A Thanksgiving Survival Guide
It’s that time of year again: Thanksgiving, the most food-centric holiday on the calendar, is just a few days away. For most people, this means good food and time spent with family. But for those of us with eating disorders, Thanksgiving can be a nightmare. In the early stages of recovery, every day — every meal — counts. You might plan out each day as best you can to make sure you follow your meal plan and avoid any surprises that might cause stress and anxiety. Unfortunately, planning ahead is a lot harder to do amid the holiday hustle and bustle. The moment Aunt Mildred sweetly asks why...
Read MoreEnding Treatment, Sink or Swim
Yesterday was my final night of IOP treatment. As of today, I’m a free woman. (Well, other than the thrice-weekly outpatient services that I’ll be doing for the foreseeable future…) As you know from my earlier post, this was technically the second time that I was graduating from Monte Nido. The two departures were, of course, quite different. The first time I left kicking and screaming; this time, I chose to leave. Then, I left with a fight in me; last night, I left with acceptance. I still have further to go in treatment, and I am by no means recovered yet, but I recognize and accept that...
Read MoreUsing Anger to Fight Your Eating Disorder
Anger and Anorexia Anger has become a regular topic in my life since starting treatment for my eating disorder. Entire group therapy sessions are dedicated to it: How did your parents exhibit anger? What was your experience of their anger? How do you express anger now? Do you allow yourself to feel it at all? I’ve learned from these groups that many people with eating disorders are like me in that they are reluctant — sometimes downright refuse — to express anger. For the most part, this is a learned behavior. Growing up, I experienced anger in my family as the steam in a pressure cooker:...
Read MoreLeaving Treatment: Am I Ready?
I wrote in a recent post that after winning the battle against Blue Cross Blue Shield, I was given ten more days in intensive outpatient (IOP) treatment. These ten days were a gift. I’d been cut off so suddenly that I hadn’t had any time to make an after-care plan with my treatment team. Now, I had the opportunity to tie up loose ends and start thinking about life after treatment. And that’s what I opted to do. From the start, I decided to use my remaining days to transition out of treatment and back into my full-time. I have two days left and then, ready or not, I will...
Read MoreVictoria’s Secret Reveals the “Perfect Body”
Just when we thought we were making progress on valuing women’s realistic shapes and sizes, Victoria’s Secret jumps in to tighten the measuring tape again. The lingerie baron recently launched a marketing campaign for their “Body” line of lingerie that features the slogan “The Perfect ‘Body’.” The lacy creations are modeled by ten of the Victoria’s Secret “Angels” — thigh gabs, visible ribs, protruding collar bones, and all. Questionably-nourished models are nothing new for Victoria’s Secret; emblazoning the word PERFECT...
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I'm a writer, a mental health activist, and a 20-something in recovery from an eating disorder. This blog chronicles my journey through the middle ground toward full recovery.
