Why the Word “Ob*sity” is Fatphobic
CW: Mentions of "ob*sity" - While we absolutely do not support the use of weight stigmatizing language, the terms "ob*sity"…
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So, Let’s Talk About Eating Disorders In Men
Anyone can have an eating disorder. While conversations about eating disorders tend to focus on the significant social pressures women…
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What Is an Eating Disorder Helpline?
At the National Alliance for Eating Disorders (“The Alliance”), our mission is to create better access to education, referrals, and…
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The Global Impact of Eating Disorder Recovery
Recovering from an eating disorder requires an immense amount of courage, strength, and bravery. It is not something that happens…
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Hap-pea Holidays!
Oh, the holidays – a time that means so much to so many. Twinkling lights, bustling bodies, gift-wrapping galore, and…
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Navigating the Thanksgiving Holiday
Apparently it’s November again (Mentally: Still in March 2020), and we are approaching another holiday season. The holidays can be…
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A New Chapter for The Alliance
In the United States, turning “21” represents growing up, coming of age, and taking ownership of your identity as you…
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A Note On Growth
Growth in the fire “This will make you better.” Every time I asked why-- Why me? Why did I develop…
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Climbing the Mountain: Finding Resiliency in Recovery
I ran into the word resiliency while I was on social media. It was a reminder of something I wanted…
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What Is Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)?
Many eating disorders, such as Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa, are well-known even among non-medical professionals and oftentimes easy to…
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Self Love: Taking Internal Inventory
“What do you need?” On the days I find myself on the therapy couch overwhelmed, overworked, anxious, and spinning, my…
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Witness to Resilience
The past year has permanently changed my life, and not just for reasons relating to the pandemic. In May of…
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Welcome to The Communité – An Eating Disorder Recovery Newsletter
What is The Communité? The Communité is a monthly eating disorder recovery newsletter filled with guest blog posts, recovery wins,…
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Gender Dysphoria, Body Dysmorphia, & Body Image in Trans & Non-Binary Folks
Body image issues are often the most difficult aspect of eating disorder recovery to overcome. Dialogue around eating disorders and…
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Living a Life Beyond Eating Disorders: A Conversation with Demi Lovato + Jameela Jamil
The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness’ Founder + CEO, Johanna Kandel, recently sat down with Renowned Singer, Actress, and Activist,…
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The Process
TRUST the process, then EMBRACE the process, and eventually ENJOY the process. Those words are written on the inside cover…
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Why the Word “Recovery” is All Wrong
About ten years ago, I was taking part in an evening of live music and meditation as a part of…
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The Alliance Joins The Mental Health Coalition
At The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, we are proud to announce our membership with The Mental Health Coalition. Together,…
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Embrace Your Experience
Even before my eating disorder made its first official “debut” with symptoms in my senior year of high school, I…
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In Anticipation of a Post-Pandemic Existence: Am I Excited or Am I Anxious?
As of mid-April 2021, more than 23 million vaccines have been administered in California and the state’s Covid-19 positivity rate…
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From Patient to Professional: Working in the ED Field while in Recovery
A few years ago, I couldn’t imagine recovering from my eating disorder, let alone working as a professional in the…
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Transitions: Building Bridges to Recovery
If, as I’ve come to know, recovery from an eating disorder is a process, then transitions are the bridges we…
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How to Know if You Have an Eating Disorder
How do we know when disordered eating becomes an eating disorder? Disordered eating does not interfere with one’s ability to…
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Ensuring Eating Disorders Are Part of the Conversation
1 in 5 U.S. adults experiences mental illness each year. With the COVID-19 pandemic, some experts are estimating that number…
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Neurobiology and Genetics
It is an exciting time in the world of brain and mental health research. Over the past few years, there…
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We Can Do Hard Things!
Life without hardships? Well, that’s not something that anyone can promise you. There will surely be times that you don’t…
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Not One More: Renfrew Center
The Alliance’s call to action of Not One More is vital to allowing new awareness to emerge and grow. I…
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What Does Eating Disorder Treatment Look Like?
For many of us, this past year marked an unprecedented loss of normalcy and control – beyond our comprehension. We’ve…
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Eating Disorders Awareness Week
Did you know that 29 million Americans will experience a clinically significant eating disorder during their lifetime? Yet, only one-third…
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Kindling Hope in Uncertain Times
Having hope while in recovery can feel easy on some days and much harder on others; sometimes tangible and ripe,…
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20 Powerful Recovery Lessons from 2020
The year 2020 has been filled with countless challenges, obstacles, and opportunities for inner growth. Let’s be real, I don’t…
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The Instagram Perfect Holiday
It was the perfect Christmas – I began the season at a party with my dear friends, took advantage of…
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Finding My Advocate Voice: A Note on Disability and Eating Disorder Recovery
Long before therapy, dietitian, and group appointments, my parents took me to countless doctors appointments because of my disability. I…
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The Blessings of The Storms
A quote by N.R. Walker says, “Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, just remember how far…
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Embracing My Identity
I want to first thank my beautiful community at The Alliance for asking me to take the time to write…
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It is OK to STILL Need Help
For the past five years, I called New York City home, a home I worked hard to build for myself.…
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A Page in Your Survival Guide
“Tell the story of the mountain you climbed. Your words could become a page in someone else’s survival guide”- Morgan…
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Spirituality and Eating Disorders
“Feed them and they will come.” This is the mantra of many churches and religious organizations. Growing up, a church…
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Embracing Transitions to Create Positive Change
Transitions can be incredibly challenging, especially while in recovery. Change tends to go hand in hand with discomfort, disruption of…
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Navigating Eating Disorders as an Athlete: A Recovery Story
I suffered from the afflictions of an eating disorder for three years. I wanted to take the time to get…
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Balancing Eating Disorders and Parenthood: A Recovery Story
Reasons alum, Rachel S., shares how becoming a mom changed her, and ultimately inspired her to seek the treatment she…
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Autism and Eating Disorders: Navigating ED on the Spectrum
I was 20 years old when I found out I was Autistic. At that point, I was already four years…
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Breast Cancer + Eating Disorders: My Journey of Survival
My name is Leah Wypych and I am the Chair of the Board of Directors for The Alliance for Eating…
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Backing the SERVE Act: Eating Disorder Care in the Military
When I started my military career, the thought of me developing an eating disorder was improbable and impossible. Less than…
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Unique Eating Disorder Struggles During a Pandemic
For many who struggle with an eating disorder, the state officials’ mandate of practicing social distancing can feel like a…
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Parental Guilt: How Love Leaves Us Vulnerable
Are we wired for parental guilt? I remember the moment I found out I was pregnant, my initial rush of…
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Seven Action Steps to Help the LGBTQ+ Community Reach Recovery During COVID-19
As we all continue to limit social interactions with those outside of our immediate household, LGBTQ+ youth in recovery face…
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The Impact of Food Insecurity During COVID-19 For Individuals With ARFID
The COVID-19 pandemic has created stress on our internal infrastructure, disrupting our food systems. Every time I go to the…
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ARFID: Educating our peers and healthcare providers
I never thought I would be making a post about the importance of advocating for your mental health when it…
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I Wish I Had findEDhelp When I Was Struggling
When I was in high school and first started struggling with “eating issues,” as my family labeled it, my parents…
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Breaking Up with Diet Culture
Toxic diet culture and personal insecurities—how are they related? When others and I talk about toxic diet culture, we are…
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Finding What Feels Good!
If you’ve never heard the term "joyful movement," that's okay. Movement is another way of describing physical activity or what…
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5 Secrets to Cultivating Positive Body Image
“Mirror mirror on the wall, You don’t get to make the call Of who I am, or how I see,…
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Pet Therapy: It’s Real.
When shelter in place became official, so did my status as a dog owner. Not exactly what I was expecting…
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Unfound Joy and Laughter
I have been searching and yearning for joy and laughter in my journey of eating disorder recovery. I couldn’t remember…
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Goal 2020 – ReWilding
Spring has sprung! Sort of, anyway. After the longest winters of the longest winters with a side-order of quarantine, many…
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Everyone Has a Why
There’s a reason you ended up on this site. Whether you have a loved one with an eating disorder, you…
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Where Alcoholism and Eating Disorders Meet: A Recovery Story
Are we going to make it through this time? Of course we are. We have already survived so much and…
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A Letter to Athletes
Dear Athletes Endeavoring to Navigate this Current Global Crisis, To the competitors that were at the height of their careers,…
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Navigating Recovery During a Pandemic: A Nurse’s Story
It seems safe to say that this past month has rocked our world. We worry for the health and safety…
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Managing Stress with Effective Self-Care
My smartwatch keeps telling me my heart rate is elevated these days. It also keeps alerting me about a new…
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Supporting Eating Disorder Recovery During COVID-19
As we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and begin to define our “new normal”, it’s important to acknowledge the impact these…
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Taking Back the Power From My Eating Disorder
I used to think that recovery was getting to a place in my life where I was no longer engaging…
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10 Tips for Coping While You Practice Social Distancing
We are in a situation that most of us have never experienced. Amidst strict CDC recommendations to help contain the…
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Stories of Eating Disorder Recovery: Celebrating 4 Years
Today I celebrate four years recovered, four years free from my demons, four years of living life without my eating…
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Tips for Staying Connected During Social Distancing
If you’ve been working on recovery from your eating disorder, you are probably well aware of the importance of staying…
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Reclaiming Ballet After Anorexia Recovery
I’ve loved ballet for as long as I can remember. As a toddler, I would use the safety rail on…
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Self-Care in Difficult Times
When times get hard, especially like the trying times we're going through now, it can be easy to allow anxiety…
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Taking a Pause to Sustain Recovery
The rules governing an eating disorder include a focus on body distortions, obsessive thoughts and a quest for perfection. When…
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Can I Exercise During My Eating Disorder Recovery?
Movement and exercise play a complicated but important role in eating disorder treatment. Exercise, perhaps more than any other aspect…
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8 Steps to Take Toward Recovery This Year
For those living with an eating disorder, maybe 2020 can be the year you start to work toward recovery. No…
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Why a New Year does NOT mean a New YOU!
"Why a New Year does NOT mean a New YOU!" New year, new you? NOPE! It is the time of…
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How Do We Navigate Negative Food and Body Image Talk?
As we celebrate the holidays, we are reunited with many family members and loved ones. We know from experience as…
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Surviving the Holidays with an Eating Disorder
I’m sure we’ve all heard the song, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. No matter what holiday(s) you…
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Four Tips for Reducing Negative Self-Talk
Four Tips for Reducing Negative Self-Talk “I’m so disgusting. There’s no way I am going to this party tonight. All…
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Seven SMASHing Years Later
Today, Southern Smash turns seven! I often get asked, “How did you start Southern Smash? How did you make it…
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Eating Disorders and College: What’s the Connection?
The beginning of fall is often associated with the start of a new school year and for many the transition…
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Gaining Confidence Through Clothing: A Recovery Story
Let’s keep it real, everyone wants to look good in whatever they’re wearing. Growing up, for others, affording a pair…
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Healthy Communication in Eating Disorder Recovery
Not surprisingly, a major focus of therapy for people who have eating disorders is helping them to develop healthier ways…
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Your Meal Plan: Build a Strong Foundation
I often ask my clients to think of their meal plan like the blueprints for building a house. Some parts…
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The Relationship Between Eating Disorders and Grief
Experiencing a significant loss such as losing a loved one, a pet, a relationship, or a job can bring on…
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Supporting a Loved One Through Mental Illness
It is likely you have been on either or both sides of this conversation. Most of us have found ourselves…
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Where Mechanical Eating Meets Intuitive Eating
Eating disorders can be consuming and overwhelming. The process of recovery is often described as a roller-coaster of emotions that…
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When is it an Eating Disorder and Not Disordered Eating?
We all have our idiosyncrasies around eating. So when do our behaviors around eating become a problem? When are our…
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Why I Walk and Hope You will Too
I Walk for my family and the millions of families who have been experienced the devastation of a loved one…
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Experiencing Emotions in Eating Disorder Recovery
It seems like I am experiencing my feelings, now that I am no longer binging and purging my emotions”. This…
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The Do’s and Don’ts of Supporting Your Spouse Through Recovery
I've read numerous articles about parental support and involvement in recovery for their loved ones with eating disorders. There's an…
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My Recovery Journey: Getting Back on the Horse and Moving Forward
My story and recovery journey are a winding road, sometimes confusing, even to me. But luckily, I look forward to…
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10 Tips and Strategies for Thriving through the Holiday Season during Recovery
Are you finding an increase in anxiety due to the start of the holiday season? What comes to mind when…
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Honored to be an Extraordinary Charity
The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness is proud to once again be named one of the 2019 Extraordinary Charities of…
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Treating Patients with Eating Disorders: It Takes a Village
The treatment of eating disorders is one of healthcare’s most complex therapeutic pathways. Helping patients achieve recovery requires a sustained,…
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A Lesson on Emotional Vulnerability: A Recovery Story
Sometimes I succeeded at motherhood and sometimes I failed – yet, always, I gave it my best try. By the…
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The Art of Vulnerability
I don't have a Sam's club card, and sometimes, if I want to go, I'll show up to the warehouse,…
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Learning to Embrace Your Anxiety
“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” – Wayne Dyer For individuals…
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