A Journey Through Eating Disorders Support & Recovery

Eating disorders are serious, complex illnesses that affect millions of people. These conditions are not choices or phases but rather medical and psychiatric conditions with biological, psychological, and social components. In recent years, scientists have begun exploring one particularly fascinating biological angle influencing eating disorders. Researchers are studying the gut microbiome and its potential influence on mental health and eating…

The turn of the calendar often invites high expectations: a fresh start, ambitious goals, public declarations. For many people, this impulse is harmless. For individuals managing an eating disorder, however, the pressure to “fix” oneself in a short window can increase shame, heighten monitoring of food and bodies, and undermine stability. This article reframes the New Year moment into a…

Religious traditions often guide the rhythm of our lives, shaping how we find meaning, how we pray, and, sometimes, how we eat. For many, rituals like fasting are deeply spiritual, offering moments of reflection and connection to something greater than ourselves. But for individuals healing from an eating disorder, these same practices can pose serious challenges. This article explores how…

Many people with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may notice that their eating habits don’t follow a predictable rhythm. Maybe you lose track of time and forget to eat until hunger becomes unbearable. Or you snack impulsively—not out of hunger, but because it feels like the only way to calm down when your brain is buzzing and overstimulated. Or perhaps you’ve found…

For many adults, eating has never felt straightforward. Certain textures or smells might make you tense up before you even take a bite. Maybe you once choked or got sick after eating something unfamiliar, and food hasn’t felt safe since. Or perhaps you rarely feel hungry at all; eating just feels like something you have to get through. Over time,…

When someone has an eating disorder, it not only affects them as an individual, but also the entire family. Recovery is a shared journey, and while the priority is to heal the person with the eating disorder, their family and loved ones also need support and healing. The Family’s Role in Recovery Having a steady support system is extremely important…

The holidays—from Halloween through Thanksgiving and the December celebrations—can be one of the most challenging times for individuals and families navigating eating disorders. While many focus on celebrations, those struggling may face heightened stress around food-centered entertainment, meals, disrupted routines, and social pressures. It can be common to wonder, “Is this really the right time for treatment?” As someone who…

Lived Experience from ViaMar Health Alumni and Their Families The holiday season can be a time of joy and celebration, but for many in eating disorder recovery, and their families, it can also be overwhelming. Moments that are meant to be exciting and festive can instead feel stressful and triggering, sometimes bringing out eating disorder behaviors and the urge to…

How we talk about eating disorders (and who we picture when we talk about them) reveals modern media’s influence on our understanding of race, representation, and health care. This is a tricky intersection to parse apart. Our relationships with our bodies, racial identity, and mental health are parts of a complex web that makes up our experiences. Unfortunately, historical traumas…

Is it “picky eating” or something more serious? Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a serious eating disorder that affects both children and adults and is more common than many people realize. Unlike other eating disorders, ARFID is not driven by fear of weight gain or body image concerns. Instead, it may stem from: Extreme avoidance of specific textures, smells…