A Journey Through Eating Disorders Support & Recovery

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

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

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

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

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

"Why a New Year does NOT mean a New YOU!" New year, new you? NOPE! It is the time of year when the airwaves are filled with messages of resolutions guaranteed to make our lives better, our bodies slimmer and our wallets fatter. But this year, instead of buying into the BS diet culture, what if we resolved to stop…

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

I’m sure we’ve all heard the song, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. No matter what holiday(s) you celebrate in the coming weeks, the holiday season isn’t always as wonderful as all the songs and Hallmark movies make it out to be.  Living with an eating disorder is hard.  Navigating the holidays with an eating disorder.  Even harder.…

Four Tips for Reducing Negative Self-Talk “I’m so disgusting. There’s no way I am going to this party tonight. All people are going to think about is how fat I’ve gotten and how boring I am.” Negative self-talk, stemming from beliefs about your self and your body, go hand-in-hand with eating disorder behaviors. Feelings such as shame, disgust, and anger…

Today, Southern Smash turns seven! I often get asked, “How did you start Southern Smash? How did you make it what it is today?" The answer is simple: I have no idea. Well, I have *some* idea. It all started with a silent promise I made eight years ago. March 2, 2011 I was a hot mess of tears and…