may mean to someone else. Rather than dropping the term “anorexia nervosa” early in the conversation, I started to edit my opening. Instead, I started these conversations with something like, “I’ve realized I’ve been engaging in disordered eating.” This may sound like borderline denial, but it allowed me to guide the other person (and myself) into a more nuanced conversation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1770084176629-XCDJYEI8SKPCCNWX5097/unsplash-image-8gWEAAXJjtI.jpg Words by Me - How I explain my eating disorder: What works, what doesn’t - The first person you want to tell may not be the first person it feels right to tell. If you have a therapist or a trusted friend, consider running your decision by them. Practice what you want to say. If you’re in the early stages of seeking help, try writing it out practice delivering it in front of a mirror. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1770080557263-5IN3EE44FQJ5SXGMNP71/unsplash-image-5E5eFrPTzLI.jpg Words by Me - How I explain my eating disorder: What works, what doesn’t - Pause & Prompt After a vulnerable conversation, what helps me feel grounded again? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/dating-in-recovery-boundaries-i-didnt-know-i-needed monthly 0.5 2026-02-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/18a9e5ee-d0d7-45b1-9e8e-44465c95ceae/unsplash-image-qQntyTpEGRc.jpg Words by Me - Dating in recovery: Boundaries I didn’t know I needed - When preoccupations around food, body image, and self-worth are raw and poignant, dating feels a tad more intense than just worrying about whether you chose the right outfit. It can add an extra layer of vulnerability to an already exposing situation. If you’re struggling with disordered eating, you might wonder if you’re even up for dating. A film of fear may vary in thickness over your dating life, but it doesn’t have to stop you from pursuing connection. Curiosity and caution can coexist. After all, this is also how recovery works. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/5ee43800-48de-4906-a002-d119c741e211/unsplash-image-YQVgGYtfIts.jpg Words by Me - Dating in recovery: Boundaries I didn’t know I needed - When we go on a date, we open ourselves to scrutiny, to eyes watching our every movement, ears hearing our every word. It can feel like we’re performing, being evaluated. Adding body image insecurity or body dysmorphia to this jumble of anxieties can make the idea of dating even more daunting. The feeling of being inspected can activate our insecurities and lead us to equate our worth with our appearance. We may seek validation from this person based on how we look, what we eat, or how we behave. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/9ea09df8-2826-4e22-a0ab-768ef649c22c/unsplash-image-rhcllVy2zBU.jpg Words by Me - Dating in recovery: Boundaries I didn’t know I needed - Now, I know what you’re thinking: “You want me to set a boundary with someone on a first date?” Not necessarily, but also, why not? Setting boundaries early allows you to communicate what you will and won’t tolerate in a relationship. And I can’t think of a more ideal time to set such standards than on the first date. Doing so leaves no room for ambiguity about what you expect from the other person. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/e0c8f0e1-0527-40bb-9f7e-fd4ae99ad31c/unsplash-image-K8XYGbw4Ahg.jpg Words by Me - Dating in recovery: Boundaries I didn’t know I needed - In dating, we may encounter the people we used to be. We may recognize patterns like thinking we need to “earn” our food by working out. We may watch as someone espouses their workout routine as if it’s a moral virtue, which can arouse discomfort. We can’t avoid all types of people, but we can choose who we want to give our energy to. If you’re on a date with someone whose lifestyle you think may be triggering for you, listen to that warning, or at least, have an honest conversation about your concerns before deciding your next steps. (See Boundary #1.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1768951499863-GH9OMG0XL55UWFBFUQVR/unsplash-image-9OGNpJPVMZ8.jpg Words by Me - Dating in recovery: Boundaries I didn’t know I needed - Pause & Prompt What topics or comments feel unsafe for my recovery? Why? What types of boundaries might help? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/compare-and-despair-the-danger-of-comparison-in-recovery monthly 0.5 2025-12-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1765460433885-FD2PDPTNL90NXDUYH7E9/unsplash-image-E5kBdpQ7kQw.jpg Words by Me - Compare and despair: The danger of comparison in eating disorder recovery - As a three-sport athlete in high school, competition was fierce. We were pushed to run faster, run longer, and play smarter. Meanwhile, self-conscious about my muscular, manly thighs, I was analyzing my teammates’ legs and finding relief when theirs were bigger than mine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/60cb36e7-a027-4fc7-860d-0b9c5ff9e029/unsplash-image-6aeiLUVtMDA.jpg Words by Me - Compare and despair: The danger of comparison in eating disorder recovery - From a young age, we compare ourselves to our peers and wonder what’s wrong with us if we grow faster or slower than others our age. If disordered eating is part of our development, or even our adulthood, comparing our bodies to others becomes as natural as taking a breath. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1765460625569-YPZEH9ZYQ8HS3W74LU1X/unsplash-image-0FRJ2SCuY4k.jpg Words by Me - Compare and despair: The danger of comparison in eating disorder recovery - In one article series, they’d highlight a reader who had lost weight and reveal their diet and exercise routines that helped them do so. I’d instantly size myself up against this stranger: how their body looked compared to mine, how much they eat vs. how much I eat, the types of exercise we did. In comparing myself this way, I’d developed a false sense of confidence that as long as I was doing “better” than these strangers, I was doing everything right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1765460845044-UP2PV4YCQS60TVX8M0KF/unsplash-image-y7GlIdTUOvo.jpg Words by Me - Compare and despair: The danger of comparison in eating disorder recovery - When you’re able to recenter yourself in recovery, allow yourself to get curious about your urge to compare. Asking yourself questions like, “Why am I comparing right now?” or “What part of me is seeking comfort or reassurance in this moment?” can offer clues as to why comparison is such a natural act. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/0fcb1cc4-8bdc-4b16-be6c-2174992d2b54/unsplash-image-ntV17DwfrcE.jpg Words by Me - Compare and despair: The danger of comparison in eating disorder recovery - Pause & Prompt I feel the urge to compare myself to others because… When I feel this urge, I… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/update-on-recovering-during-the-holidays monthly 0.5 2025-12-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1765202612725-I1HM5JE0S5LW39OQIQKJ/unsplash-image-vJiq53HaGeQ.jpg Words by Me - ‘Tis the season for recovery: An update on holidays in eating disorder recovery - Occasional indulgence in foods I wouldn’t normally eat during the other 11 months of the year felt like a moral failure. Rather than enjoying the sensorial nostalgia brought on by these foods, I judged myself, feverishly making plans for how to undo what had just been done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1765204993376-AWC72C9ISG33AVIM09TL/unsplash-image-qlWfxFXl15I.jpg Words by Me - ‘Tis the season for recovery: An update on holidays in eating disorder recovery - Talk about diets might begin as early as Thanksgiving. Why? It gives people permission to overindulge during November and December, sending a message that, once again, enjoying food comes at a price. And that price is restriction. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1765204344396-BCZRAOCPWINIIJ44W30N/unsplash-image-m0l5J8Lqnzo.jpg Words by Me - ‘Tis the season for recovery: An update on holidays in eating disorder recovery - Schedule disruptions during the holidays can be hard for people who prefer structure. Our normal food and exercise routines fall by the wayside in favor of family time, travel, and (gasp) rest. But taking rest has allowed me to notice just how much energy my body uses and how beneficial it is to recharge. Doing nothing can be productive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1765200225174-GQ4MWH5K6Z3NEZQCH710/unsplash-image--nLAIrLXuoE.jpg Words by Me - ‘Tis the season for recovery: An update on holidays in eating disorder recovery - Pause & Prompt Write about one moment this season (big or small) that shows how your relationship with food, your body, or rest is changing. https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/the-push-and-pull-of-eating-disorder-recovery monthly 0.5 2025-10-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1761485036534-3BAMFPT4FUWGGJV0DQ5G/unsplash-image-0uns8eQn_g8.jpg Words by Me - The push and pull of eating disorder recovery - When we’re mired in our eating disorder, we dream about eating without guilt, skipping the scale after a meal, and exercising just for fun, not because we feel like we have to. These hopes give us a chance to imagine a world where we’re not tied to our behaviors. For many of us, the desire for peace (or even ambivalence) around food is why we pursue recovery in the first place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1761485182955-RFRX82AL8M1Z47QYPRQW/unsplash-image-udB1CrDD3uU.jpg Words by Me - The push and pull of eating disorder recovery - Eating disorder recovery is full of unexpected food joys, from realizing you don’t care what people think about your restaurant order to trying a new food just because you want to, and not worrying about how it affects your appearance. I, for one, had forgotten just how delicious sweet potato fries with ketchup could be. Recovery gives us the freedom to rediscover foods we once relegated to the “off-limits” category, and explore new foods we never thought we’d try (and even love!). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1761484792461-OKJMMHLZ895RERG6NQXF/unsplash-image-gizUZzz4HPI.jpg Words by Me - The push and pull of eating disorder recovery - Pause & Prompt(s) When I feel pulled back toward old patterns, what am I really needing? If I could speak to the part of me that’s afraid to recover, what would I want it to know? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/recovery-in-global-chaos-how-to-find-stability-amid-uncertainty monthly 0.5 2025-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/5e0ed555-9be6-48f4-8f37-c7544a7240bb/unsplash-image-UuGGxuBfYic.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorder recovery amid global chaos: How to find stability in uncertainty - The Journal of Eating Disorders conducted a study to determine how the pandemic affected adolescents and young adults living with eating disorders. The majority of those surveyed reported worsening eating disorder symptoms during the pandemic, including increased intrusive thoughts (74%), and heightened feelings of anxiety (77%), depression (73%), and isolation (80%). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1759827987448-1UTTMAGEDOC1SJEMRQR8/unsplash-image-yo01Z-9HQAw.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorder recovery amid global chaos: How to find stability in uncertainty - Fast-forward to today, and some of these barriers still exist: High numbers of post-pandemic job layoffs have overwhelmed therapy practices with people who can’t find employment. Fluctuating and unclear insurance policies make it difficult for patients to find the care they need. Sky-high deductibles and insurance premiums put quality care out of reach for many. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1759827931058-3BDLUERUGFG9A7OS3WNC/unsplash-image-xl_x_rUZImQ.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorder recovery amid global chaos: How to find stability in uncertainty - Recovery-based routines may include setting daily intentions, journaling in the morning, or checking in with a member of your treatment team. Routines that are realistic, small, and flexible offer the best chance at longevity. You may be in the stage of recovery where meal planning is a crucial component. It’s best to work with a healthcare professional to ensure you’re getting what your body needs and adjusting for flexibility if food rules become too firm. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1759826335949-NF40TBODPIOQKW6PVDE3/unsplash-image-VcavDJxm_U8.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorder recovery amid global chaos: How to find stability in uncertainty - Pause & Prompt Write down three activities that once brought you joy. How can you incorporate these activities into your life now? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/is-recovery-meant-for-me monthly 0.5 2025-09-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1756901812327-HKOFHBGPA0R94RYOJOH8/unsplash-image-wrfj-SRaB1Q.jpg Words by Me - Is eating disorder recovery meant for me? - If recovery were easy, far people would have healed relationships with food and their bodies. But unfortunately, most of us continue to have daily arguments between our minds and our bodies. For those of us in the throes of disordered eating, we might feel like we’re so deep in it that there’s no hope in trying to dig ourselves out. Or we’ve been entrenched in our behaviors for so long, we’re terrified of what life (and we) might look like without them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1756901627039-NN3VLG5O48YLLIG1W94L/unsplash-image-4VobVY75Nas.jpg Words by Me - Is eating disorder recovery meant for me? - If relapse happens in recovery, use it as an opportunity to collect data. Here are a few reflection questions to ask yourself in the middle or after a relapse: What circumstances or events led you to engage in disordered behaviors? What did you hope these behaviors would do for you? How did you imagine they would improve the situation? What are some recovery-supportive ways you can use to manage uncomfortable feelings in the future? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1756901299781-0GZ7ZDOF1G1UF5T76VK6/unsplash-image-yDN0aAiHSMg.jpg Words by Me - Is eating disorder recovery meant for me? - Pause & Prompt I feel unworthy of recovery because… I feel worthy of recovery because… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/relearning-hunger-why-we-crave-and-how-to-deal-with-it monthly 0.5 2025-08-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1756050890771-QJCTKI5HFLH8U049IGGQ/unsplash-image-YmEoHKxhOqg.jpg Words by Me - Recovery and hunger: How to rebuild trust with your body - In its simplest form, hunger is a physiological warning sign that tells your body it needs nourishment (i.e., energy to perform its necessary functions). Hunger usually develops gradually between meals. Symptoms of hunger can include: a growling stomach fatigue difficulty concentrating irritability headaches https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1756051119932-0LV76DREQUI80HR5CJWG/unsplash-image-qxR_MIyCoAw.jpg Words by Me - Recovery and hunger: How to rebuild trust with your body - On top of this, food morality has become an accepted conversation topic. Somewhere along the way, certain foods gained the universal reputation for being “bad” while others are considered “good.” These arbitrary rules teach us we can’t enjoy food without feeling pride or shame in our decisions. When we break one of these culturally accepted food rules, we might feel guilty about it. After all, in a society that idealizes thinness, we’re supposed to aspire to this ideal. If we do, we have discipline, and if we don’t, we have no willpower. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1756051300092-CGAL80N23EW3KMMYFWGW/unsplash-image-voQ97kezCx0.jpg Words by Me - Recovery and hunger: How to rebuild trust with your body - When I started recovery, I learned that hunger is much more than a rumbling stomach. It can show up as fatigue, mental fogginess, difficult concentrating, and headaches. Now, when I feel some of these subtler signs of hunger, I stop and evaluate whether these might be hunger or something else. In early recovery, you may find your hunger cues to be absent or unreliable. This is when working with a professional nutritionist who specializes in eating disorders can be highly valuable. They can help you establish a regular eating routine, ensuring your body receives the necessary fuel while it rebuilds the communication between your body and your brain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1755864313154-V1090B33XQ29YBYZOD6H/unsplash-image-15YDf39RIVc.jpg Words by Me - Recovery and hunger: How to rebuild trust with your body - Pause & Prompt What hunger feels like for me… When I feel hungry, I… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/how-does-cft-compassion-focused-therapy-help-treat-eating-disorders monthly 0.5 2025-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1755001460824-Q826JBWHLD5EGYXRRQMO/unsplash-image-ZG7raWjUTmw.jpg Words by Me - Can compassion-focused therapy (CFT) help treat eating disorders? - In its most straightforward definition, compassion-focused therapy (CFT) focuses on helping the individual develop compassion for themselves. This may look like addressing feelings of shame and negative body image, and teaching patients how to practice body acceptance. Because many cases of eating disorders are rooted in self-criticism and poor body image, learning how to be compassionate toward yourself by replacing self-critical thoughts with compassion-led reframes can be the first step in taking back power. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1755001754433-XP3VHQ3MUIS393MZYADE/unsplash-image-zY8X5_K3-wI.jpg Words by Me - Can compassion-focused therapy (CFT) help treat eating disorders? - While CBT focuses on identifying and working to change distorted thoughts and behaviors that contribute to disordered behaviors, CFT emphasizes not just symptom reduction, but also emotional regulation, body acceptance, and a supportive internal dialogue. CBT leans more into the content of the thought and works to replace negative thoughts. On the other hand, CFT targets underlying emotional and psychological processes, like feelings of shame, self-criticism, and self-image. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1755001338217-R16PIQVPIQLZVCLVJRH6/unsplash-image-L82-kkEBOd0.jpg Words by Me - Can compassion-focused therapy (CFT) help treat eating disorders? - Pause & Prompt Make a list of fears you have about recovery. What scares you the most and why? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/can-we-talk-how-to-open-up-about-your-eating-disorder monthly 0.5 2025-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1753199485999-LWM7PNERQ4URXVIRCVR2/unsplash-image-1bjsASjhfkE.jpg Words by Me - Can we talk? How to open up about your eating disorder - Eating disorders want to remain a secret. When no one knows about them but you, they have a better chance of controlling you. Eventually, the emotional toll of carrying this burden alone can break us down, leaving us depending on the eating disorder to guide us through the pain with temporary relief. This is why opening up about your struggles can feel both scary and necessary. The moment we start to verbally uncover the realities of what we’re experiencing, we begin to strip away the eating disorder’s power, and it slowly starts to weaken. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1753199624416-F6X95COTB0NZEQLLS8E0/unsplash-image-ycTvvg1mPU4.jpg Words by Me - Can we talk? How to open up about your eating disorder - Here are a few tips to get started: First, try writing down what you want to say. Pretend as if you’re writing a letter or text to the person you want to tell. Practice reading what you wrote out loud to yourself or with your therapist or another member of your treatment team. Ask them to provide examples of responses you might get so you can practice hearing them. Take some time to reflect on what you’ve written. How does it feel when you say the words aloud? Is there anything you want to change about how you share? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1753199920480-HKW9Q9R9X9730SPDAINY/unsplash-image-UvWlksgZGPE.jpg Words by Me - Can we talk? How to open up about your eating disorder - As I became more comfortable sharing my story, I started bringing it up earlier in conversations with new people. I didn’t go out of my way to insert the fact into the conversation, but if it came up naturally, I embraced it. I noticed that when I did this, I unintentionally created a safe space for the other person to share their experiences, as well. I learned just how many people had gone through similar challenges and felt at ease revealing this to me, even if we barely knew each other. There was an instant bond over shared experiences, and in some cases, it was the first time the other person had opened up about this part of their life with someone else. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1753198082166-SC5RZGSJEQ0V97Y1L3QN/unsplash-image-9OGNpJPVMZ8.jpg Words by Me - Can we talk? How to open up about your eating disorder - Pause & Prompt What is holding me back from sharing my story with others? When I’ve shared my story with others, I’ve noticed… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/what-constitutes-binge-eating monthly 0.5 2025-08-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1750683026682-9UEGX8UNS5K008IYT995/unsplash-image-XIMl4Crm1GQ.jpg Words by Me - Binge eating: Why can’t we stop? - Binge eating disorder differs from overeating and occasional binge eating because episodes “often include eating quickly, eating until uncomfortably full, and eating when not physically hungry.” Additionally, the “bingeing tends to happen alone or in secret,” followed by feelings of guilt or shame. “Ultimately, the key difference between binge eating and [binge eating] disorder lies in the frequency, intensity, and impact of the binge eating behavior on one’s life and well-being.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1750686031839-67E2CS19F8UHEK1FXO7S/unsplash-image-AZgoKxpfq44.jpg Words by Me - Binge eating: Why can’t we stop? - When you tell a child not to do something, what do they want to do? That very thing. Even into adulthood, we can slip into this mindset. When we label a food as “bad” or “off limits,” we give it power. We assign moral value to it. But the truth is, food isn’t powerful, nor does it have moral value. The rules we’ve applied to eating can backfire, leading us to crave the one thing we won’t allow our bodies to have. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1750686405459-U2OVVO6GOJPWMLH4K7Y1/unsplash-image-fVUl6kzIvLg.jpg Words by Me - Binge eating: Why can’t we stop? - One cause of binge eating may be as simple as we’re not eating enough on any given day. A helpful exercise might be to write down what you eat in a day. Do you think it’s enough to support your body throughout the day? Remember that food helps us with focus, concentration, mental energy, and physical energy. Do you feel like you have enough of these four things during the day? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1750339796323-NS1CP4R11B17N1HXO3D3/unsplash-image-yDN0aAiHSMg.jpg Words by Me - Binge eating: Why can’t we stop? - Pause & Prompt When I want to self-soothe, I… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/intermittent-fasting monthly 0.5 2025-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1748953816900-O7VF63XYVWOQZETMOJ1S/unsplash-image-zYvuRX4kIWE.jpg Words by Me - Intermittent fasting or disordered eating? How to spot the differences - As I’ve uncovered here on Recovery Writes, a lot (and I mean a lot) of mainstream diets are simply thinly veiled versions of disordered eating. But because we see them advertised on TV and social media, we think they can’t possibly be harmful or have any detrimental long-term physical or mental consequences. But the truth is the complete opposite. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1748953874888-10PURGHAIOI8WAPCW0F6/unsplash-image-Z2zmQlZL_3U.jpg Words by Me - Intermittent fasting or disordered eating? How to spot the differences - Physical symptoms. Per the Renfrew Center, long periods of fasting can lead to gastrointestinal (GI) issues like constipation, bloating, and nausea. Fasters might feel extreme fatigue, as well, due to energy and nutritional deficiencies. Troubled sleep. Those who fast often have a hard time sleeping. “When our brains do not receive enough fuel, blood glucose and hormones drop,” says the Renfrew Center, which can interfere with the ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1748953659281-E939572KSFGH23PMHVYR/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Intermittent fasting or disordered eating? How to spot the differences - Is this behavior affecting my mental well-being or social life? Do I feel controlled by the rules and restrictions I’ve set for myself? How do I feel when things don’t go as planned, re: eating? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1748952202346-O7Q4OHR6DK41ZHIIIRZ7/unsplash-image-XYogQSkSYZ8.jpg Words by Me - Intermittent fasting or disordered eating? How to spot the differences - Pause & Prompt Do you think intermittent fasting is disordered eating? Why/why not? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/social-media-algorithms-mental-health-eating-disorders monthly 0.5 2025-05-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1747765404552-PO0GH5YSNKLY69XP8Q67/unsplash-image-0VGG7cqTwCo.jpg Words by Me - How to outsmart social media algorithms and protect your mental health - When we have no control over our digital environment, we have no say in the content we see. The moment we engage in content that might be harmful, the algorithm latches on, learning from this behavior and targeting us with similarly harmful content, like promoting disordered eating behaviors or self-harm. We now know that the more time we spend on social media, the more likely we are to experience poor mental health, such as symptoms of depression. anxiety, and poor body image. For vulnerable users who already experience these symptoms, social media can exacerbate them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1747766033171-1OSYAOSMAVFKEYRX1G7L/unsplash-image-Pvck4ScQH9E.jpg Words by Me - How to outsmart social media algorithms and protect your mental health - As a response, in fall 2024, Instagram (a Meta company) introduced Teen Accounts, with the intent to protect young users from seeing potentially harmful content and prevent certain adult accounts from interacting with teens. During two weeks in spring 2025, Accountable Tech experimented with five test accounts. The results revealed that Teen Account feeds still included sensitive content recommendations, sexual content, and body image and disordered eating content. Four out of five of the test account participants reported feeling “distressed” while using their Instagram Teen Account. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1747765684190-FIGN3SZFAUXGC7B8PNA6/unsplash-image-FO18LpXMlvk.jpg Words by Me - How to outsmart social media algorithms and protect your mental health - Have open, honest conversations about social media. Ask your kids why they want to use social media, discuss the benefits and risks of using social media, and ask how they’re spending their time online. Activate parental controls and privacy settings within each app to minimize the risk of exposing kids to harmful content. Teach young users how to recognize harmful or inappropriate content. Remind them that if they see something that makes them feel uncomfortable, they can come to you for support. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1747765945280-5M7NA7LQP6IFNK27TD3O/unsplash-image-sK1nYjXcXCY.jpg Words by Me - How to outsmart social media algorithms and protect your mental health - Pause & Prompt What do you use social media for? How do you wish social media were different? In what ways can social media improve? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/body-dysmorphia-why-our-eyes-lie-to-us monthly 0.5 2025-05-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1746537952446-E71OJ3S3HVBGESVJWCNA/unsplash-image-ZUS1xCxoQCA.jpg Words by Me - Body dysmorphic disorder: What happens when our brains lie to us - Mirrors have become storytellers. In simple terms, they tell us about our appearance. They show us what other people might see when they look at us. Maybe our hair is tangled. Maybe our shirt doesn’t match our pants. Maybe a piece of clothing is too loose or too tight. What we do with these stories is up to us, but it’s not always within our control. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1746538046034-92ZJJI3593DE50ZICIHA/unsplash-image-e7jq0NH9Fbg.jpg Words by Me - Body dysmorphic disorder: What happens when our brains lie to us - Excessive focus on one or more parts of the body that they perceive to be flawed Fear and anxiety about how others perceive their appearance Frequently comparing their appearance with others’ appearances Spending a great deal of time looking at their appearance in a mirror or other reflective surface OR intentionally avoiding mirrors to refrain from seeing their appearance Frequently taking photos of themselves to check their appearance; using apps or filters to alter their appearance https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1746539072217-I620C21G68DERLRO1Z4Q/unsplash-image-hyGXlmNeK-I.jpg Words by Me - Body dysmorphic disorder: What happens when our brains lie to us - Environmental and social Regardless of whether someone has a genetic or psychological predisposition to BDD, their environment can play a huge role in how they perceive their appearance. Those who’ve experienced childhood trauma, emotional or physical abuse, and/or bullying, especially about their appearance, are likely to develop negative feelings about themselves and their bodies. On top of this, social pressures and cultural beauty standards that value physical appearance can precipitate a preoccupation with body image. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1746538211227-ZBB5HWJ8XF9IZ9GYF899/unsplash-image-JUVMefHzC6U.jpg Words by Me - Body dysmorphic disorder: What happens when our brains lie to us - 1. Muscle dysmorphia: Muscle dysmorphia develops from beliefs that one’s body is not muscular enough. This overvaluation of appearance can cause a person to negatively obsess about their body and fixate on how to gain more muscle. A person with muscle dysmorphia may engage in excessive physical activity, like lifting weights for hours a day, or start taking substances like anabolic steroids in an effort to build muscle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/011a7d62-591f-41d2-acce-57fd2b0a7176/unsplash-image-P_5mirRrg0k.jpg Words by Me - Body dysmorphic disorder: What happens when our brains lie to us - Learn more about BDD One of the best ways to support someone with an eating disorder is to learn as much as you can about it. You may never quite understand why they’re feeling certain feelings or having certain thoughts, but doing your own research can help you build empathy for what they’re going through. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1746537794953-KO7E01K2QKFNAWA1R8MV/unsplash-image-m-gqDRzbJLQ.jpg Words by Me - Body dysmorphic disorder: What happens when our brains lie to us - Pause & Prompt In this moment, how do you feel about your body image? What thoughts and physical sensations come up for you when you think about your body image? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/more-about-arfid-the-three-main-subtypes monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1745684453130-XL8B1IPJTEQ46KOG4JYJ/unsplash-image-wGW71BijNYk.jpg Words by Me - All about ARFID: The three main subtypes - Individuals with ARFID restrict the amount or variety of food they consume, which can cause nutritional deficiencies, unintended weight loss, and interference with daily activities, like social gatherings. With ARFID, the avoidance of certain foods is typically based on sensory sensitivities, a lack of interest in eating, and/or fears of negative consequences from eating, like choking or vomiting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1745684596710-KABNSU78IZLR5C51YF9Z/unsplash-image-hkC5O4biZFk.jpg Words by Me - All about ARFID: The three main subtypes - In addition to presenting differently, these subtypes also have different root causes. There may have been trauma around food in childhood that prevents an individual from finding certain food appetizing, or they may have had a negative experience with a certain food and fear eating it again. Unlike most other eating disorders, ARFID is less likely to develop because of body shape or weight concerns, although it is possible. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1745684733837-LDV5WMWIAB784KV6A3LT/unsplash-image-CgjBaRKroEY.jpg Words by Me - All about ARFID: The three main subtypes - Multidisciplinary treatment Eating disorders are rarely just about food. They often develop from unrecognized or unacknowledged trauma or psychological condition, like depression or anxiety. Therefore, individuals have the best chance of recovery when they have a team of providers, such as a therapist, psychiatrist, nutritionist, and primary care provider. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1745684844525-IQ0NMON27AK9248AITE4/unsplash-image-HBEDoPQM6jM.jpg Words by Me - All about ARFID: The three main subtypes - Pause & Prompt Are you afraid of certain foods? Do you only allow yourself to eat what you deem to be “safe foods”? Write what this looks like for you. https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/adhd-and-eating-disorders monthly 0.5 2025-04-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1744816731771-XUWEGHE33N6LNPICNTL2/unsplash-image-cYUMaCqMYvI.jpg Words by Me - ADHD and eating disorders: Are they connected? - Researchers have surmised that people with ADHD and people with eating disorders lack sufficient dopamine production. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that’s responsible for all sorts of stuff: mood, attention, information processing, reward, learning, motivation, and how we experience pleasure or pain. A lack of dopamine can make it harder for an individual to regulate their emotions and actions, possibly leading to impulsive behaviors like hyperactivity or binge eating. To go further into the symptoms and how they interact, let’s break them down. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1744816825756-1A3RRWKEUKG5ROWO6WCH/unsplash-image-9MzCd76xLGk.jpg Words by Me - ADHD and eating disorders: Are they connected? - Similar to neurodivergent conditions like autism, people with ADHD are often sensitive to certain smells and tastes. This might result in eliminating entire food groups or avoiding foods that would likely help assuage their symptoms. Difficulties interpreting physical signals and cues from the body (e.g., thirst, hunger, pain) may also contribute to abnormal eating behaviors and patterns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1911f502-521c-4bbb-be2e-53de5186f088/unsplash-image-rhcllVy2zBU.jpg Words by Me - ADHD and eating disorders: Are they connected? - Here’s the part of the post where I emphasize the importance and benefits of professional help. Often, we don’t even know what we’re struggling with until we talk to someone about it. Through something like talk therapy, you may unearth fears or concerns that you can start addressing privately with a professional, which may enhance your understanding of your thoughts and behaviors. If you’re ready to talk to a professional, try to find someone who has experience treating ADHD and eating disorders. Click below to start your search. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/495a49ed-5c89-4603-b8a0-95f5d7ec827f/unsplash-image-cvUIv9j5wDg.jpg Words by Me - ADHD and eating disorders: Are they connected? - Pause & Prompt When I feel impulsive, I… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/eating-disorder-self-assessments-how-do-they-work monthly 0.5 2025-03-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1740242818372-Q7PGUA2KXS492OUGF9FZ/unsplash-image-gp8BLyaTaA0.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorder self-assessments: How do they work? - To meet curious minds where they are, some mental health organizations have developed assessments to help people examine their relationships with food, exercise, and their bodies in a way that’s comfortable for them (i.e., behind the safety of their computers, tablets, and smartphones). The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) was one of the first eating disorders assessment tools to exist. Developed in the 1970s by the University of Toronto, the assessment is meant to detect abnormal eating attitudes and behaviors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1740752351849-DBHV025JSPG3R9IBVROB/unsplash-image-T66ZQiUc2F8.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorder self-assessments: How do they work? - 1. NEDA’s assessment confirms that it can “help determine if it’s time for some support” and includes an important caveat: The assessment “is not a replacement for a diagnosis.” The screening tool has been vetted by clinicians and researchers to ensure the questions align with modern diagnoses and definitions. However, people who take the assessment should also be aware that their answers, while anonymous, may be used by NEDA’s partners for further research. Once completed, NEDA offers resources like links to their provider databases, links to browse and sign up for research study opportunities, links to additional readings, and a post-assessment survey intended to help the NEDA team refine their processes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1740752506642-CJ6JVKH3L94HNNVBT4JN/unsplash-image-SJwYvNVW1qY.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorder self-assessments: How do they work? - Lack of nuance We know eating disorders are incredibly complex and diverse in symptomology and presentation. These self-assessments fail to capture that in their limited questioning. They’re also missing the inclusion of co-occurring disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder), medical conditions, and/or cultural influences. This can skew the results, leading to false negatives or positives. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1740753584378-0DRIENBAWB0D5VDF7MDZ/unsplash-image-VcavDJxm_U8.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorder self-assessments: How do they work? - Pause & Prompt When I’m concerned about my or a loved one’s eating or exercise behaviors, I… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/the-problem-with-nutrition-labels monthly 0.5 2025-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/0c00fc6e-3fca-4ce1-ab6a-dc1116bad5a4/unsplash-image-ulPd2UCwZYk.jpg Words by Me - Unpacking the hidden harms of nutrition labels - Diet culture’s linchpins If diet culture is a wheel (or cycle) of repeated actions, then calories and fat grams are its linchpins, keeping dieters on their intended path to nowhere. These numbers are the foundation on which most diets are based. We’ve all heard the adage, “calories in, calories out,” and diets are just conduits that encourage us to take in fewer calories and/or expend more calories to lose weight. As a result, we’ve become obsessed with what these numbers mean without ever really exploring their origins. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1739288360361-L0DG7378JYWHVGPUWWF2/unsplash-image-v0_6jaOOjpk.jpg Words by Me - Unpacking the hidden harms of nutrition labels - The common thread, according to researchers, is that those with eating disorders are “more likely to notice and respond to calorie labels.” In the face of nutrition labels, this population is more likely to: Change their behavior due to caloric values Feel justified in their disordered eating behaviors Feel anxiety in social situations where food is involved https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/d0e785aa-8138-4063-9ba4-89ddff8994f7/unsplash-image-8RaUEd8zD-U.jpg Words by Me - Unpacking the hidden harms of nutrition labels - Keep a permanent marker handy When packaged food enters your home, grab a dark-colored permanent marker and cover the nutrition label. If you can, take the food out of the package, store it in another container, and toss the original packaging that contains the nutrition label. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1739286020418-Z7KGPK4DXVHHBOJCBKAG/unsplash-image-NItozEcUPrw.jpg Words by Me - Unpacking the hidden harms of nutrition labels - Pause & Prompt Write a self-talk mantra that works against the voice of your eating disorder. What do you hope to achieve by using this mantra? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/are-eating-disorders-hereditary monthly 0.5 2025-01-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1738156152044-SOJ4R3RG3R2VSJ6SP8K1/unsplash-image-Iy7QyzOs1bo.jpg Words by Me - Are eating disorders hereditary? The genetic link and what you can do about it - More specifically, people whose family members have experienced anorexia nervosa are 11 times more likely to develop anorexia nervosa themselves, compared to individuals who do not have this familial connection. Source One study that took a closer look at this connection is the Eating Disorders Genetics Initiative (EDGI), led by Cynthia Bulik, PhD, founding director of UNC Chapel Hill’s Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1738159337562-F33UBL9FPCYK59SB9B7A/unsplash-image-89bQBucvJdw.jpg Words by Me - Are eating disorders hereditary? The genetic link and what you can do about it - For example, knowing that eating disorders have a huge genetic component requires a more strategic recovery approach than just forcing someone with anorexia nervosa to eat and gain weight. While weight reestablishment can be a part of a recovery plan, individuals need a multi-pronged strategy. Through psychotherapy, for example, individuals can explore any underlying familial connections that may have predisposed them to disordered eating. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1738157990141-GG60ET0DLOUSHBIF8E6M/unsplash-image-yDN0aAiHSMg.jpg Words by Me - Are eating disorders hereditary? The genetic link and what you can do about it - Pause & Prompt Write out a dialogue between you and your family members where you discuss your family history of mental illness. https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/ozempic-and-eds-part-2 monthly 0.5 2025-01-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1736776487217-0LUTYMT2BHR4IGGZ83CU/unsplash-image-iW_n3MqVVtU.jpg Words by Me - GLP-1s: Can they cause eating disorders? - GLP-1s stimulate the body (the pancreas, specifically) to secrete more insulin, which helps people who cannot make their own insulin (i.e., people with diabetes) to break down food and regulate glucose levels in the body. Researchers eventually learned that GLP-1s also affect the hypothalamus, an area in the brain that regulates hunger, among other functions like hormone control and mood. They slow what’s called “gastric emptying,” or the rate at which food leaves the stomach and enters the small intestine. This delayed movement of food in the body causes someone who has eaten to feel fuller faster. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1736777138906-8C1KQ6SPQ9WSWECXQA29/unsplash-image-UAsyRieP47A.jpg Words by Me - GLP-1s: Can they cause eating disorders? - nausea constipation bloating gas diarrhea heartburn indigestion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1736776628567-KQQ54S6A5W8QNO25HHM8/unsplash-image-0uns8eQn_g8.jpg Words by Me - GLP-1s: Can they cause eating disorders? - In the previously mentioned article written by someone who took GLP-1s for a while, the author noted that her appetite returned to its normal levels once she stopped taking the drug. While her diminished appetite was left behind, her post-eating behaviors were not. She found herself continuing to purge after meals out of habit, which she reported to be highly concerning. If the drug—like most diets—only works temporarily and the user snaps back to their old ways once the regimen stops, what’s the point of using the drug/going on the diet in the first place? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1736776730611-KVE7PIAV46C0OTU424EQ/unsplash-image-asviIGR3CPE.jpg Words by Me - GLP-1s: Can they cause eating disorders? - From Psychology Today: “GLP-1RAs are contraindicated for individuals with binge-eating disorder characterized by an overvaluation of shape and weight, as well as those with a history of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or severe mental health issues due to the potential for adverse psychological effects.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1736693046640-0D41W7279IX1P02VGT4F/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - GLP-1s: Can they cause eating disorders? - Pause & Prompt My first exposure to diet culture… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/symptoms-of-eating-disorder-recovery monthly 0.5 2025-01-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1736264136953-17TE4L347APG1SXW3QXC/unsplash-image-fvC5KxA5mPw.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorder recovery symptoms: What to expect - What I did know very well was what my mind and body had been dealing with. The consequences of my disordered behaviors had made themselves known ten-fold. And if I kept going, I wasn’t confident I’d make it. But that didn’t mean I was gung-ho about the concept of recovery. My notions of recovery were: eat more, gain weight = recovered. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1736264569685-24IOTBQ01XXAM2ZPLVV5/unsplash-image-PZEQz_37APs.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorder recovery symptoms: What to expect - having to eat foods you consider off-limits/dangerous experiencing body changes that are out of your control gaining weight changing everyday habits (e.g., exercise, nutrition) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1736264808495-N4WTUGOBT2PVEOL63LFK/unsplash-image-gB24WHnMzbE.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorder recovery symptoms: What to expect - When our gastrointestinal (GI) systems have been at the mercy of the eating disorder for some time, we may experience some uncomfortable physical symptoms once we start reintroducing or introducing new foods to our still-healing GI tract This symptoms might include: constipation diarrhea gas cramping https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1734186143309-10GUBRESULA6TUG08WW3/unsplash-image-v9Rpm6OHbyI.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorder recovery symptoms: What to expect - Pause & Prompt Choose one of the eating disorder recovery symptoms above. How do you feel when you think about experiencing this symptom? What plan might you enact to make this symptom easier to bear? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/the-role-of-nutrition-therapy-in-eating-disorder-recovery monthly 0.5 2024-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1733151961091-T2LVUMRPZ6EEYQM5GN3F/unsplash-image-slAVnEz1wbo.jpg Words by Me - The role of nutrition therapy in eating disorder recovery - When we deprive our body of food and/or feed it in ways that don’t align with natural hunger cues and cycles, our body has difficulty trusting us. Mentally, we might feel more anxious about food and food decisions—what time to eat, how often to eat, and how much to eat. We also might experience a wide range of feelings after we eat, like additional anxiety, despair, panic, sadness, or regret. As we cycle through these emotions, our body is just trying to keep up, which can manifest in the following ways. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1733152136299-J92RXH471M5QIWIYIVC8/unsplash-image-3wylDrjxH-E.jpg Words by Me - The role of nutrition therapy in eating disorder recovery - The term nutritionist is a broader term that refers to a professional who specializes in food and nutrition. This person may not necessarily hold a certification or degree in nutrition. A registered dietitian (RD), however, is a certified professional who’s had formal education and training in providing medical nutrition therapy. Their specialty often extends beyond food to focus on specific nutritional needs (e.g., eating disorders). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1732981370108-EBD3ZSB3FMX26N053C2U/unsplash-image-9UtO1v50BYM.jpg Words by Me - The role of nutrition therapy in eating disorder recovery - Pause & Prompt Write down three of your existing food beliefs. How did you learn each one? What would it look like to challenge each of these beliefs? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/eating-disorders-and-athletes monthly 0.5 2024-11-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1731513289319-Z393AHJESFXIJVLH2VZ1/unsplash-image-Yuv-iwByVRQ.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorders in athletes: The hidden paradox of health - Some sports like gymnastics or those that require athletes to belong to a certain weight class, like wrestling or bodybuilding, can be particularly dangerous environments. These sports almost set up their participants to engage in disordered eating by essentially forcing them to control their weight so they can compete with the best chance of succeeding. Not only do these athletes feel pressure to perform, they also likely feel pressure to look a certain way or weigh a certain amount—two mounting pressures that can backfire when it comes to performing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1731236514350-Q7N2KTS556FOVWQUYM4D/unsplash-image-TEYrLTKKMSg.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorders in athletes: The hidden paradox of health - Such a caloric imbalance may be a result of the athlete’s innocuous determination to ramp up training without considering how to balance their nutritional needs to fuel this training. However, some athletes might not make up for the energy burned during workouts. They may feel that the lighter they are (i.e., the less they weigh), the better they’ll perform. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1731515275592-98S1MQ3T70UVUWTA6FB6/unsplash-image-LdhTorI9T-o.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorders in athletes: The hidden paradox of health - Obsessive thoughts about food and body image. Athletes who aren’t well-nourished might find themselves fixating on food, worrying about when their next meal will come, and seeing a distorted image of themselves when they look in a mirror. Depression and anxiety. These two co-occurring symptoms are extremely common with eating disorders. An individual might feel helpless, worried that no one understands what they’re going through, or anxious about eating. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1731515412911-9AFP2Q0FBXK1FFYUHEAT/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Eating disorders in athletes: The hidden paradox of health - The roots of eating disorders extend beyond the body’s appearance. In fact, some eating disorders have very little to do with appearance. Since they usually develop from other issues, mental health support is an imperative piece of any recovery effort. Counselors, sports psychologists, and group therapy can be especially beneficial here to remind athletes that they’re not alone. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1731064020885-WWVAJQU6IMK6G5OGWUHP/unsplash-image-YGF1nVo7b4M.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorders in athletes: The hidden paradox of health - Pause & Prompt Think about a body part you may have been at odds with in the past. Write a letter to this body part explaining your relationship with it now. How do you feel about it? What does it do for you? How can you improve your relationship? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/food-insecurity-and-eating-disorders monthly 0.5 2024-11-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1730553481751-AT8Z540GK8TEVV7DMR9J/unsplash-image-Prfs32wh-o4.jpg Words by Me - The link between food insecurity and eating disorders - According to Feeding America and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), food insecurity occurs when people don’t have enough to eat and aren’t certain where their next meal will come from. In the U.S. alone, 47 million people experience food insecurity. Food insecurity might arise because of low wages, unemployment, chronic health conditions that prevent a person from gainful employment, and/or racism and discrimination that results in income-based disadvantages regarding access to healthy food. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1730553801009-5CD85NIYJ95SRP0OVNSR/unsplash-image-LNwn_A9RGHo.jpg Words by Me - The link between food insecurity and eating disorders - The link between food insecurity and eating disorders isn’t just conjecture. Reviews of research have unearthed a connection. A 2020 research review, for example, revealed that “food insecurity is associated with higher levels of overall ED pathology, binge eating, compensatory behaviors, binge-eating disorder, and bulimia nervosa.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1730550513760-DNZO9XNILKD908NIHM54/unsplash-image-0Wx3kEFdgjQ.jpg Words by Me - The link between food insecurity and eating disorders - Pause & Prompt When my body isn’t sure when it will be fed next, it… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/how-to-create-a-relapse-prevention-plan monthly 0.5 2024-10-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1729260222112-1OPVQ0XG8P8CZWPTV570/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - How to create an eating disorder relapse prevention plan - An eating disorder relapse prevention plan is a tool to help you find balance when you’re knocked off your recovery beam. The purpose of such a plan is to remind you of coping strategies you can use to work yourself out of the relapse. Having a plan in place can help assuage some of the anxiety you may be feeling heading into this season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1729260496377-FQR8QCM7TL2VCTQNXAZK/unsplash-image-Z20wtGu1OH4.jpg Words by Me - How to create an eating disorder relapse prevention plan - increased anxiety and obsessive thoughts about food and weight engaging in secretive behaviors with food and exercise overwhelming shame and guilt after eating sleep issues isolating yourself from loved ones and social situations involving food https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1729345524324-712J6BN11O0PP2XN0X4V/unsplash-image-FO4gzqI2t84.jpg Words by Me - How to create an eating disorder relapse prevention plan - The period after the holidays can be just as jarring as the holiday season itself—suddenly everything becomes eerily quiet, except, of course, for the onslaught of diet ads blaring from our devices. Even after the holidays have come and gone, keep your plan close by in case you need it. Regularly revisit the components of your plan and make updates as you learn new coping skills or identify new triggers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1729262185427-TVNP0O4OR15A99J8UAZK/unsplash-image-UvWlksgZGPE.jpg Words by Me - How to create an eating disorder relapse prevention plan - Pause & Prompt Write down three coping strategies you can use to help you get through the holiday season. https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/why-eating-disorders-go-undiagnosed monthly 0.5 2024-10-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1728568628007-KC33F4ZAOQAP8LA5HB6K/unsplash-image-PfFDmKsA3vo.jpg Words by Me - Why eating disorders go unnoticed and undiagnosed - This can happen with both the individual and their loved ones. Most of us have preconceived notions of what someone with an eating disorder should look like. We like to think we’d be able to spot an eating disorder with our eyes. But the truth is that people of all body types can be engaging in disordered behaviors. Family members or friends may not know that a person has bulimia nervosa because they don’t appear underweight but disordered behaviors are often hidden and may go unnoticed even by those close to them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1728569966375-5Z8MT4G3CFM2KVAQHBTF/unsplash-image-6pcGTJDuf6M.jpg Words by Me - Why eating disorders go unnoticed and undiagnosed - This might sound preposterous (and that’s because it is), but some eating disorders treatment centers won’t admit patients unless their weight falls below a certain threshold or they’re actively experiencing other life-threatening symptoms. We know that eating disorders present in countless ways (not just in people with low body weight), yet this belief that a person is not “sick enough” to warrant help can convince individuals that they don’t have a problem. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1728479616719-8PZ3ZINONK5F27FZQ416/unsplash-image-2q_frVRXWfQ.jpg Words by Me - Why eating disorders go unnoticed and undiagnosed - Pause & Prompt I’m afraid to look more closely at my thoughts and behaviors because… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/social-media monthly 0.5 2024-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1727360488324-RXKVZWVHE6QHJV39RR5Q/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Social media and eating disorders: The research, the correlation, and what we can do about it - We’re still in the early stages of really knowing whether social media content is directly to blame for specific eating disorders. In order to have enough data to make this claim, researchers would need to follow individuals and track their social media use over years and years. We do, however, have anecdotal data that reveal social media’s effects on users’ body image. Most of the information researchers have gathered thus far comes from self-reported surveys, which can have their own biases. I feel it’s important to make this clear before we dive in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1727274120380-9YWWNENUR7DL8XDMQ5LA/unsplash-image-Ai9_QJaZfMc.jpg Words by Me - Social media and eating disorders: The research, the correlation, and what we can do about it - Among the sample of 1,558 young people (53% of whom were girls), the girls appeared to be particularly at risk, but the internalization of body ideals was specific to gender: “a thin ideal being more prevalent in girls, and a muscular ideal being more common in boys.” A more platform-specific result found that 80% of girls felt Instagram and TikTok negatively influenced how they felt about their appearance, leading to “higher levels of appearance pressure from the media.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1727360668284-3FPMBHRXRRV6BZC18RUK/unsplash-image-Sr15pNmQ1Kw.jpg Words by Me - Social media and eating disorders: The research, the correlation, and what we can do about it - When we see images on social media, both altered and unaltered, it’s human nature to want to compare ourselves to others. “Social media use [has been] found to be detrimental because it led people to compare themselves to what they viewed on social media.” Source https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1727273984918-BGJ4MKAWTHRA11U3MGEL/Screenshot%252B2024-09-25%252Bat%252B10.07.55.jpg Words by Me - Social media and eating disorders: The research, the correlation, and what we can do about it https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1727273947177-VCUJ2IKNYGWSDJH5457X/Can%2Bwe%2Bhelp.jpg Words by Me - Social media and eating disorders: The research, the correlation, and what we can do about it https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1727275169773-O2WKO9OQLCEP0UP5X79H/unsplash-image-O2r-K2vknrA.jpg Words by Me - Social media and eating disorders: The research, the correlation, and what we can do about it - It’s more important than ever to learn how to step away from social media when it isn’t serving you. It may help to set boundaries about when and where you use your phone. For example, maybe you set aside five minutes in the middle of the day to check social media, then block it for the rest of the day. Expose yourself to real-world elements, like a walk in nature. These digital resets are good for the nervous system and can help us feel recentered in our world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1727184779633-053K9B9QUNOZNZHRS3YH/unsplash-image-0Wx3kEFdgjQ.jpg Words by Me - Social media and eating disorders: The research, the correlation, and what we can do about it - Pause & Prompt When I feel like I need a break from social media, I… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/what-the-media-get-wrong-about-eating-disorders monthly 0.5 2024-09-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1726665839006-FR95XLGLIVVMF13ZAVDH/unsplash-image-jCIMcOpFHig.jpg Words by Me - What the media gets wrong about eating disorders - For some reason, writers can’t get past the notion that eating disorders only affect this subset of the population. In such examples, these characters keep their behaviors to themselves, only to be found out by a concerned parent who ships them off to residential treatment without a fight. These stereotypes do a great disservice to viewers. We’re led to believe that because we don’t look like that character or behave in the same way, we could never have a problem with food and our bodies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1726495389530-NJWH02KKDDPY4XNY66WC/unsplash-image-W8F9kM7F-5U.jpg Words by Me - What the media gets wrong about eating disorders - Viewers of the 2000s hit TV show Gossip Girl know that in the first few episodes of the first season, one of the main characters, Blair Waldorf, exhibits behaviors associated with bulimia nervosa. But after a handful of episodes, the behavior essentially disappears from her entire character arc with no explanation. Writers, producers, and directors can change a character’s direction. It happens all the time. But the sudden vanishing of Blair’s bingeing and purging irked me. I felt cheated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1726495694955-A03XMP8NBWSGZVBOH46Z/unsplash-image-4g7uHR_LICs.jpg Words by Me - What the media gets wrong about eating disorders - To approach the subject with care while also illustrating the wide breadth of the disorder, we need to try to paint the full picture—how eating disorders might arise, who they might affect (i.e., anyone), and the different shapes they can take. No eating disorder has only one easily identifiable cause, and no eating disorder has only one symptom. By giving these complex disorders such limited screen time, we’re delegitimizing all the people who suffer from not-as-well-known eating disorders, who may never see themselves accurately represented and, therefore, may never see their behavior as problematic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1726495785926-15M477QX0180IP9WVFFA/unsplash-image-Oz_J_FXKvIs.jpg Words by Me - What the media gets wrong about eating disorders - Pause & Prompt Create a piece of media that tells the story of your eating disorder in a comprehensive yet sensitive way. It can be a poem, an essay, a journal entry, a painting—anything! See if you’re able to present it in a way that tells the full story while also being cognizant of the audience’s range of knowledge about the topic. https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/when-did-food-become-the-enemy monthly 0.5 2024-09-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1725631033580-Z4ACC2YV9241OZC3XXCL/unsplash-image-INL_yx2mlDc.jpg Words by Me - When did food become the enemy? Humans’ complicated relationship with food - Outside of the three major meals, snack times became more of an opportunity to experiment. My two sisters and I were lucky enough to have a pantry full of options. Little Debbie, Frito-Lay, and other brands of the 90s were staples in our tiny kitchen closet. As we grew into agency-possessing children, snack time was a chance to exercise our freedoms. We could choose something salty or something sweet. We could select something we’d tried in the past and enjoy it simply for its taste, or we could try something new. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1725808531780-P25VLBGYHHGUFHMZ1JCI/unsplash-image-phEaeqe555M.jpg Words by Me - When did food become the enemy? Humans’ complicated relationship with food - Locals worked with what they had access to, experimenting to create the cuisines we know and love today. These recipes have permeated through families, cultures, and generations, each time offering an opportunity to put a new spin on a dish and make it unique. All of this transformation has led food to become more than just a source of energy but a cultural center point around which traditions have been cultivated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1725808474333-TEFKNPREB11IQVL5DP76/unsplash-image-atzWFItRHy8.jpg Words by Me - When did food become the enemy? Humans’ complicated relationship with food - Media, for example, can “teach” our still-growing minds about the correlation between certain foods and undesirable body outcomes. And because we don’t know any better, we might absorb these messages as true statements, learning to equate thinness with goodness and fat as something to avoid or get rid of. It’s hard to escape the notion that the conversations on screen or in our dining rooms can construct pieces of our internal dialogue with ourselves, cementing beliefs that may last our entire lives unless we actively try to unlearn them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1725628306144-LCBC8PDU1P28L0BVPZEF/unsplash-image-XtUd5SiX464.jpg Words by Me - When did food become the enemy? Humans’ complicated relationship with food - Pause & Prompt Think back to a very early memory about food. What were you eating? What did it taste like? How did you feel (if anything)? Now think about a more current experience with food. Compare and contrast these two scenes in terms of physical, emotional, and psychological sensations. How are they alike/different? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/eating-disorders-and-menopause monthly 0.5 2024-09-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1724616415001-0936XFPV9KCPZKKUT8LV/unsplash-image-nXo2ZsKHTHg.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorders and menopause: The hormonal connection - Menopause, on the other hand, can be diagnosed once a woman has experienced 12 consecutive months without her menstrual period. Most women experience menopause in their 40s or 50s. During these two stages, women experience substantial hormonal changes, which can lead to a wide range of symptoms that can vary based on biology, genetics, and environment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1724616606875-8Z277R9GEYTK8WM9WFOS/unsplash-image-6T7kfc3VitU.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorders and menopause: The hormonal connection - Women may feel social pressure to look a certain way, especially as they age. Or they may have finally reached a point of acceptance with their bodies, only to undergo the ups and downs of menopause that might knock them off balance. Additionally, midlife stressors like changes in relationships (i.e., divorce), empty nest syndrome, the death of parents, and maybe even the death of peers only add to the stream of changes in midlife. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1724616483712-TUEN3KOI40ALLS4T7YY3/unsplash-image-eVQBXxeCre4.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorders and menopause: The hormonal connection - The good news is that treatment options for eating disorders during menopause are available. For one, inpatient treatment centers like the Renfrew Center offer a “Midlife Program” for women. The program includes groups that are specific to certain midlife stressors and offers a supportive community of peers . https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1724616116450-2NEX0I302EZXABNDB2TR/unsplash-image-hDyO6rr3kqk.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorders and menopause: The hormonal connection - Pause & Prompt When I think about aging, I feel… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/why-its-so-hard-to-get-eating-disorder-treatment monthly 0.5 2024-09-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1724162918854-H6K15ARN7RMTVCI5YP7K/unsplash-image-yo01Z-9HQAw.jpg Words by Me - Why it’s so hard to get eating disorder treatment - Sadly, we still have a long way to go when it comes to properly training medical professionals on the nuances of eating disorders. And not just anorexia nervosa. If you’re able, focus your provider search on those with experience or special training in eating disorders, and use your best judgment to weed out those who promote dieting as a sustainable lifestyle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1724163347850-N4ZI9ZQA619OYV3IM8XX/unsplash-image-uQs1802D0CQ.jpg Words by Me - Why it’s so hard to get eating disorder treatment - Once outside the treatment walls, the real world can wreak havoc on the skills and strategies an individual learned in treatment, presenting the risk for relapse. Triggering environmental factors the patient didn’t have to deal with now become unavoidable, like starting a new school, moving, or changes in a relationship. What’s more, the patient’s weight may have increased while in treatment, and once back in their familiar surroundings, they may notice they don’t fit into their old clothes or their reflection in their bedroom mirror has changed, which can lead to unending anxiety. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1724163753759-8EKE7123BUUBFUMPTVW7/unsplash-image-eJsh9LKnX_A.jpg Words by Me - Why it’s so hard to get eating disorder treatment - What can trigger a relapse? Anything from major life transitions like moving, starting a new job, or losing a loved one, to inconveniences like stress at school or at work. Individuals can make preparation plans in order to keep their recovery in tact. It may sound like a self-fulfilling prophecy you’d rather not think about, but developing a sort-of “relapse plan” can help set you up for a smoother ride if and when it happens. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1724005212108-OKDA17VA08KAZRA8L4PY/unsplash-image-0Wx3kEFdgjQ.jpg Words by Me - Why it’s so hard to get eating disorder treatment - Pause & Prompt A day in recovery… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/life-at-my-lowest-weight monthly 0.5 2024-09-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1723211238655-4HXT64Q0QOSHA4DD0Y2U/unsplash-image-5ddH9Y2accI.jpg Words by Me - Life at my lowest weight: Physical and mental effects of eating disorders - Did I reach that weight? Well, here’s the thing—in the mind of an eating disorder, the goalposts are always moving. Once you reach what you thought was your goal weight, it’s no longer good enough. Then you want to weigh even less. This perpetual adjustment in aspiration is as exhausting as it sounds and requires an obscene amount of mental energy. But once the eating disorder takes hold, it keeps pushing you until your body can no longer keep up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1723211379877-9OFV6NSRUW62883ZC6GV/unsplash-image-zz-UAKRabJs.jpg Words by Me - Life at my lowest weight: Physical and mental effects of eating disorders - At my lowest weight, I started to grow thicker hair in areas like my arms and legs. I learned this was a natural response to a dangerously low weight—my body was trying to keep me cool to make up for my loss of muscle and fat. But my head was a different story—I lost hair there. Clumps came out after hair washes and I found strands littered around my apartment. It was confusing but also made sense. My body was just trying to survive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1723211710784-LU8U7VGT727O6GH37454/unsplash-image-FNIUQTgnKYQ.jpg Words by Me - Life at my lowest weight: Physical and mental effects of eating disorders - I rode a high after a binge, only to fall from disgrace upon seeing my reflection in a mirror. This is just one example of my moods’ volatility at my lowest weight. A nutrient-deprived brain works much like a nutrient-deprived body—not well. My mind constantly played tricks on me, convincing me I was doing OK one minute, then jolting me back to a place of hopelessness the next. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1723211519386-GSU22RCRL9FK43TAD3SB/unsplash-image-99dACDeId_4.jpg Words by Me - Life at my lowest weight: Physical and mental effects of eating disorders - As you may have assumed by now, the physical and mental repercussions of eating disorders take up a lot of time and a lot of energy. There isn’t much room left for things like social pursuits or hobbies. My eating disorder was my hobby and, strangely, my best friend. I’d come to trust it more than I trusted myself. And in doing so, I’d isolated myself from any relationships that might jeopardize the one I had with my ED. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1722873044114-8P13ZGS5VW7AZOICOBDY/unsplash-image-03UCoidYvXw.jpg Words by Me - Life at my lowest weight: Physical and mental effects of eating disorders - Pause & Prompt Make a list of things you’ve accomplished that have nothing to do with your weight. https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/4-examples-of-diets-that-dont-work monthly 0.5 2024-08-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1722277815121-C5WHU7AC3O5B87RLZ7TG/unsplash-image-rwBJaJdesGg.jpg Words by Me - 4 examples of diets that don’t work - SlimFast was a line of milkshakes, bars, and other foods that promised to help you lose weight if you consumed their products. The program required you to follow their suggested meal plan, usually by replacing meals with shakes and, therefore, creating a calorie deficit. Another tactic? “You lose weight because you have constant diarrhea from the shakes,” my mom once joked. I was too young to grasp it then, but having tried some of the shakes when I was in college, the joke resonated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1722277741135-PEVNN4LUVW7IX09M9VE7/unsplash-image-upDEMrEX2GE.jpg Words by Me - 4 examples of diets that don’t work - The Special K Diet was similar to SlimFast in that it encouraged you to subsist on only its products for at least two of your daily meals and all of your snacks. The cereal brand eventually released snack bars and protein bars to serve as snacks between meals. I will admit that I casually followed this diet in the mid-2000s, as my eating disorder was just beginning to ramp up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1722277962445-E85W41ASQO4SHVHHAQFU/unsplash-image-hpKOiuz9AkE.jpg Words by Me - 4 examples of diets that don’t work - At its inception in the early aughts, the Atkins Diet promoted itself as one that limited or practically eliminated carbohydrates from a daily meal plan. So unlike the Special K Diet, Atkins considered cereal to be the enemy, throwing everything dieters thought they knew into a tailspin. The argument from the diet’s founder was that carbs lead to increased levels of insulin, which promotes weight gain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1722276498645-I0L4XGCM5JETIANYTJ6H/unsplash-image-_2KiLVROy-c.jpg Words by Me - 4 examples of diets that don’t work - Pause & Prompt My first diet failed because… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/supermarket-anxiety-in-eating-disorder-recovery monthly 0.5 2024-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1721740099000-V08G6IBYA0AWAGOJP40M/unsplash-image-q8wtEm5cNgk.jpg Words by Me - Supermarket anxiety in eating disorder recovery - Price analysis based on the weight of the product, generic vs. name-brand, quality vs. quantity—it’s a maelstrom of metrics that can blur our judgment and lead to us grabbing whatever meets our eye line just to be done with it. Even though we’re not being timed, it can be hard to ignore the rush of our fellow shoppers around us, which can further hinder our ability to make sound decisions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1721740704940-14UZAI78SUSF13VWU19B/unsplash-image-KOMIfrKumpo.jpg Words by Me - Supermarket anxiety in eating disorder recovery - “What’s the big deal?” you may be wondering if you’re not in recovery or in the throes of an eating disorder. The big deal is the worry that we will suddenly realize a product we chose was a mistake. Maybe we accidentally selected a food that is too tempting to keep in our house. Maybe we went against the meal plan we worked so hard to create with our nutritionist. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1721740970149-CFZPFZIXP554USVW042D/unsplash-image-NLU117HCVuc.jpg Words by Me - Supermarket anxiety in eating disorder recovery - The tall shelves and even taller ceilings, the acreage of real estate, the mile-long aisles. This is why a practice trip might be a great first step to shopping. Armed with the list you created in step 1, peruse the aisles and make a note of where your items live in the store. You won’t have to commit to buying anything just yet—you’re only getting the lay of the land so that when you return, you’ll feel a little more comfortable finding what you need. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1721569029632-MLX31KCBZKLAIJP2VCI3/unsplash-image-AT1yYGV28zE.jpg Words by Me - Supermarket anxiety in eating disorder recovery - Pause & Prompt In the supermarket, I feel… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/why-i-turned-down-inpatient-eating-disorder-treatment monthly 0.5 2024-07-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1720718557182-JLCT51RATF0FBGZP3BQN/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Why I turned down inpatient eating disorder treatment - What I knew until that point in my life was that mental sickness wasn’t always visible to the naked eye. It was the type you couldn’t see or hear, but it was felt. Growing up, I was often told that even physical disturbances like stomach aches were “all in my head,” which led me to minimalize a lot of what I thought and felt. As a result, my anxiety and depression remained trapped in a place of shame. It wouldn’t be a stretch to see this type of thinking as a contributor to my decision to stay outside the treatment center walls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1720718606829-MRPVUOP6M7Q3BKAGUTHQ/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Why I turned down inpatient eating disorder treatment - therapist specializing in eating disorders nutritionist psychiatrist primary care physician Three out of four of these providers were not covered under my health insurance plan so I had to pay for their visits with cash, each of which cost between $100 and $200. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1720718701662-NUOM2SF5LX623YF5JBL3/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Why I turned down inpatient eating disorder treatment - When you first meet with this professional, trust your instincts—if something doesn’t feel right, listen to that feeling. But also know that your eating disorder will likely be loudly protesting any action you take that goes against what it wants. The best way to uncover what’s best for your recovery is to be as honest as you can with what you share. The more information the provider has, the more able they’ll be to help guide you in the right direction. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1720718805584-V6Q84O09LYFHOG9EUUIX/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Why I turned down inpatient eating disorder treatment - Pause & Prompt What scares me most about recovery… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/ozempic-and-eating-disorders monthly 0.5 2025-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1716641785841-BDDJ4NI0J0NCYI7GFDVT/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Ozempic and eating disorders: The issue with turning off hunger - Misinformed physicians may see such drugs as a “quick fix” to conditions like BED, but unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Eating disorders aren’t simply physiological—they’re also (mainly) mental. Comorbidities such as depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can occur alongside eating disorders. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1716641919318-IZP4OM6OVH5CB748HXPU/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Ozempic and eating disorders: The issue with turning off hunger - I’m a person who has depression and anxiety, and I take medication for it. The brands and dosages have varied over the years, but medication is likely something I will need to take for the rest of my life. Why? Because mental illnesses, like eating disorders, are the result of chemical dysregulation in the brain and some need to be regulated with meds. But they also can be regulated with things like lifestyle changes, therapy, a strong social community, and exercise. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1716642102226-3S3MY75ZHNXHQQMKWBJM/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Ozempic and eating disorders: The issue with turning off hunger - I think back to my early days of my eating disorder, when Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan were photographed and making headlines for their small bodies and “party girl” personas. They may have been engaging in destructive behaviors, but to me, an impressionable young woman, they were glamorous. I liked to pretend my life was like theirs—drinking excessively, starving myself to the bone, and feeling free. If that’s what made the magazine covers, it must be worth having. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1716641737280-OQKCJ95XKMCJEWQ7O5WL/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Ozempic and eating disorders: The issue with turning off hunger - Pause & Prompt When there’s a new diet trend, I… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/what-the-real-housewives-of-new-york-city-got-right-about-eating-disorders monthly 0.5 2024-05-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1713429505469-VAYGNVENX54L86IEFC8H/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - What ‘The Real Housewives of New York City’ got right about eating disorders - The housewife in this TV series adds to this adage by saying she wants her friends and family to know what she’s going through so that they can help keep her accountable for her behaviors. While I do feel this places an unfair responsibility on her loved ones, I understand her motivation here: The more people who know about her struggles, the more likely she is to be able to address them before they go to a more dangerous place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1713696498292-1LIAM3VECLG3O5JE6EO5/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - What ‘The Real Housewives of New York City’ got right about eating disorders - Recovery can take all sorts of directions, and even if you’re doing everything right, you may have slip-ups every now and then. But the important thing to remember is that these minor detours don’t have to derail all your recovery progress. Just because you’ve veered off the road doesn’t mean you can’t get back on it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1713696553260-DPZCJSA4BIDHUYI4XNKS/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - What ‘The Real Housewives of New York City’ got right about eating disorders - This speaks to the point above, re: nonlinear recovery. There will likely be times when the eating disorder wants you to steer off the road and never find your way back. But the goal of recovery is to develop ways to counter these thoughts so that eventually, there will be no desire to obey whatever the ED is telling you to do. Eventually, with enough work, your voice will drown out the ED’s voice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1712394348334-FWN00PKFX5ZMUU3D4UYR/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - What ‘The Real Housewives of New York City’ got right about eating disorders - Pause & Prompt Choose one of the statements above and use it to write about your own experience. https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/girl-scout-cookie-season monthly 0.5 2024-03-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1709417460497-4FRYUX5L26ZIAQ4I5PWX/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - How to rethink Girl Scout cookie season - Around this time of year each year, the Girl Scouts start popping up on our front porches, outside our neighborhood grocery stores, and maybe even in our workplaces, using their parents as proxy salespeople. These little entrepreneurs are just trying to earn a badge or win their troop’s coveted prize for selling the most boxes. But some adults see them as worrisome. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1709417664164-249J9YQG3MYNAG09CMAE/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - How to rethink Girl Scout cookie season - Think about yourself as a young child—the excitement you used to feel around eating delicious food. The anticipation you felt waiting for dessert to finish baking in the oven. With just a few words, adults have the power to take away that joy. We don’t come into the world fearing sweets; instead, we’re taught to fear them by diet culture, and we’re taught that indulging in them is wrong. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1709165006951-OI3F4LDVLCZM3IAB6Q2E/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - How to rethink Girl Scout cookie season - Pause & Prompt When I have (insert food) in my house, I feel… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/review-of-not-just-a-picky-eater monthly 0.5 2024-09-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1707065948437-ZJX8GQ0H27T9U18TCJLB/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Review of ‘Not Just a Picky Eater’: A closer look at ARFID - “I could probably get away with eating five of these things,” he replied when asked how many of the hundreds of menu items he could eat. Piscarelli said for the majority of his life, he only allowed himself to eat a very limited selection of food, but he never quite knew the reason for it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1707063242743-GXTJ07R6R1BGHMX1EVNB/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Review of ‘Not Just a Picky Eater’: A closer look at ARFID - Piscarelli explains that his aversion to certain foods isn’t just about taste—it can also be about texture, sight, and smell. The aversion may even have roots in physical, mental, or emotional trauma. For example, someone with ARFID may have become severely ill after eating a specific food, which then prevents them from wanting to eat that food and/or try new foods in the future. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1707064932853-2E43G50AEBDXHMGI0WDQ/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Review of ‘Not Just a Picky Eater’: A closer look at ARFID - Neurobiological—Individuals who have had negative experiences or trauma around certain foods may choose to stick to one particular food group that they know is easy to digest/that has not caused problems for them in the past, while avoiding the rest. Cultural—Individuals may choose to eat foods they know are more likely to be readily available in their immediate environment (e.g., bread, rice, depending on the region of the world). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1707062681897-N3RP2BRN6100TR4P0NIV/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Review of ‘Not Just a Picky Eater’: A closer look at ARFID - Pause & Prompt What scares me the most about trying new foods… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/ednos-vs-osfed-vs-ufed-whats-the-difference monthly 0.5 2024-08-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1704575989954-1JVP7U9ZQV3L87T92B95/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - EDNOS vs. OSFED vs. UFED: What’s the difference? - An ABC News article from 2012 stated that at the time, 70% of all diagnosed eating disorders met the criteria for EDNOS. This diagnosis used to be given to individuals whose symptoms didn’t necessarily align with all the signs and symptoms of other disorders, so instead they were lumped into one catchall category. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1704576188381-6KLBKB4V2TYA990YY6Q1/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - EDNOS vs. OSFED vs. UFED: What’s the difference? - Preoccupation with weight and appearance, which may lead to engaging in dieting behaviors to lose weight Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, nutritional information, and diets Engagement in food rituals to help maintain “control” over food https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1704576349632-8AOTLICJL55215D36M2I/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - EDNOS vs. OSFED vs. UFED: What’s the difference? - Just because OSFED has “other” in its name does not mean it should be considered any less serious than the more well-known disorders. And just because a person presents with symptoms that might not match the neatly packaged definitions for other eating disorders does not mean their behaviors shouldn’t be taken seriously. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1704575856960-1W656V2KPLON3GRFPWQD/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - EDNOS vs. OSFED vs. UFED: What’s the difference? - Lines are blurry, definitions aren’t definitive, and all this murkiness means most people never see their disordered behaviors as something they need to address. Eating disorders research has come a long way in the last few decades in terms of naming new disorders, educating practitioners about these disorders, and making care more available. But we still have a long way to go. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/3b1129e2-af03-42ef-87a9-47571225b465/image-asset.jpg Words by Me - EDNOS vs. OSFED vs. UFED: What’s the difference? - Pause & Prompt What I wish people understood about eating disorders… What I wish I could understand about eating disorders… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/orthorexia-nervosa-an-eating-disorder-in-disguise monthly 0.5 2024-09-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1703783916544-RZT5LKFVOW7O0Q5C7IEH/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Orthorexia nervosa: An eating disorder in disguise - According to the Center for Discovery, orthorexia behaviors can include (but are not limited to): consuming only “pure” foods or engaging only in “clean” eating a fear of processed or “unclean” foods, or limiting foods that aren’t considered to be healthy obsessive concern about the health consequences of certain foods (e.g., allergies, stomach problems) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1703784210328-K4X0Q6R7XI2OZF9D5QJL/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Orthorexia nervosa: An eating disorder in disguise - “As someone who battled bullying and insecurity about my appearance, I was immediately attracted to the attention I received by losing weight and the control I felt following a strict diet. What started as an innocent intention to lose weight soon became a lifestyle, an identity, and an obsession.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1703784375840-CJJSEAFPF1PZ4TO04DQG/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Orthorexia nervosa: An eating disorder in disguise - “Finding help was harder than asking for it! As a male with an unspecified eating disorder, I felt all alone, like I was the only person with this kind of eating disorder. “I ended up working with a therapist and nutritionist who were not very familiar with eating disorders but were willing to work through the underlying factors contributing to it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1703784036263-DZZ7SHD4WG7P6S48XNZM/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Orthorexia nervosa: An eating disorder in disguise - Pause & Prompt How I practice (or can practice) self-compassion… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/the-holiday-season-from-the-other-side-of-eating-disorder-recovery monthly 0.5 2024-08-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1701533712236-59WRUEQ80TF9JMT0IMFU/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - The holiday season from ‘the other side’ of eating disorder recovery - I feared the thought of waking up on Christmas morning to a quieter house, one without the aroma of scrambled eggs cooking in the kitchen, a breakfast my mom would prepare only on special occasions. I hated the reminder that I would never again have a Christmas with my mom. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1701533797919-W883XN1912W12UAEAB7B/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - The holiday season from ‘the other side’ of eating disorder recovery - One day, she’ll be able to feel excited to spend time with family, watch the same holiday movies on repeat, and decorate (and even enjoy eating!) Christmas cookies. One day, she’ll think of this season more as a time to cherish her loved ones, make memories, and relish in traditions that give her the warm and fuzzies, rather than as a time to “just make it through.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1701533616363-LFCNIC58VF42DMRZC6BJ/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - The holiday season from ‘the other side’ of eating disorder recovery - Pause & Prompt What “the other side” looks like for me… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/the-myth-of-appearances-in-disordered-eating monthly 0.5 2024-08-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1700783482231-LVR1QQXOGBUA5ZHA68L6/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - ‘But you look fine’: Why appearance and eating disorders aren’t always linked - She visits a dentist to get a broken filling repaired. As the visit is wrapping up, the dentist, who also happens to be the father of one of the main characters, tells her about a procedure called “bonding,” which will help restore the enamel she’s lost from purging. The viewer can tell she’s startled because she now knows she’s been caught in her behaviors, but she shrugs off his suggestion as it wasn’t something she had come to see him for in the first place. As Gina is getting her things to leave the office, the dentist brings it up again, this time more directly: “How long have you been bulimic?” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1700847271967-F110PTXCP5FVW4A2RDTB/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - ‘But you look fine’: Why appearance and eating disorders aren’t always linked - Despite what the media have shown us over the years, eating disorders cannot be diagnosed just by looking at someone. Not everyone who seems “too thin” restricts their food, and not everyone who is in a larger body has self-control issues around food. These narratives might help some of us make sense of the world around us, but I’m here to tell you these narratives are antiquated, incorrect, and dangerous. So, how can I tell if someone is struggling with disordered eating? You can’t. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1700783221725-ODJUQA4Q1KX6NCANQ93X/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - ‘But you look fine’: Why appearance and eating disorders aren’t always linked - Pause & Prompt When someone tells me I look “fine,” I… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/eating-disorders-and-addiction monthly 0.5 2023-10-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1696853814073-98L2AI2R3GD0WMQHN8PM/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - The parallels between eating disorders and addiction - A scene like this isn’t necessarily grounds for an eating disorder diagnosis, but those in recovery might know this sequence of events far too well. It’s a loss of control, a few minutes of unconscious compulsion. There’s no real reason why we do it—it just has to be done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1696854682060-J2YXMFZ4Y5YSOM8TH383/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - The parallels between eating disorders and addiction - Serotonin helps regulate sleep and appetite, manage mood, and initiate pain relief. It’s released when an individual engages in pleasurable activities, like eating. But afterward, the body may experience a “come down” period, during which mood and energy levels may decline. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1696855328273-RECNN19JY5V6H71D8732/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - The parallels between eating disorders and addiction - Addictive behaviors can act as reliable coping mechanisms when we’re unable to find support elsewhere. They can convince us we can depend on them because, unlike people, they’ll always be accessible. We can count on them to numb us and help us disassociate from ourselves and the world around us. And in this way, they also can be isolating. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1696853562934-W0HXQKTZWIXHEXK0BB01/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - The parallels between eating disorders and addiction - Pause & Prompt Write down three natural ways you can achieve a serotonin boost that have nothing to do with food or exercise. https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/weightseriously-the-ebbs-and-flows-of-weight-relevancy-in-our-culture monthly 0.5 2023-08-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1693062595857-6UU5MFH7YCEV52PJMMQ4/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Weight…seriously? The ups and downs of weight relevancy in the world - Test results from the procedure arrived in my inbox a few days later. I scanned the document but it may as well have been in Greek. I have a nursing degree, and I’ve reviewed a LOT of medical results throughout my recovery, but for these, I needed to turn on my extra keen eye so that I wouldn’t miss anything. And my keen eye did its job. “Oh, Jesus,” I said out loud to no one. My eyes had only rested on the digits for a nanosecond, but that was all I needed to see that somehow, my weight had made its way into paperwork I was privy to. It was written in kilograms, but I knew the calculation like the back of my hand. (See stint in nursing school mentioned in the previous paragraph.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1693062366685-JPTIAC4ODI911FSLLGP2/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Weight…seriously? The ups and downs of weight relevancy in the world - I also worried that this might be the preliminary stages of something worse, like a new measure to prevent people whose weight was deemed “too high” from boarding the plane entirely. And, to have this decision made in a crowded airport terminal in front of onlooking travelers. Outrage boiled up inside me before I had even read the first paragraph. As I read, I learned this initiative would require passengers to be weighed with their carry-on items at the boarding gate to ensure they meet “Aircraft Weight and Balance Management Standards,” which are enforced by Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1693062853006-W5NMPU1NXMUUENZBY2G1/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Weight…seriously? The ups and downs of weight relevancy in the world - Pause & Prompt Would being weighed before a flight (even a blind weight) deter you from flying with that airline? Why/why not? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/ai-and-eating-disorders-how-to-find-help-on-the-internet monthly 0.5 2023-07-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1689431982339-SQB7HHY0DCSLV6DUPLXH/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - AI and eating disorders: How to find help on the internet - NEDA designed Tessa to only respond to users’ questions with answers that they approved. But according (and unbeknownst) to NEDA, Cass performed a systems upgrade that enabled the chatbot to generate responses with information beyond the scope of what NEDA had approved. In other words, Tessa went off script. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1689431884488-9VT4F0YNV32QH38ZOZCA/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - AI and eating disorders: How to find help on the internet - Eating disorders, in particular, have their own language. And those who either haven’t been afflicted with the disorder or don’t work in the field aren’t abreast of the vernacular of recovery—what’s considered safe language versus harmful language, and what might be a potential trigger for people in varying stages of recovery. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1689431438493-7X5XR8IO6LN834U20MU7/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - AI and eating disorders: How to find help on the internet - Pause & Prompt When I feel like I need support, I… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/fogo-fear-of-gaining-weight monthly 0.5 2023-07-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1688238078591-5Q550C1V7EDTM0WQHAB9/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Fear of gaining weight: An eating disorder origin story—and how to write a healthy ending - During my impressionable years, I was bombarded with diet messaging from every angle. Fat was the enemy. Thinness was aspirational. And there was one singular ideal body type. If you didn’t fit the mold, you were practically subhuman. And as a middle child, I craved attention—I wanted to attain the unattainable. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1688239203238-WOWDJL0BVSEC7KLR0EIG/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Fear of gaining weight: An eating disorder origin story—and how to write a healthy ending - Self-talk was one of the first things I worked on when I started eating disorder recovery more than a decade ago. When my body-negative script started rolling or a compulsion to exercise threatened to derail my entire day, I forced myself to sit with the feelings and thoughts, focusing on the physical sensations they elicited. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1688240361004-WY7V8JPU4V1EK72KT7VK/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Fear of gaining weight: An eating disorder origin story—and how to write a healthy ending - What have you been taught about what it means to be fat? How does your eating disorder define “fat”? What scares you the most about the concept of fat? At this moment, what does the word “fat” mean to you? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1688239079530-7GPCBOT6Y6WR3AHIK8UA/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Fear of gaining weight: An eating disorder origin story—and how to write a healthy ending - Pause & Prompt One way I can tackle my negative self-talk today… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/what-happened-when-i-stopped-counting-calories monthly 0.5 2023-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1686410658930-HZX9978G2QUR4KVJA0ZE/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - What happened when I stopped counting calories - I had just graduated college, I was suffocating under a dense cloud of grief, and I was living in a new city with no social connections. The only handrail of stability I had to hold onto was my eating disorder. And I held on with everything I had. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1686410849559-CLJVUSA3U17C67A08AL7/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - What happened when I stopped counting calories - 3. I don’t think about food as much. When I was counting calories, thinking about food was a constant. My life revolved around these arbitrary numbers that, I now know, mean very little. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1686405883304-ZPR5IWCXU0LCQ5I7NNMD/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - What happened when I stopped counting calories - Pause & Prompt To me, calories are… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/the-line-between-health-conscious-and-danger monthly 0.5 2023-06-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1684678034945-YL4Y2RRMAK68R2KB1GYY/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - From diet to disordered: Where’s the line? - Paying attention to calorie counts in food forces us to neglect our natural hunger cues and depend on an arbitrary number to tell us when we’re hungry and when we’re full. And this is anything but intuitive. To learn more about the origins of the bright, bold, ubiquitous calories displayed on the packages of food or splash across menus, click here to listen to an episode of Maintenance Phase. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1684677985234-ALX9YCL0U52ACUXVZQF8/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - From diet to disordered: Where’s the line? - It’s right there in the name: fasting. Fasting involves going long periods of time without nourishing ourselves (i.e., eating), even when hunger cues tell us we need to eat. Surrendering our hunger cues to a random schedule takes away our body’s natural ability to detect hunger and forces us to rely, once again, on external cues to tell us when we can eat and when we can’t. And as we’ve established in this post, our bodies don’t like that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1684590627672-VOLSFNUE2EREMTJK3QWV/unsplash-image-qPcSUERqBAc.jpg Words by Me - From diet to disordered: Where’s the line? - Maybe you’re a fierce proponent of ethical food practices. Maybe you disagree with the way animals are treated as a means to create food for human consumption. Maybe you’ve heard that eating a plant-based diet means you’ll consume fewer calories and less fat from animal products like milk and cheese. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1684678792770-BF2H74BBMDMX595O32M0/unsplash-image-jJOzeWNmOvs.jpg Words by Me - From diet to disordered: Where’s the line? - But some people do actually need to eliminate ingredients from their diet because their bodies might not agree with that substance. In fact, the substances might even be deadly. There are still people (we all know them) who use the supposed “health benefits” of such elimination diets as a rationale to remove certain foods from our homes. Or some of us may use it as an attempt to “eat clean”, or only consume foods that are organic and unprocessed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1683988523795-ZD2ZOTEPSAVPNTWALD60/unsplash-image-x8ZStukS2PM.jpg Words by Me - From diet to disordered: Where’s the line? - Pause & Prompt I trust my body to… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/6-ways-to-deal-with-warm-weather-anxiety monthly 0.5 2023-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1682844804576-4K329P7AXHZIC0EHMTCY/unsplash-image-FkkUuSDQ_KI.jpg Words by Me - 6 ways to deal with ‘warm weather anxiety’ - Make it stand out Doesn’t that water look so refreshing? Don’t let fear stand in your way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1683360234832-4MGA5OWRBP8STD9DM5T4/unsplash-image-7RQf2X6aXXI.jpg Words by Me - 6 ways to deal with ‘warm weather anxiety’ - Example: If you don’t feel ready to don a swimsuit in front of other people because you’re worried about what others might think, ask yourself: What would happen if you wore a swimsuit in front of other people? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/4a19694a-d33e-41f9-a6c2-2ca3e668f47e/unsplash-image-YlfSmCKpQpA.jpg Words by Me - 6 ways to deal with ‘warm weather anxiety’ - While you’re at it, get rid of all the full-length mirrors in your house, especially if all they do is make you feel bad about yourself. Personal story Early on in my recovery, at the same time my nutritionist recommend I toss my bathroom scale, I also tossed any mirrors that were making me feel bad and soaking up too much of my time. Not knowing how I looked all the time, in every outfit was terrifying at first, but now I hardly miss these artificial reflections of myself. Instead, I focus on how I feel in the clothes. In this case, image ignorance is recovery bliss. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1683362177075-LHOG8JFP900RF2UJ481Y/unsplash-image-Xh6BpT-1tXo.jpg Words by Me - 6 ways to deal with ‘warm weather anxiety’ - When you take a step back from what your ED and your recovery consider to be a monumental task (i.e., wearing a bathing suit in public), it can help you re-center and remind yourself that in the greater narrative of your life, stepping out into the world in less clothing than you’re used to truly is one of the least significant things you’ll ever do. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/84e6bdef-7f44-4fc0-a5f8-d55d0e60dcb4/unsplash-image-U_D5NWMmTTM.jpg Words by Me - 6 ways to deal with ‘warm weather anxiety’ - Pause & Prompt What it would feel like to have true body freedom this summer… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/middle-age-and-eating-disorders monthly 0.5 2025-07-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1682846824431-BOH9P7VAAXX1NDFVM9KK/unsplash-image-QHePuNIbbHA.jpg Words by Me - Middle age and eating disorders - In fact, according to the International Journal of Eating Disorders, approximately 1 in 10 women over the age of 50 experience symptoms of an eating disorder, and as of November 2021, treatment centers were reporting higher-than-normal rates of women at midlife who were presenting for treatment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1670786608731-5DG5Z45Y99LMHXAK1N74/unsplash-image-5ddH9Y2accI.jpg Words by Me - Middle age and eating disorders - 2. Your healthcare provider doesn’t think to screen for it. Although the healthcare community is making strides in screening for eating disorders at all ages, it’s not usually a top-of-mind concern for patients who are older. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1670787205000-T5OR71NRLQ4UVM4JDR9B/unsplash-image-Muy1MbTELcA.jpg Words by Me - Middle age and eating disorders - (For women) Menopause. Body changes, irregular periods, cramping, headaches, trouble sleeping, hot flashes. How lovely to be a woman, as my late mom would say. Many may feel like menopause is a marked farewell to youth. And in a youth-centric culture, who wants to be old? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1682847201740-SXZEICWMNS0PB7DTAFZM/unsplash-image-y0e9MsCtSho.jpg Words by Me - Middle age and eating disorders - Spending an increased amount of time and energy thinking about eating, exercise, your body weight and shape, etc. Contrary to what Western culture might espouse via infomercials, advertisements, and “medical” studies, this is not normal. https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/body-neutrality monthly 0.5 2023-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1680875381861-RQPUVGPXDH109ABBSSYA/unsplash-image-ljoCgjs63SM.jpg Words by Me - Body neutrality: What it means to be body neutral - When it comes to food and exercise, a body-neutral mindset may approach eating food with a focus on pleasure, and exercise with a concentration on mental improvement. Whatever the motivation for someone’s behavior around food and exercise, body neutrality means a person is embarking on these activities for reasons other than how it will affect their bodies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1680876242936-U5NFDI2YM7S72EZX39JH/unsplash-image-T64_Ysj_EMQ.jpg Words by Me - Body neutrality: What it means to be body neutral - One way to do this is through a mindset shift in the form of self-talk. I practiced this a lot during my early days in recovery, and still practice it today! With exercise, for example, rather than thinking about how your cardio routine will affect the way your legs look, try this instead: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1680875010509-9NZFRNXXV6T4QP90GB3R/unsplash-image-_AR74EoWdy0.jpg Words by Me - Body neutrality: What it means to be body neutral - Pause & Prompt Think about what you say to your body on a daily basis. What’s one small change you can make today to make your conversation with your body more neutral? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/self-consciousness monthly 0.5 2023-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1677872169328-KYLCSP8K249570W3SZ5N/unsplash-image-QozzJpFZ2lg.jpg Words by Me - Why do we care what people think (and how does it affect eating disorder recovery)? - Who is the person whose approval I crave? Why do I think I’m craving this person’s approval? What role do they currently play in my life (try to answer as objectively as possible)? What role do I want them to play in my life (if any)? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1677872396486-EFVNJXX8MK2JNSJFQHFK/unsplash-image-_r19nfvS3wY.jpg Words by Me - Why do we care what people think (and how does it affect eating disorder recovery)? - This can be a scary concept for those who aren’t comfortable with the silence and sounds of our own thoughts, but the more familiar we become with ourselves—both strengths and weaknesses—the more we’ll be able to acknowledge and celebrate what we bring to conversations, interactions, and any social table. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1669386561661-QT3LGHCS7GMF9ABV1V2D/unsplash-image-Dy2F-8SBI8E.jpg Words by Me - Why do we care what people think (and how does it affect eating disorder recovery)? - Pause & Prompt What would you do if you knew you would never be judged? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/food-the-good-the-bad-and-the-beautiful monthly 0.5 2023-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1662388845475-7Q77NJHU7BCWFFU4GLO6/unsplash-image-9aOswReDKPo.jpg Words by Me - Food: The good, the bad, and the beautiful - This was a difficult notion for me to grasp early in my recovery, a time when I was dutifully tracking my daily calorie intake and challenging myself to consume an even lower amount each day (if that was even possible). I couldn’t fathom the thought of adding calories back into a routine where the objective was to keep dropping. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1664114893672-N7CYGPIHXO8IZG159R78/unsplash-image-1Ib8243cU8Q.jpg Words by Me - Food: The good, the bad, and the beautiful - I was one of these empty-cal converts until I was reminded by a nutritionist that every type of food is composed of nutrients, which might include sugar, oils, fats, protein, whatever. Even if certain foods might be deemed unhealthy by diet culture’s standards, they’re still made of nutrients, which is why they are called “food.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1665240392557-MV4MJSYYHUWC786P2Z4V/unsplash-image-enhHHGJDFRo.jpg Words by Me - Food: The good, the bad, and the beautiful - I try to activate and engage my senses to truly experience every aspect of what’s in front of me and every part of the eating process. It’s not easy, especially if you’re in recovery. But the next time you sit down for a meal, here are a few tips to help you get started. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1661613930291-TUM9YBK7MXTL7N61Q1ZB/unsplash-image-mfB1B1s4sMc.jpg Words by Me - Food: The good, the bad, and the beautiful - Pause & Prompt After your next meal, open a blank doc or turn to a blank page and describe how you feel physically, emotionally, and mentally. https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/update-eating-disorder-care-in-the-united-states monthly 0.5 2023-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1663425675878-N114FI27KW3YNCJEIQPO/unsplash-image-fDqcKdxvNkI.jpg Words by Me - Update: Searching for eating disorder care in the United States - Then we got down to fees. The provider charged $280 per session and did not accept insurance, but they did provide patients with a “super bill”—also known as a monthly list of services and fees complete with a codified diagnosis—which we would then have to submit to our insurance company for a reimbursement that would most likely not happen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1663426237423-L1Y5HZ2TNXSB7D8Z7462/unsplash-image-BlIhVfXbi9s.jpg Words by Me - Update: Searching for eating disorder care in the United States - Although I had made it clear that I was searching for mental healthcare providers in the form of psychologists, most of my search results were internists, another term for primary care doctors who focus on a wide range of medical conditions. I clicked through profile after profile, finding no evidence of eating disorder treatment experience or specialty. Dead end #2. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1662905802847-J2F4ZIG5N3V2FDBUQS44/unsplash-image-JPHPdqZrB3I.jpg Words by Me - Update: Searching for eating disorder care in the United States - Pause & Prompt Write a letter to your future therapist. What would you like to get out of therapy? What are you hoping they can help you with? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/the-importance-of-discomfort-in-eating-disorder-recovery monthly 0.5 2023-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1661101176049-WUW0CO1GZG1CVGRHATH9/unsplash-image-m0l5J8Lqnzo.jpg Words by Me - The importance of discomfort in eating disorder recovery - In the throes of an eating disorder, we spend a lot (a lot) of time securing these foods, places, and actions in order to appease the eating disorder. We may bring our own food to a social event or skip gatherings altogether for fear of being pushed out of our ED-controlled comfort zones. The longer we stay in these circles of comfort, though, the closer we’re pushed toward a darker place, and the deeper we get, the harder it is to climb out of. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1661100075285-K3R6VKFH3PZXSB8O9Q9R/unsplash-image-5Gkf2QctRRQ.jpg Words by Me - The importance of discomfort in eating disorder recovery - Pause & Prompt When I feel uncomfortable in recovery… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/fatphobia monthly 0.5 2023-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1655051425002-UDC21I2NA9DLQMAZXLAU/unsplash-image-cwcPV_VKfy4.jpg Words by Me - Fatphobia: Origins, applications, and unlearnings - We couldn’t fast-forward through the infomercials that splashed on the screen before-and-after photos of people who had been fat and were now “alive, energetic, and so much happier” because they had lost all that “problematic weight.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/a675d01c-ad4a-47a2-be24-f9868c35a08a/fatphobia.png Words by Me - Fatphobia: Origins, applications, and unlearnings - In her post, she explains: Courtesy of Behind the Binge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1655052373041-5DOTXPWGNFCMBKQZONIB/unsplash-image-erUC4fTtCuo.jpg Words by Me - Fatphobia: Origins, applications, and unlearnings - I came into this world at the height of diet culture phenomena. I was praised for being thin, athletic, and active. I was complimented for my “willpower” to consistently eat healthily. Even when I studied abroad and unintentionally lost an unhealthy number of pounds, college friends commented that my severely underweight body “looked great” upon my return to the States. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1655051960711-RZCKMAWUFO08D9I3NZH0/unsplash-image-afouGYcbPA8.jpg Words by Me - Fatphobia: Origins, applications, and unlearnings - “Body positivity” is a term that has been floating around since the start of the century, along with the introduction of “plus-size” clothing and models. But these terms only further contribute to the conversation about body size and worth, that even if you wear a larger size, you can still love the body you’re in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1655051177351-W2JF6M9QRJIULU6827I5/unsplash-image-aOC7TSLb1o8.jpg Words by Me - Fatphobia: Origins, applications, and unlearnings - Pause & Prompt What I think about when I think about fat… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/eating-disorders-and-relationships monthly 0.5 2023-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1653835211897-RQN4GWFRU29JEF9KI546/unsplash-image-hI9G-vDnEEs.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorders and relationships - The constant internal struggle when battling an eating disorder makes it hard to develop and maintain external relationships. Those with an eating disorder may feel like they have to hide their behaviors, that those around them have become untrustworthy, and that no one understands what they’re going through except for the ED itself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1653835041665-EPKGF2U720YJM1YTQ9MQ/unsplash-image-yUiYi-DinOI.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorders and relationships - Someone in the throes of an eating disorder has a distorted perception about a lot in their life. This may result in feelings of depression and anxiety, as the eating disorder has convinced them that no one understands them, even people they have trusted their entire lives. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1653835821348-XAR37YC8QRGK3L3NN1HJ/unsplash-image-eZtLqACNlbM.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorders and relationships - Contrary to popular belief, boundaries do not mean you are cutting a person out of your life. Instead, boundaries allow a meaningful relationship to exist with slight limits on anything from time to topics of conversation. Setting boundaries helps ensure a person is able to protect themselves from situations, people, activities, or dialogue that might jeopardize your recovery. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1653225594419-UTWN6PPQKSOEJ5ROP7OB/unsplash-image-Oz_J_FXKvIs.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorders and relationships - Pause & Prompt Family & friends: Write a letter to a loved one who you think might be struggling with disordered eating. What would you want them to know? If you engage in disordered eating: Think of someone in your life who might not understand your eating disorder. How would you explain it to them? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/how-to-spot-diet-dialogue-what-to-say-instead monthly 0.5 2023-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1648300619142-83C33HMHHUHHDHCQBIU5/unsplash-image-3HE3B4r-A08.jpg Words by Me - How to spot diet dialogue (and what to say instead) - And if we really look at this from a holistic viewpoint, there is clear proof that diets don’t work. Every few years, a new “miracle” weight loss solution pops up, promising to be unlike anything you’ve ever tried before. But ask yourself: If diets really worked, why do we need so many? Why do new regimens keep emerging? Why do they all promise the same thing? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1648300905095-IOWBELGLKMDMWUTERVNG/unsplash-image-blgvpvlTGIw.jpg Words by Me - How to spot diet dialogue (and what to say instead) - People in thin bodies can be unhealthy, and people in larger bodies can be perfectly healthy. Assuming the state of someone’s physical and mental health based on what they look like is something we need to leave behind, along with the Atkin’s diet and the idea that carbs are “bad.” These are false ideas we’ve come to believe based on what we’re told by doctors, the media, and “health” magazines. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1648301685117-TFF6LTJA0S0RX9TOJTZ5/unsplash-image-_2KiLVROy-c.jpg Words by Me - How to spot diet dialogue (and what to say instead) - My eating disorder had trained me to immediately perform some kind of compensatory behavior after eating a large amount of food, but just as I had learned to adopt unhealthy behaviors, I knew I could unlearn them. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it happens when you consistently work at it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/062c7c32-355e-4ab6-9d1e-038c3100b8bd/IMG_0164.JPG Words by Me - How to spot diet dialogue (and what to say instead) - Instead of contributing to these conversations, I bask in the joy and the freedom I feel at my current stage of recovery, thankful that I never have to engage in this type of conversation again, thankful that instead of openly (and half-jokingly) berating myself for cheating on a vacation diet or rationalizing how I’m going to compensate after eating a big meal, I’ll get to spend my day, energy, and attention engaging in more interesting and more pleasurable activities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1647787969884-IUQRXOV72FNQ9JEL4NLL/unsplash-image-QR0kf9Mqgr8.jpg Words by Me - How to spot diet dialogue (and what to say instead) - Pause & Prompt When someone uses diet dialogue around me, I… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/on-perfectionism monthly 0.5 2023-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1646578683415-NAAEXERWOMXAFO74X51R/unsplash-image-hOwcob_3dpc.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorders and perfectionism - Self-oriented perfectionists tend to set high and unrealistic goals for themselves, while other-oriented perfectionists hold those around them to an exceptionally high standard. Socially prescribed perfectionism occurs when an individual feels pressure to be perfect and relies heavily on others’ opinions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1646403255360-6H894QGC6HR7O4UJ6URN/unsplash-image-x2Tmfd1-SgA.jpg Words by Me - Eating disorders and perfectionism - Pause & Prompt How does your perfectionism show up? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/4-ways-to-support-someone-with-an-eating-disorder monthly 0.5 2023-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/bdd94ac4-5458-4a8f-bb14-0c3203ac5af2/unsplash-image-4YxXWYW7JqQ.jpg Words by Me - 4 ways to support someone with an eating disorder - Oftentimes, their eating disorder translates looking good/healthy to mean having gained weight. This can be a catastrophic concept for someone in recovery and can set off a litany of destructive thoughts and behaviors. You may feel like body-neutral statements keep you in the safe zone, but removing the focus on how a person “looks” altogether will help change the centuries-long, appearance-centered dialogue that causes body image issues to develop in the first place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1644768065544-CGBRK1TV20F2DFDDFSFW/unsplash-image-wGW71BijNYk.jpg Words by Me - 4 ways to support someone with an eating disorder - Suggesting what you might consider to be healthier alternatives to certain foods is a futile exercise at any age. Usually, by the time we learn how to talk, we’re able to recognize what our bodies need and want, and we have the ability and the autonomy to ask for it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1644161967969-SKSQODF5FVSS3CISK6ML/unsplash-image-rmzGr4P56Gc.jpg Words by Me - 4 ways to support someone with an eating disorder - Pause & Prompt How I prefer to be supported… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/5-things-no-one-tells-you-about-eating-disorders monthly 0.5 2023-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/cab83f16-58d5-444a-9e3e-aef3c4d7544e/unsplash-image-1bjsASjhfkE.jpg Words by Me - 5 things no one tells you about eating disorders - I’ve spoken with dozens of therapists and a handful of nutritionists since I started recovery in 2008, and it can take months to be able to divulge to them my real internal dialogue—both because it takes time to develop trust in the other person and because I don’t always know whether the thoughts originate from me or the eating disorder. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/22fd68d0-0ce4-4d55-a14c-956cf9bf627e/unsplash-image-__QqvTI5Edc.jpg Words by Me - 5 things no one tells you about eating disorders - At the genesis of my disordered eating journey, my intense—borderline obsessive—interest in fitness and nutrition surreptitiously morphed into an insatiable fixation with my appearance. While my “interest” in health and exercise developed during my teen years, the heightened attention and disordered behaviors came much later. When the conditions are right (i.e., a heavy amount of physical, emotional, and/or mental stress), a seemingly innocent hobby can tip over to the dangerous side. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/85237698-3eb1-4586-a2d4-39a04ee81e03/unsplash-image-1tMc27CFUbA.jpg Words by Me - 5 things no one tells you about eating disorders - According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), eating disorders are “bio-psycho-social diseases, which means that genetic, biological, environmental, and social elements all play a role.” People with eating disorders are often dealing with deep internalized issues that are manifesting themselves through a fixation on food and their bodies. Simply "eating” won’t solve the problem. Instead, they need psychological treatment to understand where these thoughts may be stemming from and, sometimes, medical nutrition therapy with a qualified nutritionist to learn how to create a healthy relationship with themselves and with food. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1642874271810-HTOD3J12YV5FW2HRVDO5/unsplash-image-dvK_CT1Wg78.jpg Words by Me - 5 things no one tells you about eating disorders - Pause & Prompt One misconception I’ve had (or heard) about eating disorders is… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/babies-the-nascence-of-intuitive-eating monthly 0.5 2023-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/d212b343-ebc0-4eae-8e07-d98779dd3de5/unsplash-image-2vfwTakDTIo.jpg Words by Me - Babies: The nascence of intuitive eating - I spent the next few weeks reflecting on this concept—that a human could eat based solely on an internal cue before the cue gets hijacked by the platitudes of diet culture. At a few months old and 3 years old, respectively, my nephew and niece were still shielded from the harmful diet dialogue that is passively programmed into our brains as we age. They have yet to be exposed to a “diet” and the concept of what this word means. They aren’t worried about fitting into their clothes, clothes that they’ll outgrow in a matter of months anyway. They’re not thinking about reaching a certain weight for their next big life event, which, for my niece, would probably be the first day of kindergarten. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1641055317026-J5PHQ0BNHPCYTQ7OURJB/unsplash-image-4qqteVAAiQg.jpg Words by Me - Babies: The nascence of intuitive eating - I wanted to test the practice of intuitive eating as well as other practices that involved listening to and honoring my body’s needs, such as rest and human connection. To start, each time I felt hungry, tired, sad, lonely, or any other uncomfortable emotion or physical state, I sat with it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1641053172515-IV1S01O1P1F907T26ZRE/unsplash-image-u3ajSXhZM_U.jpg Words by Me - Babies: The nascence of intuitive eating - Pause & Prompt Pick a basic human need (i.e., food, rest, love/touch) and write a story about a time when you felt this need and honored it. https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/diet-culture-vs-disordered-eating-eating-disorders monthly 0.5 2023-07-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/aa3008f2-9a94-4079-a8fb-cc987cacbd56/unsplash-image-bmxYEhqLVEk.jpg Words by Me - Dieting: A slippery slope to disordered eating - When you restrict essential nutrients your body needs to function, your brain’s alarm sensors will go off. Why? Because it thinks you’re starving. After a period of restricting, these alarms may set off a series of compensatory behaviors, like bingeing at night after a day of restricting, to prevent you from staving to death. This might sound extreme, but our bodies are much smarter than we give them credit for—we can’t “trick” them into thinking they’re full. They know what is food and what isn’t food, and they know what to do with it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/05d54b5c-d60c-4027-8ac5-39a044314f72/unsplash-image-kcRFW-Hje8Y.jpg Words by Me - Dieting: A slippery slope to disordered eating - Cleanses Skipping meals / intermittent fasting Heightened focus on appearance Supplements misuse / abuse Diet pills / water pills / laxative abuse Fad diets https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/8c6e016b-7d68-49ee-aca0-6b88a2b80db7/unsplash-image-tQS1_2HTuaQ.jpg Words by Me - Dieting: A slippery slope to disordered eating - Adhering to arbitrary food rules, such as only allowing “good foods” and not allowing “bad foods,” or only eating at certain times of the day, regardless of internal hunger cues. Food decisions are based on external subjective data, such as the number on the scale or dissatisfaction with/misperception of the size of a body part. You self-punish and/or compensate for eating “bad” foods. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/60f402f1-94d3-4e99-a8dd-7581e6e2136e/unsplash-image-Dy2F-8SBI8E.jpg Words by Me - Dieting: A slippery slope to disordered eating - Pause & Prompt When I see a diet advertised on TV or social media, I feel… https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/alcohol-and-eating-disorder-recovery monthly 0.5 2023-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1632070778097-SLOLW98GEY7NDE3UN5G9/unsplash-image-_5zN1EVzOCc.jpg Words by Me - Alcohol and eating disorder recovery - I have a vivid memory of walking home through downtown after a meeting with my eating disorder recovery group. I passed restaurant patio after restaurant patio, watching young professionals sip happy hour concoctions while snacking on small plates. I felt a rush of anxiety, not because of the alcohol that was present on almost every table, but because of the food. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1632066676847-TLP6FU4DJLOU5ACFD04F/IMG_4217+%281%29.jpg Words by Me - Alcohol and eating disorder recovery - After a particularly alcohol-heavy New Year’s Eve in 2019, I spent the next few days feeling absolutely miserable while also getting curious about the role alcohol was playing in my life. I asked myself: What purpose is this substance serving in my life? What would my life be like without it? What if I just tried to go a month without it to see if it makes any difference? Photo: Sunset wine on a hilltop in Split, Croatia (June 2017) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1632066504131-EPG5CR619QR0SXSG1TH5/29093D16-736D-46CF-9B8F-AF9A24E23FF9+%281%29.jpg Words by Me - Alcohol and eating disorder recovery - My self-education has included podcasts, books (also known as “quit lit”), and connecting with others who had also chosen to live alcohol-free for whatever reason. Finding a community is what saved me during eating disorder recovery. And while the longing for peer support isn’t nearly as strong as it was back then, not feeling alone is one of the most energizing and reassuring parts of any type of recovery. Finding a group of like-minded people can quite literally pull you out of the isolation that these diseases feed on. Photo: 19 months alcohol-free (July 2021) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1632070512879-RJQANEUJJ0DV45V94A43/unsplash-image-u3ajSXhZM_U.jpg Words by Me - Alcohol and eating disorder recovery - Pause & Prompt Take a moment to think about any relationships you have with substances other than food. How are these relationships helping/hurting you? Why/why not? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/plant-based-eating-disorder-recovery monthly 0.5 2023-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1630855040895-LFKRC35LG3POWNKAZWA7/unsplash-image-1CVEGTajnss.jpg Words by Me - Can you be vegan and recover from an eating disorder? - My food preferences have evolved over the years, mostly driven by: listening to my body and how it feels after eating certain foods, waning activity levels (i.e., going from the life of a three-sport athlete to squeezing in workouts whenever I can), and educating myself about what meat production does to the environment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1630856478326-QO7S8EPDLWEHH8BJ9EQ5/unsplash-image-sTPy-oeA3h0.jpg Words by Me - Can you be vegan and recover from an eating disorder? - B-12 B-12 is synthesized in plants but then transferred to and accumulated in animals. Therefore, plant-based diets aren’t sufficient in B-12, a vitamin that helps make myelin (the protective coating around nerve fibers in the brain). How to get it: Fortified foods, B-12 supplements** DHA & EPA Our bodies don’t naturally make these essential fatty acids, nor are they available in plant-based diets. They are necessary for brain and immune function, and to make the previously mentioned myelin. How to get them: Omega-3 supplements rich in EPA** https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1630850848282-ZEHXNX4GEMWUCBMQJY36/unsplash-image-EKD7UsqT-Co.jpg Words by Me - Can you be vegan and recover from an eating disorder? - Pause & Prompt After each meal today, finish the following sentence: “When I eat ______, I feel ______.” https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/the-recovery-spectrum monthly 0.5 2023-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1629649458735-LKP27RST7FSHITC4KF2G/unsplash-image-t1XLQvDqt_4.jpg Words by Me - The recovery spectrum - When the pandemic began, I armed myself with increased therapy appointments and a medication adjustment. I also had coincidentally stopped drinking alcohol that January (2020). This presented a new challenge: sitting and be still with my emotions, both good and bad, as opposed to using a substance to numb them and deal with the days of anxiety and depression that followed a night of drinking. More than a year later, I’m still not drinking, but I have been noticing slight changes in my thoughts and behaviors around food, exercise, and my body. The harmful thoughts I used to obey mindlessly are still there, lying in wait for the first vulnerable moment at which point they aim and strike my insecurity with the fervor of a mountain lion launching after its prey. It’s like an allergy, triggered by one fleck of dust or a whiff of pollen, activated and nagging until you abate it with some over-the-counter histamine blocker. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1629649922406-826B04U6VLB5IXGKKSP3/unsplash-image-OfaDD5o8hpk.jpg Words by Me - The recovery spectrum - I’m having ED-fueled thoughts. I feel tempted to engage in ED-approved behaviors. Likely conclusion: I’m feeling out of control about something going on in my life right now. What do these feelings have to do with my body? Answer: Usually nothing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1629650031181-5VZL26N97EEXMAX95FHI/unsplash-image-5Gkf2QctRRQ.jpg Words by Me - The recovery spectrum - Pause & Prompt Grab a pen and finish this sentence: “When I’m feeling triggered by ED thoughts…” https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/consumed-by-calories monthly 0.5 2023-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1625941919458-IRINPA6L45U0J4XKD3PE/unsplash-image-fPP3f3dMzuI.jpg Words by Me - Consumed by calories - In my abbreviated absence, calorie counts seem to have gotten bigger, bolder, and now appear in unexpected places. You’re reading the description of a dish on a restaurant menu, saliva starting to form on your tongue when a two- to four-digit number at the end of the text whiplashes you back to a state of indecision. For people who fixate on daily food intake, this number has the power to either trigger a rush of serotonin by falling within what you may consider an acceptable amount of calories, OR force you to keep browsing the menu for something more calorie-friendly, potentially depriving your body, mind, and taste buds of what you really want to eat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1625942195918-CG71A26MNCYKQ61J7A9B/unsplash-image-MthZSf_Blzs.jpg Words by Me - Consumed by calories - While I understand that some people benefit from the blaring display of make-or-break data, we have to ask ourselves whether these numbers are really serving us, whether the attention and dedication people devote to calorie-dependent eating plans (a.k.a. “diets”) are doing more harm than good. The act of setting limits in and of itself is straight-up deprivation, and decades of failed diet trends and fads have proven that our minds (almost more than our bodies) don’t do well with deprivation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1625941709314-8G1DSHC5UJCP4GNP36R7/unsplash-image-CEhVOt7nrwI.jpg Words by Me - Consumed by calories - Pause & Prompt Grab a pen and finish this sentence: “I want to be free from (insert a limit caused by your eating disorder or other mental illness) because…” https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/triggered-by-transition monthly 0.5 2023-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1623518200687-D86103XG9CJ1RGYYHV9G/IMG_2072.JPG Words by Me - Triggered by transition: How tumult sets the stage for relapse - Make it stand out The street where I lived from 2015–2021. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1623600076014-ZIK03IIS7XZTONQ0FVLH/IMG_5314.JPG Words by Me - Triggered by transition: How tumult sets the stage for relapse - Make it stand out The Douro River — Porto, Portugal https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1623600479572-D6CE02T4MHLOUYWM0QDM/D37F3BEF-DC7B-4C25-99E7-E306798CE7B9.JPG Words by Me - Triggered by transition: How tumult sets the stage for relapse - Make it stand out Walking trail in my new neighborhood. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1623601327061-6AW4UY54LG0ICJO887PW/IMG_7557.jpg Words by Me - Triggered by transition: How tumult sets the stage for relapse - I am living in a state in which I’ve spent very little time prior to moving. I’m driving a car again for the first time in 15 years. I’m furnishing a rented townhouse, the first time I’ve been able to really decorate my own space. And I’m relearning how to live in the culture in which I was born, how to ignore a lot of outside chatter and tune into the self-talk I’ve developed during the past 10 years of recovery, how to say “F you” to the diet culture that once had me begging at its feet for the next miraculous method for eliminating stubborn thigh fat, and how to carry with me the calm confidence I’ve honed through osmosis while overseas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1623518028734-R9INU78FRQ92L6BYL72Y/unsplash-image-k-xKzowQRn8.jpg Words by Me - Triggered by transition: How tumult sets the stage for relapse - Pause & Prompt Think of a major transition you’ve experienced in your life. How were you challenged by mental obstacles? How were you able to work through them? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/how-to-get-a-beach-body monthly 0.5 2023-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1621697385711-6LMFYOHZQP2M2AV3Q2R4/unsplash-image-SYx3UCHZJlo.jpg Words by Me - How to get a beach body - But first, the most important topic: How to get a beach body, borrowed from Meredith Nisbet: Step 1: Go to the beach. Step 2: You’re done. That’s it. Your body is at the beach. It is, therefore, by definition a beach body. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1621697548157-Z2537VNLL90E4Q539Q5O/unsplash-image-lACHYxmRFYA.jpg Words by Me - How to get a beach body - As with most other aspects of eating disorder recovery, convincing yourself that you do indeed have a beach body involves deprogramming years of noise from family, peers, the media, jerks at the pool, and any other messages you’ve passively absorbed about what constitutes an acceptable body size. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1621697057172-4D41ZGELBC9Y7UF9WEKE/unsplash-image-1_kitfaK5Jo.jpg Words by Me - How to get a beach body - Pause & Prompt Close your eyes and picture a child. Maybe it’s yourself as a child. Maybe it’s your own child, or a niece or nephew. Write a letter to this child describing what you love about the pool and/or the beach, and what you used to love about it when you were a child. https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/feeling-proud-in-recovery monthly 0.5 2023-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1618672787110-1XGU9YM1QLYSHO87GORX/unsplash-image-66fLciVOcVI.jpg Words by Me - Learning to feel proud - So perhaps what I am most proud of is loosening myself from the eating disorder’s clutches. Over time, I developed the self-confidence that serves as kryptonite to eating disorders. They feed off your insecurity, your lack of focus or control. They swoop in to save you from the pain of the outside world and they entrench you in their strict behaviors, their affinity for rules and schedules and numbers and ranges. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1610882699539-OKBH16EEP2V8QHDZMQGR/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Learning to feel proud - Pause & Prompt Take a close look at your own recovery… What are you most proud of? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/a-letter-to-the-media monthly 0.5 2024-09-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1609344436249-7XVP4OPGCWZ05TW20ASO/image.jpg Words by Me - A letter to the media https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1609343824435-3LQF4B7WX0XZKZPXAKQ8/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - A letter to the media - Now 10 years later, I can say I’m practically immune to your loaded promises of so-called “happiness.” I’m well-aware of the risks involved with heeding your advice and I now know those risks aren’t worth it. I now know you’re not even intending to reach a reader like me, but you did. Your messages of dangerously low-calorie consumption, calorie deficits, and more-than-sufficient exercise regimes caught the attention of a young woman in pain, a woman who desperately needed something she could control, something that could serve as the perfect distraction from her pain (and then some), something that would seamlessly grow into an obsession so strong that it would completely eclipse her original source of pain and present a whole new set of obstacles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1609344334280-DUHBI4EZJVJKOPSUKH3A/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - A letter to the media - Pause & Prompt What would you say to the person who pressured you to look a certain way? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/eating-disorders-and-the-holidays monthly 0.5 2024-10-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1607961152804-L0FDYZHIUM6HQ49D7QY4/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Eating disorders and the holidays - Not only are these two holidays characteristically centered on food, the seasonal food is typically dense, hearty, filling, and overabundant at most wintertime gatherings. Hot cocoa for ice skating, Christmas cookies constantly baking in the oven, syrupy fat-laden gravy spilling over a plateful of starchy carbs. It was my eating disorder’s worst nightmare but also its greatest fantasy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1607096305284-BIR54AUAF8Q8MECUZARF/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Eating disorders and the holidays - My plan (sort of) looked like this: I worked on a meal plan with my nutritionist that allowed me to indulge a bit in the holiday foods I loved while ensuring I was consuming enough nutrients to keep my recovery on track. I journaled nightly, checking in with myself and with my recovery, and recognizing what worked and what didn’t work on a given day. I made a promise to myself that I would remove myself from any situation in which I felt that my recovery would be jeopardized. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1607096657119-WILL0GIV2IJF0BJ6BLSQ/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - Eating disorders and the holidays - Pause & Prompt What are some ways you can take care of yourself and your recovery this holiday season? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/a-turning-point monthly 0.5 2023-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1605464474319-DCSUR810DRTMH2TF07W1/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - A turning point https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1605969414521-LGRDDE0IP5LA2529UCPS/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - A turning point - Pause & Prompt What was your turning point? When did you realize you couldn’t carry on as you had been living? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/why-morning-is-my-favorite monthly 0.5 2023-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1603822674376-918CH16GQ9RSW7HZNJZM/image.jpg Words by Me - Why I love mornings https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1604224485510-SZKXNGT7POLTFE6E24WI/image.jpg Words by Me - Why I love mornings - Pause & Prompt What’s your favorite time of day and why? https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/what-is-recovery monthly 0.5 2023-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1603821971030-HYBRZZTY1X1RWC8LPCQK/image.jpg Words by Me - What exactly is ‘recovery’? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1604225080867-05YSZ1GTMT6XKGZRB2XE/image-asset.jpeg Words by Me - What exactly is ‘recovery’? - Pause & Prompt What does the word “recovery” mean to you? 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https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/tag/perfection monthly 0.5 https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/tag/throw+away+the+scale monthly 0.5 https://www.recoverywrites.com/words-by-me/tag/bulimia+journal+prompt monthly 0.5 https://www.recoverywrites.com/ed-deep-dives daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://www.recoverywrites.com/ed-deep-dives/ed-deep-dive-drunkorexia monthly 0.5 2022-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1659277724908-C8C0R6JK2NWBEH2YX5BS/unsplash-image-oC5NGvN3FOo.jpg ED Deep Dives - ED Deep Dive #8: Drunkorexia - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.recoverywrites.com/ed-deep-dives/all-about-all-in-recovery monthly 0.5 2021-12-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1635608046652-XU10DQUI0C0O1KL1JZZE/unsplash-image-eMP4sYPJ9x0.jpg ED Deep Dives - All about ‘all-in recovery’ - Kenzie said, "I would define 'all-in recovery' as eliminating all restrictions and letting go of all fears, regardless of what our eating disorders tell us." I inferred this to mean that you turn on a sort-of recovery switch that informs your eating disorder you’re no longer going to listen to its direction. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1635608231387-ST7SQHY0L2LDN9KHUEUG/unsplash-image-tb5A-QTI6xg.jpg ED Deep Dives - All about ‘all-in recovery’ - “I also think that it’s vital to have a support team, whether that be family, a therapist, or a spouse. Eating disorders are tricky and manipulative, so having people to hold you accountable is seriously important! “I believe that all-in is for everyone, but you have to learn to separate yourself from your eating disorder. Recovery works. Take it from me. I believe in you!” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1635608996345-UFPQB47B9ZGOZV81PU3N/unsplash-image-76aKbIguu9U.jpg ED Deep Dives - All about ‘all-in recovery’ - I think back to my early days of recovery— the thought of abandoning all restrictions and rules overnight would have been inconceivable to me and my comfortable little routine. It reminds me of diving into a dark sea, unable to see what I’m getting into but having to trust that I am equipped to tread water for however long it takes to get to shore. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/c2a6c164-89a3-43a2-a857-f343d64bfb72/kenzie.jpg ED Deep Dives - All about ‘all-in recovery’ - Kenzie is an aspiring writer and college student, pursuing a degree in Elementary Education. She started her blog, Thoughts by Kenz, when she was 16. “I truly believe recovery is possible for everyone, and I want to help as many as I can on their personal journeys!” https://www.recoverywrites.com/ed-deep-dives/common-myths-about-eating-disorders monthly 0.5 2022-01-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1622905506829-N5RBZT5TD9ILOWGKR9GW/unsplash-image-XCBW03rNaNQ.jpg ED Deep Dives - 5 common myths about eating disorders - After-school TV specials of the 80s and 90s depicted characters with eating disorders as young, White, female, heterosexual, and often from an upper-middle-class family. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1622906938734-FKUI5ET3P23K143G5XR0/unsplash-image-8oB43mw658c.jpg ED Deep Dives - 5 common myths about eating disorders - A few studies from the early ‘10s have revealed that Black teenagers are 50% more likely to exhibit bulimic behavior than White teenagers and that Hispanic adolescents were significantly more likely to suffer from bulimia nervous than their non-Hispanic peers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1622993073686-OP5TID2AGB3BKRQ64JQU/unsplash-image-zPZ9vqqDNBA.jpg ED Deep Dives - 5 common myths about eating disorders - Although the main activity of the disease is in the name (“eating”), this is usually just a symptom of a larger issue that an individual is using food and body image to placate. It is not uncommon for eating disorders to be accompanied or fueled by other psychosocial conditions like depression, anxiety, and/or obsessive-compulsive disorder. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1622907137013-TH169EL6QL38G6KH6I8Z/unsplash-image-Odc4dcsjUBw.jpg ED Deep Dives - 5 common myths about eating disorders - As mentioned on NEDA’s website, eating disorders are “bio-psycho-social diseases, which means that genetic, biological, environmental, and social elements all play a role.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1622993214743-UMUUD31REIEAZCG05SER/unsplash-image-IGOBsR93I7Y.jpg ED Deep Dives - 5 common myths about eating disorders - It takes years to undo the damage that undereating, overexercising, bingeing, and purging have done to the body, and it also takes years to learn how to push the voice out of your head and replace it with a healthier script. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1622906805887-T26JWUC1URS2B22O30OL/unsplash-image-cMQQvWRcNvU.jpg ED Deep Dives - 5 common myths about eating disorders - Pause & Prompt What’s one misconception about eating disorders that you wish more people understood? https://www.recoverywrites.com/ed-deep-dives/orthorexia-nervosa-healthy-eating monthly 0.5 2024-09-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1615650656852-WX8YO2MG3VGHFNN09IUM/unsplash-image-E6HjQaB7UEA.jpg ED Deep Dives - ED Deep Dive #7: Orthorexia nervosa - You’ve adopted new eating habits that may limit you from enjoying activities you used to love (e.g., you’re newly vegan and now avoid going out to eat with friends for fear of the lack of vegan-friendly options on the menu). Your new eating habits have begun to affect relationships with your family, friends, school, job, etc. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1615650587664-FLAJFRJQBMOE2JPLB3H6/unsplash-image-s8u1Gv2uF3o.jpg ED Deep Dives - ED Deep Dive #7: Orthorexia nervosa https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1615648465086-RNXONHLZX1H6BBAYY5FY/unsplash-image-iLKK0eFTywU.jpg ED Deep Dives - ED Deep Dive #7: Orthorexia nervosa - Unlike anorexia nervosa, orthorexia nervosa does not necessarily involve a desire to be thin or a distorted body image. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1615651153861-N7BXUK4BGU0T3936P0XX/unsplash-image-omeaHbEFlN4.jpg ED Deep Dives - ED Deep Dive #7: Orthorexia nervosa - Want to share your experience with orthorexia nervosa or disordered eating? Click here. Or share and chat with the Recovery Writes Instagram community. https://www.recoverywrites.com/ed-deep-dives/ed-deep-dive-6-body-dysmorphic-disorder monthly 0.5 2021-03-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1614961090611-A9211RI1HI2L8XTSV7IV/unsplash-image-JR1ChBgzJvQ.jpg ED Deep Dives - ED Deep Dive #6: Body dysmorphic disorder - A preoccupation with one or more specific parts of the body Repetitive behaviors with the aim to fix or hide perceived flaws, such as body checking, excessive grooming, or skin picking Seeking frequent reassurance from others regarding appearance Avoiding social situations out of fear of appearance-based judgment and ridicule https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1614962105689-219Q38NDME5RV0NS8EBW/unsplash-image-GUroRwA99SU.jpg ED Deep Dives - ED Deep Dive #6: Body dysmorphic disorder - For more information about body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) from Mayo Clinic, click here. https://www.recoverywrites.com/ed-deep-dives/ed-deep-dive-5-rumination-disorder monthly 0.5 2021-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1614630116608-8CWD7JZAVL8RKALQMONT/image.jpg ED Deep Dives - ED Deep Dive #5: Rumination disorder - Frequently regurgitating food for a minimum of one month. This behavior does not occur exclusively with symptoms of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, BED, or ARFID. The regurgitation does not co-occur with another condition, such as a gastrointestinal disorder. Rumination disorder may co-occur with an intellectual development disorder. https://www.recoverywrites.com/ed-deep-dives/ed-deep-dive-4-arfid-and-pica monthly 0.5 2025-05-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1613915894724-YAG3TDHST5AGD5KEEAHE/image-asset.jpeg ED Deep Dives - ED Deep Dive #4: ARFID and Pica - Lack of interest in or avoiding eating certain types of foods due to the sensory aspects of foods, such as taste, texture, smell, etc. Concern about adverse reactions from eating certain foods, so avoiding them altogether A limited range of preferred foods that may become more narrow over time https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1613914805410-JVE5W17BDTIVMYVQ9J4Y/image-asset.jpeg ED Deep Dives - ED Deep Dive #4: ARFID and Pica - paper hair dirt paint chips chalk gum ice pebbles string https://www.recoverywrites.com/ed-deep-dives/ed-deep-dive-3-osfed-amp-ufed monthly 0.5 2021-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1612690979812-12WR5M8BMIOPNKZB3LB7/image-asset.jpeg ED Deep Dives - ED Deep Dive #3: OSFED and UFED - Atypical anorexia nervosa (of low frequency and/or limited duration) — Criteria for AN are met, but weight is within or above the “normal” range. Bulimia nervosa (of low frequency and/or limited duration) — Criteria for BN are met except that binge eating and compensatory behaviors occur at a lower frequency. Binge eating disorder (of low frequency and/or limited duration) — Criteria for BED are met, except that binge eating occurs less than once a week and for less than 3 months. Purging disorder — Recurrent purging to influence weight or body shape, in the absence of binge eating. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1612691765037-WQ0DF5BF04DUAY66H2MQ/image-asset.jpeg ED Deep Dives - ED Deep Dive #3: OSFED and UFED - To see a full list of diagnostic criteria, warning signs, and health consequences, click here for OSFED and here for UFED. Thank you to the National Eating Disorders Association for further clarification of these eating disorders. https://www.recoverywrites.com/ed-deep-dives/ed-deep-dive-2-bulimia-nervosa-amp-binge-eating-disorder monthly 0.5 2021-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1612017872631-5VDLKKX9IL4HAGUT9GLL/image-asset.jpeg ED Deep Dives - ED Deep Dive #2: Bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder - Self-induced vomiting Misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or other medications Fasting Excessive exercise https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1612018049283-9FBW55ZGGVU70N1WW4YX/image-asset.jpeg ED Deep Dives - ED Deep Dive #2: Bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder - Eating more rapidly than normal Eating until uncomfortably full Eating large amounts of food even when not physically hungry Eating alone due to embarrassment by how much one is eating Feeling disgusted, depressed, or guilty after overeating https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1612017692063-OC85DZ1BKUPF0B6PWHA0/image.jpg ED Deep Dives - ED Deep Dive #2: Bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder - Next, we’ll cover two classifications that aren’t as easy to identify and label according to the criteria above. They’re known as: Other specified feeding and eating disorders (OSFED) and Unspecified feeding or eating disorders (UFED). https://www.recoverywrites.com/ed-deep-dives/eatingdisorder-anorexia-nervosa monthly 0.5 2021-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1611489658871-8AJ538VMFCMGLX0RLP36/image.jpg ED Deep Dives - ED Deep Dive #1: Anorexia nervosa - The DSM-V defines anorexia nervosa as: Restriction of energy intake relative to requirements, leading to a significantly low body weight in the context of age, sex, developmental trajectory, and physical health (less than minimally normal/expected). Intense fear of gaining weight or persistent behavior that interferes with weight gain. Disturbed by one’s body weight or shape, self-worth influenced by body weight or shape, or persistent lack of recognition of the seriousness of low body weight. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1611490579611-UET22HO0SM47PL5T0VJN/image.jpg ED Deep Dives - ED Deep Dive #1: Anorexia nervosa - Cardiovascular (heart and blood vessels) — anemia, low blood cell counts, slow heart rate, cold hands and feet, electrolyte imbalances that can lead to cardiac arrest or death Gastrointestinal (stomach) — stomach cramps, constipation, acid reflux, swelling of the salivary glands Integumentary (skin) — cuts and calluses across the top of finger joints (a result of induced vomiting), dry skin, dry and brittle nails, fine hair appearing on the body (“lanugo”) https://www.recoverywrites.com/ed-deep-dives/ed-eating-disorders-definitions monthly 0.5 2022-02-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1611485299812-65AWWRHH9DJ29GT0EIOF/image-asset.jpeg ED Deep Dives - ED Deep Dive: Eating disorders definitions - According to the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5)—which as of 2021 was last updated in May 2013—eating disorders can be broken down into 10 subcategories.* https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1610884882149-CN0G40R1VOOOLFOIQWGQ/image-asset.jpeg ED Deep Dives - ED Deep Dive: Eating disorders definitions - To connect with others in the community, head over to Instagram for insightful and inspirational posts every day! https://www.recoverywrites.com/ed-deep-dives/category/ED+Deep+Dives monthly 0.5 https://www.recoverywrites.com/ed-deep-dives/tag/eating+disorder+definitions monthly 0.5 https://www.recoverywrites.com/ed-deep-dives/tag/ufed+eating+disorder monthly 0.5 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https://www.recoverywrites.com/ed-deep-dives/tag/eating+disorder+help monthly 0.5 https://www.recoverywrites.com/ed-deep-dives/tag/eating+disorder+awareness monthly 0.5 https://www.recoverywrites.com/ed-deep-dives/tag/fad+diets monthly 0.5 https://www.recoverywrites.com/ed-deep-dives/tag/eating+disorder+diagnoses monthly 0.5 https://www.recoverywrites.com/about daily 0.75 2026-03-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1602870099230-5HJT88EB85M5I9IBP1TM/journaling.jpg About - What is Recovery Writes? Recovery Writes is a creative community for anyone and everyone who struggles or has struggled with disordered eating and body image. In this safe and supportive space, we’ll explore the conversations we have with ourselves, with our eating disorders, and with those around us, and build a community of love for ourselves and for others. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1602870800911-P9H98VGKWXJR1DWB83V4/recovery+support About - Who is it for? Recovery Writes is for anyone who: has engaged or thinks they have engaged in disordered eating is considering recovery is currently in recovery is living a recovered life isn’t sure where they are, but simply wants to explore their relationships with self-image, body, food, and exercise https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1602871552794-KW1OUV5DJZ62U4GZ2LZU/journaling+prompts About - What will I do? As part of this FREE community, you’ll get writing prompts that will help you put your thoughts and feelings on paper. These writing prompts are intended to help you discover the roles food, exercise, and body image play in your life, and help you work your way through these challenges at your own pace. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1604656775727-U394PBRRD7DTW2JO3HCB/image-asset.jpeg About - What if I’m not a ‘writer’? Never written before? Don’t worry! The writing prompts are simply guides to help you start exploring thoughts and feelings surrounding your self-image. Anything you feel like (or don’t feel like) writing will be for your eyes only. Open a blank page and express yourself however you feel the creativity comes to you, whether through writing, doodling, list-making, bullet journaling, or painting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/8ea028bc-71a8-4af6-95fd-0cbff0895b9c/042bac25fca61701.jpeg About - Hi, I’m Allie. Welcome to Recovery Writes! By age 21, my fixation on fitness and health had crossed the line into dangerous behaviors. I was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and, like most people with eating disorders, I eventually cycled through bulimia nervosa, orthorexia nervosa, and exercise bulimia. The thought of recovery, which meant letting go of control, was too terrifying to ever consider a reality. By sitting myself in front of an open notebook or open doc, I’ve been writing my way through my recovery, finding the ability to put into words the thoughts and feelings that I wasn’t able to articulate in sessions with my treatment team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1603021373905-CR6A5N1UT947CBW2CML0/eating+disorders+advocacy.jpg About - Eating disorders awareness & advocacy In 2010, I was asked to share my story at a congressional briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. In front of a room of Eating Disorders Coalition (EDC) members and members of the U.S. Congress—including Representative Patrick J. Kennedy—I spoke about the injustices I faced in tseeking qualified and affordable treatment for my eating disorder. I explained how legislation could help the millions of people with eating disorders access the care they need to survive the second-deadliest mental illness in the United States. https://www.recoverywrites.com/home-1 daily 1.0 2026-03-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/b146ab14-65b1-44a3-b034-0147635e23af/unsplash-image-11-15cYOiQc.jpg Home - Subscribe to my weekly Substack for: Commentary and musings on life in eating disorder recovery. The latest research and news in eating disorder treatment. Free writing prompts to help you explore your own eating disorder recovery journey! https://www.recoverywrites.com/find-support daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f7d8589622ccd3fc73b4833/1603022286958-9W4VAJD175THCFHBBC39/eating+disorder+online+support.jpg Find Support - Disclaimer Recovery Writes is not affiliated with any major eating disorders organizations, healthcare organizations, hospitals, recovery or rehabilitation centers, or governmental organizations. https://www.recoverywrites.com/404-error daily 0.75 2020-10-31 https://www.recoverywrites.com/start-here daily 0.75 2026-03-11