Something that comes up often with clients, and that I remember very clearly from my own journey, is this phase of recovery that I find does not get talked about very much outside of individual sessions. You are eating more … Read More
As another new year begins, there can be so much pressure in the air to fix and change ourselves. Lists of resolutions, promises to do better and try harder, often coming from a place of harsh judgement for how we … Read More
For those whose eating disorder symptoms include being at a weight below where their body seems to want to naturally settle, whatever BMI measurement this may be at (it may be above the ‘normal’ BMI range that our medical system … Read More
The holiday season can be a very complex time for our nervous systems. There may be moments of genuine warmth and connection. And at the same time, there can be so much that feels activating: changes in routine, comments about … Read More
When I think about the moments that quietly transform recovery, exposure and response prevention work always jumps to my mind. It’s not flashy, or quick, or easy. But it can be steady and powerful. In essence, ERP means gently approaching … Read More
If you’re in recovery and trying your best to raise kids with a peaceful, flexible relationship with food, Halloween can bring up a lot. If you’re like me, the majority of you wants candy to be no big deal – … Read More
When I first began working to heal my body image during recovery, I thought the finish line was “loving my body.” That if I could look in the mirror and feel great, then I would be free. And this message … Read More
Some years ago I wrote about the power of self-compassion during eating disorder recovery. That post felt like a cornerstone for me because learning to speak to myself with gentleness and kindness was one of the biggest shifts that made … Read More
Lately, I believe many of us are carrying a sense of quiet dread in our bodies – a grief for what’s happening in the world, and fear about what might come next. And I notice how easily my nervous system … Read More
When I was in the midst of my eating disorder recovery, my main goal was simply to survive – to get through the next meal, the next day, the next difficult emotion without turning back to the behaviours that had … Read More
There are few things on the recovery journey that can feel as devastating and confusing as a relapse. The feeling of being pulled back under after you’ve fought so hard to find the surface can bring on such a wave … Read More
I was scrolling through Instagram the other day when a post by Glennon Doyle caught my attention. She was sharing about how the poetry of Andrea Gibson had been such a support during her recovery journey, and it immediately reminded me … Read More
For many in eating disorder recovery, mirrors can feel like both an enemy and an obsession. Some of us avoid them entirely, going to great lengths to not catch even a glimpse of our reflection. Others of us check compulsively, … Read More
In this blog post, I want to explore a feeling that might arise for you on your recovery journey that you don’t expect. And when it shows up, it might feel confusing and possibly frightening. It’s a sense of loss, … Read More
One night while in recovery, I remember scrolling through social media looking at recovery accounts that I followed for inspiration and support. I remember seeing post after post of people sharing their wins – challenging fear foods with smiles, celebrating … Read More
I remember when I was in recovery in the 2010’s, I felt sure that the pendulum had swung so far in terms of the world being obsessed with weight and the thin ideal, that surely it would begin to settle … Read More
I find there is a beautiful, but sometimes scary and uneasy, space that begins to open up as the grip of the eating disorder finally begins to lessen. For so long, the eating disorder can feel like everything… its rules, … Read More
Something that often comes up for clients when they’re challenging their eating disorder and trying to incorporate foods that have felt off limits for them, is all of the content they’ve seen out there about how xx food is poison. … Read More
There is something I have noticed with many clients in my recovery coaching work, and that I remember struggling with in my own recovery. It is also something that I don’t often see addressed explicitly in eating disorder recovery books, … Read More
I recently had the pleasure of being on Corinne Dobbas’ Body Image Podcast, where a main topic that came up was resilience. Corinne asked me about my own experience of resilience in my life, and how it played a role … Read More
One thing that really confused me when I was in the depths of, as well as in recovery from, my eating disorder, and what I see clients wrestle with as well, is how the eating disorder does not always sound … Read More
Embodiment was a term I only learned about years after I recovered from my eating disorder. No one had ever mentioned it to me, I didn’t enjoy yoga while in recovery (it’s still not my favourite activity), and it was … Read More
If you are struggling with an eating disorder, whether you are in the midst of trying to recover or not, the holidays can be such a stressful time. Whether we are trying to push ourselves to challenge terrifying food rules, … Read More
For this blog post, I thought I would come from a different direction and talk about my personal experience working as a recovery coach, as someone who is now recovered themselves, and what my favourite aspects of this work are. … Read More
Journaling has never been something that I enjoy doing out of routine. Rather, it’s something I turn to when I need help processing something inside of me, or when during recovery all I could hear in my mind were eating … Read More
“Try not to think of the process of recovery as giving up your eating disorder, but rather as getting yourself back, or maybe even finding your real self for the first time.” ~ Carolyn Costin This is perhaps one of … Read More
Note: I want to acknowledge that I do experience thin privilege (as well as other privileges) in this culture and that I do not and did not have to face oppression from our culture due to my recovered body’s size. … Read More
During the eating disorder recovery journey, there are so many fears that will be present, and so many changes that will at times likely feel almost impossible to work through. However, at their core, all of these very difficult changes … Read More
With New Years approaching we tend to be bombarded, both from outside of us and inside of us, with pressure to set goals and be extra tough on ourselves in order to improve ourselves. I remember how tempting it used … Read More
My Journey I grew up with parents who meditated daily and who hosted group meditations at our home every Sunday. When I was in the hospital for the first time due to my eating disorder at the age of twelve, … Read More
Holidays, despite their joy and festivity, can be a stressful time for everyone. However, they can be an especially stressful time if you are in the process of eating disorder recovery. Enjoying festive food and drinks and eating together are … Read More
When I first developed my eating disorder at age twelve, I didn’t fully understand all of my reasons for doing so. All I knew was that it helped me to feel better about myself, especially in comparison to others, in … Read More
I was telling my recovery story on a podcast the other day when I remembered a metaphor I’d thought of to describe my eating disorder many years ago. I shared it on the podcast, but wanted to write about it … Read More
When my parents first discovered that I had an eating disorder, even in my preoccupied state I remember being aware of the distress and confusion they felt. Luckily, with the help of a pediatrician and suggested resources and treatment options … Read More
In Part 1 of this blog series I described the prevalence of eating and body image concerns in children and adolescents, and the relationship between disordered eating and eating disorders. In this post I’ll describe the signs and symptoms to … Read More
From personal and professional experience I know how difficult considering this topic of eating disorder awareness can be. I also know how powerful it is that you’re reading this article. No matter what your child or adolescent may be going … Read More
With most things in life that I can think of, what our bodies want for restoring health and balance also feels good to us, both physically and mentally: quenching thirst with water, getting warm after being too cold, sleeping when … Read More
This piece was originally posted in The Looking Glass Foundation blog. My eating disorder recovery journey was anything but linear, as I’m sure so many of you can relate to. There were so many steps forward, slips backward, plateaus and relapses. … Read More
I came across a quote this morning that really resonated with me and was just what I needed to hear. It said, “Two things define you: Your patience when you have nothing and your attitude when you have everything,” by … Read More
Over the years of much therapy and many self-help books, the way I speak to myself in my head has become much more apparent to me. It has also become apparent to me how much power these words have over … Read More
Note: In this post I reflect on my own experience with body image distress during my eating disorder recovery journey which included necessary weight gain. I want to acknowledge that the severity of an eating disorder is not related to … Read More
In my last post I wrote about the power of having a compassionate inner dialogue between our eating disorder voice, or any inner critical voice, and our Healthy Self or Soul or Higher Self voice. And as I was writing … Read More
One of the most helpful things I learned from a therapist during my eating disorder recovery was what she called “positive self-talk”. I know that affirmations or anything that comes across as too forcefully positive can be controversial in the … Read More
For as long as I can remember I have believed that everything happens for a reason, for our deepest growth, even if we are not always consciously aware of what that reason might be. Over the years I have reflected … Read More
I was listening to a podcast the other day, where the guest was talking about all the things she embodies now, all the new ways she defines herself, since developing a better relationship with herself. And it reminded me of … Read More
While talking with a friend this morning and tuning into my desire and capacity to connect with her, in her joy as well as her pain, an image came to my mind. I had this sense that what was once … Read More
Hello and welcome to my blog! I hope you will find here inspiration for recovery and getting through tough times, or simply something interesting to read, seeing how someone else has come to view things about life, eating disorders and … Read More