A Journey Through Eating Disorders Support & Recovery

Unheard and Unseen: Enduring and Overcoming Medical Trauma as a Fat Woman of Color Content Warning: Loss of life, cancer, medical trauma --- I am scrolling through my phone, reading post after post, not completely registering any of the words or photos. I stop on a particularly interesting post – an article detailing the loss of a black woman’s life…

Eating disorders are mental illnesses that can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, ability, size, or other social categories. Every day at Veritas Collaborative, we see the toll that these widespread mental health conditions take on our patients and their families. The impact is profound. And at the same time, we see that treatment works. People get…

Each year, the National Alliance for Eating Disorders hosts Not One More Weekend to raise awareness of eating disorders, to offer support, and to raise funds for free, virtual, eating disorders support groups. As an ally of The Alliance and of Not One More Weekend, Reasons Eating Disorder Center is committed to being a part of this important conversation. Recently,…

As someone who grew up in the ballet community and became a behavioral health professional and dance educator, I know the damage this insidious disease inflicts on entire communities. I firmly believe Not One More person should be made to believe their value is in shrinking or lessening their emotions, personality, experience, or body. My hope is that one day…

“Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable.” I think of this quote often since I officially stepped into the professional world of eating disorders five months ago, a field my dietetics curriculum has covered little of. I am continuously amazed by the power of healing through sharing stories and building…

While eating disorders affect people of all genders, ages, and ethnicities, some groups are particularly susceptible to the disease.  According to the Trevor Project National Survey, LGBTQIA2s+ folxs are 50% more likely to develop an eating disorder or die by suicide. These heartbreaking statistics speak to the magnitude of treatment for mental health needs in the queer community. Sadly, when it comes to…

Do you consider climate change a risk to your mental health? For me, a Broadcast Meteorologist and Climate Journalist, the answer became clear after covering the rebuild and recovery in North Carolina after Hurricane Florence devastated parts of the state in 2018. Extreme weather disasters and a crumbling infrastructure contribute to an expanding socioeconomic divide, which can put more stress,…

Recovering from an eating disorder requires an immense amount of courage, strength, and bravery. It is not something that happens overnight. Recovery can take years. It can feel extremely overwhelming and painful at times. So, why do we choose to heal? Wouldn’t it be easier to just stay in the eating disorder? Two and a half years ago, I was…

“There simply is no pill that can replace human connection. There is no pharmacy that can fill the need for compassionate interaction with others…the answer to human suffering is both within us and between us.” This premise from MISS Foundation founder and bereavement specialist, Dr. Joanne Cacciatore, speaks directly to why group therapy is a necessary component of any treatment,…

Athletes are well attuned to the conversations in sport surrounding weight and performance. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, healthcare professional, or fan, you don’t have to look far to observe the narrative in sport that says controlling weight will directly impact performance. Unfortunately, this belief holds many myths and misunderstandings. This narrative is amplified by the pressures of diet culture…