How to Find the Right Type of Eating Disorder Support for You
I was diagnosed with anorexia during the spring of my sophomore year of high school. I was immediately placed into an outpatient program through my local hospital, but eventually ended up needing more support through the guidance of nutritionists, Family-Based Treatment (FBT) therapy, and a recovery coach.
Recovery didn't happen overnight. It took me a long time to fully commit to healing and to believing that life beyond my eating disorder was possible. Once I made this commitment to myself and my recovery, nourishing myself became an act of freedom rather than fear. I no longer question whether listening to my body’s needs is the right thing to do. Trusting those signals gives me the opportunity to be present for the people and experiences that matter most.
Now I have graduated from high school and will be attending Princeton University this fall. Looking back, I can hardly believe how far I've come or how much I've learned about myself along the way.
One of the most challenging parts of my recovery was returning to school at the beginning of my junior year. At that point, I hadn't fully committed to recovery, and adjusting to a new routine with an entirely different meal schedule felt overwhelming. My disorder was immediately threatened by this lack of familiarity, and I believed it would cause me to “lose control.” Additionally, balancing the academic expectations I placed on myself while navigating the emotional and physical demands of recovery left me feeling utterly exhausted.
Thankfully, I wasn't expected to navigate it alone.
With the help of my treatment team, we created a plan that made school feel more manageable. Every day, my mom or another trusted adult came to school to eat lunch with me. A close friend who knew what I was going through sat with me during morning or afternoon snacks, offering both accountability and encouragement. I was incredibly fortunate to have this level of support available to me, and I recognize that many families simply cannot take regular time away from work or other responsibilities to provide this kind of in-person meal support. My teachers were also informed about my diagnosis, which allowed them to better understand what I was experiencing and to support me when school demands became overwhelming or interfered with my recovery.
One teacher in particular left a lasting impression on me. My anatomy teacher knew we would soon begin a nutrition unit and recognized that some of the material could be triggering. Without hesitation, she adapted the curriculum for me and excused me from assignments that weren't necessary for my learning but could have jeopardized my recovery. That act of compassion allowed me to continue my education while prioritizing my health, and it showed me how meaningful informed support can be.
While I feel so incredibly lucky to have such a strong support system, one of the hardest parts of recovery was the disconnect between my physical progress and my mental health.
Medical progress can be measured; psychological healing is much more complex and ongoing.
At appointments, I was often praised for improvements in my physical health. From the outside, it looked like I was getting better. But internally, I still felt trapped in my eating disorder. I was following my meal plan, restoring weight, and doing what was expected of me, yet mentally I was still struggling and desperately needed help.
Recovery is about so much more than physical restoration, and I wish others understood that both physical and psychological healing deserve equal attention. This realization has stuck with me long after my own healing journey, and it became the inspiration for my high school senior project.
I wanted to better understand why existing eating disorder treatment and resources are so difficult to navigate, especially for young people trying to seek help independently. I researched eating disorders as a public health issue, focusing on barriers that underserved teens face in accessing care. Treatment costs, insurance limitations, geographic location, transportation, identity-based inequities, and a lack of specialized providers all make accessing care much more difficult than it should be.
The final product of my senior project was Finding the Right Type of Eating Disorder Support for You, a guide created specifically for teens, young adults, and the people who support them. While crafting this guide, I was reminded that recovery looks different for everyone. Therefore, rather than assuming everyone can access the same treatment, the guide aims to meet people where they are.
There is no single path to healing. Some people benefit from formal treatment, while others begin with community resources, peer support groups, or small but meaningful steps toward safer coping. What matters most is finding support that fits your individual needs and circumstances.
To address the variety of paths to healing, I included an overview of different levels of eating disorder treatment, crisis resources, support groups, and practical tools in the guide to help individuals and families better understand their options. My hope is that this guide will make recovery feel a little less overwhelming and a little more accessible.
More than anything, I hope it encourages a shift in the conversation from simply raising awareness about eating disorders to improving access, inclusion, and practical support for those seeking help. Whether you're navigating recovery yourself or supporting someone you love, I hope this guide helps you take the next step toward finding the right type of support for you.
