A Journey Through Eating Disorders Support & Recovery

“What do you need?” On the days I find myself on the therapy couch overwhelmed, overworked, anxious, and spinning, my therapist comes back to this key question. Most of the time I want to throw my arms up and say, “You’re the therapist, I don’t know…tell me, tell me what I need!” But the reality is I have these answers…

The past year has permanently changed my life, and not just for reasons relating to the pandemic. In May of 2020, I was diagnosed with an eating disorder and began an intensive outpatient treatment program (IOP). I was terrified. Being completely new to the world of eating disorders, I had no idea what recovery meant-- or if it was even…

Body image issues are often the most difficult aspect of eating disorder recovery to overcome. Dialogue around eating disorders and body image is usually centered around narratives of white, thin, able-bodied, heterosexual, and cisgender women. However, these conversations leave out the experiences of transgender and non-binary folks who often experience eating disorders and body image distress at disproportionately higher rates…

The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness’ Founder + CEO, Johanna Kandel, recently sat down with Renowned Singer, Actress, and Activist, Demi Lovato, and Activist and Founder of I Weigh, Jameela Jamil. Demi, Jameela, and Johanna have all been outspoken about their experiences with eating disorders and various other mental health issues. From chatting about the dangers of diet culture to…

Last week, our community in The Alliance’s LGBTQ+ pro-recovery eating disorders support group reflected on what it means to have pride and how pride is expressed. This is, of course, personal to everyone. Pride can be internal and external. It can mean protest, celebration, connection to community, gender euphoria, survival, and so much more. I shared with the group that…

TRUST the process, then EMBRACE the process, and eventually ENJOY the process. Those words are written on the inside cover of my bright yellow recovery journal. It has become my recovery mantra that I read multiple times throughout the day. To be honest, this statement experienced its own process. At the beginning of my recovery, it was simply “trust the…

About ten years ago, I was taking part in an evening of live music and meditation as a part of an event to raise awareness for eating disorders, when the musician leading us in reflection and song said something that blew my mind. As he was challenging us to think about “recovery” in a different way, he pointed out that…

At The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, we are proud to announce our membership with The Mental Health Coalition. Together, with other leading mental health organizations, brands, and influential individuals, we are working to smash the stigma surrounding mental health, including eating disorders. The Mental Health Coalition (MHC) was founded by designer and social activist, Kenneth Cole, with the mission…

Even before my eating disorder made its first official “debut” with symptoms in my senior year of high school, I had thoughts and behaviors that started much earlier than I even realized. Looking back, I could see signs of ED wanting to creep into my life long before high school. He was a careful observer…a lurker in the shadows waiting…

As of mid-April 2021, more than 23 million vaccines have been administered in California and the state’s Covid-19 positivity rate was 1.5%. Currently, California’s 1.5% positivity rate is not only at its lowest since the pandemic began; it’s also the lowest positivity rate in the nation. This is welcome news indeed – especially on the heels of the holiday season,…