A Journey Through Eating Disorders Support & Recovery

The hard truth is that 30 million people will struggle with an eating disorder in their lifetime. This is particularly relevant to college students who are already balancing major life changes. Academic pressures, transitions away from home, and shifting routines can make it harder to manage one’s nutritional needs and care for one’s mental health, especially without access to specialized…

As summer comes to an end, many students and families begin preparing for a new school year. While back-to-school season can bring excitement, it can also introduce stress, uncertainty, and significant changes in routine. For individuals in eating disorder recovery, these transitions may feel particularly challenging. Returning to school often means adjusting to new schedules, academic expectations, social environments, and…

Understanding the Overlap Between Eating Disorders and OCD Eating disorders frequently overlap with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD is a condition that causes obsessions (recurrent thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors). Studies show that about two-thirds of people with eating disorder also have a co-occurring anxiety disorder; of these, one of the most common is OCD. Globally, respectively 18% and 15% of…

The Inspiration Behind Waves of Recovery The idea for Waves of Recovery began while I was listening to an alumna share her story with a group of new patients. As I watched the room respond to her honesty and vulnerability, I remember thinking, “How can I get more people to hear these stories?” Our alumni regularly return to share stories…

There are moments when I catch myself scrolling without even realizing how long I’ve been doing it. A few minutes between meetings. Sitting in the carpool line. Late at night when the house is finally quiet. At first, it feels harmless, even comforting. Social media helps me stay connected to friends and family during a busy season of life filled…

School’s out, and the house is full again. Maybe your teen is home all day for the first time since the fall, or your college student just moved back in with a semester’s worth of laundry. Either way, summer puts more of your child’s daily life where you can see it. Meals that happened in a school cafeteria or dining…

Eating disorders, mental health concerns, and suicide risk are rising among transgender individuals, making this a time-sensitive issue for clinicians. Gender-affirming care plays a crucial role in helping the trans community access mental health and medical support without stigma or shame. Being transgender is not a mental illness. It doesn’t need to be fixed, changed, or debated about. What does…

I start my day off with a big ol’ cup of wariness and a bowl of skepticism toward the trend of “What I Eat in a Day” videos. These videos have circulated online for years, and they really gained steam in 2020 during the COVID lockdown. The Problem with "What I Eat in a Day" Videos Many mental health and…

When people talk about trauma responses, most of us have heard of fight, flight, or freeze. But there is a fourth response that is often overlooked: fawn. The “fawn” response is about keeping the peace, no matter the cost. Fawning is a trauma response where someone prioritizes another person’s needs, safety, or approval over their own in order to avoid…

Every year on June 2nd, advocates, clinicians, loved ones, and people in recovery come together to recognize World Eating Disorders Action Day. This day is meant to raise awareness, challenge misconceptions, and remind people that recovery is possible, even in the hardest times. Sharing Stories and Creating Community One of the most influential frameworks used to guide the conversation is…