The Power of Doing the Next Right Thing
From accepting that she needed treatment for her eating disorder to taking a bite of her meal, Catherine Comes has used the idea of doing the next right thing to make both big and small decisions.
Connection Is At the Root of Healing
One of River Chew’s core beliefs about recovery is that healing happens in relationships. By connecting with others and building relationships, River believes we start to gather evidence that it can be safe to trust others. Slowly but surely, we can forge a sense of safety in our lives, so that we no longer need to use food, eating, and exercise to try and feel safe or in control.
Disordered Eating vs Eating Disorder: How to Differentiate the Two
It can be hard to know the differences that dictate disordered eating vs eating disorder. While there are some similarities, the two have clear differences that are important to understand.
A Movement Reclamation
After many years lost to a disordered relationship with exercise, Ally Rae Pesta found peace on a yoga mat. Now, a yoga teacher, run coach, and recovery coach, Ally helps others ground themselves in five key principles to reclaim their relationship with movement.
The SWAG Stereotype is Harmful: Eating Disorders Do Not Discriminate
When this week’s blog author was struggling with an eating disorder, they didn’t see themself depicted in news stories and movies about other people who were similarly struggling. But as they realize now, their identities don’t fall within the (harmful) SWAG stereotype — skinny, white, affluent girl — that dominates the narrative.
10 Eating Disorder Books to Support Your Healing Journey
If you’re looking to add some eating disorder books to your queue, here are the ones that came highly recommended by your peers.
Safety is the Foundation, Not Self-Love: Childhood Trauma Is a Risk Factor for Developing Poor Body Image
As Lexie Manion knows well, you can’t self-love your way out of childhood trauma and its lasting effects (like eating disorders). Physical and emotional safety must come first.
Should I Delete Social Media? A Case for Your Mental Health
While we love a good TikTok or viral trend, we’re also exhausted. This is especially true for those of us suffering from disordered eating or eating or body image disorders. So, should you delete social media?
Figuring Out My Role in the Body Liberation Movement as a Straight-Sized Cisgender White Woman
With 10+ years of recovery – and 8 years of “loud recovery” – under her belt, Project HEAL Volunteer Blog Manager, Tara Criscuolo, speaks a lot differently about eating disorders, food, movement, and bodies than she used to.
Boundaries in Healing: Choosing Me Over We
Growing up in a mixed-ethnicity household brought intertwined racist and fatphobic experiences that many of Elizabeth Starbuck’s peers didn’t have to face. Then, when she began dating, the theme of body shame continued as her partner struggled with his relationship with his own body.
The Power of Representation in Eating Disorder Recovery
As a fat, Black woman who battled the dark depths of Binge Eating Disorder, Leslie Jordan Garcia knows firsthand how important representation is in the healing journey. In this blog, Leslie dives into the stark stats demonstrating the lack of representation, reasons why representation is so important, bits of her personal story and those of her clients, and strategies for moving forward.
Weight-Neutral Wellness: Healing for the Body and Beyond
After years of yo-yo dieting, negative body image and chronic illness, Ivy Felicia discovered holistic wellness. She met a doctor that actually treated her as a whole person, encouraging Ivy to explore her mental and emotional well-being, sleep, spiritual practices, self-care regimen, and more.
Transforming Pain into Purpose: Insights from an Eating Disorder Recovery Coach
Eating disorder recovery coaches can play an important role in the healing process. Peer support from someone who gets it helps us feel less alone - and helps the coaches find purpose in their struggles by helping others through theirs. Read on from author Olivia Soha to learn more.
Food Colonialism: Tracing its Impact on Black Communities
Food is not just fuel; it carries cultural, historical, and social significance. Brianne Brathwaite, CEO and Founder of EAT For Success, examines the relationship between food and Black communities, explains the concept of food colonialism, and demonstrates the lasting impact on Black communities.
Second Puberty
In fourth grade, most girls are given “the talk.” We’re told that our bodies will start changing soon — and they do! — but what about when they start changing again in our mid-20s? Victoria Brown dives into her experience of “second puberty,” and how she learned to accept her new body with the help of therapy and community.
Nourish Your Recovery: The Vital Role of Meal Support in Eating Disorder Treatment
Alyson Roux is a Co-Founder of Clinician’s Incubator, and with her partnership, we’re able to offer our free Meal Support Program! In this blog, Alyson provides a peek into how meal support sessions work, the benefits of professionally facilitated meal support, and how to apply.
Samosas In Recovery: How My South Asian Culture Shaped My Journey
Aniqa Mian learned the hard way that eating disorders don’t discriminate based on race, ethnicity, or religion. Growing up in a South Asian Muslim household, Aniqa’s family didn’t like talking about mental health. But despite the triggering components inherent in her community’s culture, she found the tradition of sharing food to be greatly helpful.
SUBMIT A GUEST BLOG
Project HEAL would love to share any and all stories that are aligned with our mission, vision and/or values. If you have struggled with an eating disorder, have experienced and/or overcome barriers to accessing treatment, or are an ED provider and/or recovery advocate — we want to hear from you!
We are especially interested in sharing stories from voices often excluded from and/or underrepresented in the eating disorder recovery community. Submitting a blog proposal does not necessarily guarantee publishing — we reserve the right to respond with proposed edits (for your approval) or pass on publishing your proposed content.
Thank you in advance for wanting to share your story with us and our community!