Eating Disorder Recovery Blog

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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 emotions as I hugged my therapist, Christy, goodbye. After three long months, I was finally…

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The beginning of fall is often associated with the start of a new school year and for many the transition to their first year of college. While this transition is usually an exciting time, it can also bring about increased levels of stress, anxiety, and overall unfamiliar territory. “Historically, September and October have been my busiest times as an eating disorder specialist, notes Dr. Cornia, Clinical Director at Magnolia Creek. The upcoming college transition coupled…

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Let’s keep it real, everyone wants to look good in whatever they’re wearing. Growing up, for others, affording a pair of jeans you liked meant devising a plan and coming correct to your parents for the coins. But for me, living in a larger body meant that I didn’t ask my mother for the money because the stores didn’t sell my size. Shopping was frustrating, and a lot of times, overwhelming. Right before my 17th…

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Not surprisingly, a major focus of therapy for people who have eating disorders is helping them to develop healthier ways of coping with and releasing negative emotions that do not “hurt” their bodies. Learning to give up these self-harming behaviors and live in ways that are consistent with their most cherished values is not easy, but it is doable, with help. As I often tell my patients, when we suppress, we depress. Humans were built…

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I often ask my clients to think of their meal plan like the blueprints for building a house. Some parts will be more tedious than others (like sorting out wood for framing) and there will be lots of repetition (just think how much hammering goes into building a house). Some parts will be scary and require support (there’s a reason roofers don’t work alone), while other parts will require creativity and flexibility (picking finishes). There…