Summer, filled with downtime and opportunities to relax outdoors, encourages folks of all ages to crack open a book and spend some time reading. Beyond being an enjoyable pastime, reading can strengthen mental muscles, improve concentration, benefit sleep, and reduce stress. If you or someone you love is struggling with or recovering from an eating disorder, reading can also be a source of education, motivation, and inspiration. There are countless resources to support your recovery journey wherever you find yourself.
Teachers provide generations of young people with the knowledge they will carry throughout their lifetime. They also hold a certain responsibility for the well-being of their students, which can be challenging. What can you do if you are a teacher or school staff member and you suspect that a student has an eating disorder?
The surge of enthusiasm for becoming "healthy" is a trend that resurfaces each summer. There's nothing inherently wrong with wanting to lead a healthier lifestyle, but problems arise when pursuing “health” becomes an obsession. Orthorexia nervosa is an eating disorder where individuals engage in "clean” or “health-focused” eating or movement, often resulting in disordered or restrictive behaviors and eating.
The anticipation and preparation for the arrival of a new baby is usually a joyous occasion. However, pregnancy can be challenging, especially for those in eating disorder recovery. The physical changes associated with pregnancy, new food aversions and cravings, motion sickness, and so much more can all affect a pregnant person’s eating disorder recovery.
People of all body types, backgrounds, races, and socio-economic statuses can struggle with anorexia, regardless of weight, size, or shape. The dangerous rhetoric that all anorexic patients are “underweight” prevents many individuals from seeking treatment and recovering.
For those in eating disorder recovery, returning to life again means reclaiming your identity from the illness. Separating the eating disorder from your long-buried sense of self is a gradual and strenuous process but a profound step toward healing. Saying goodbye to an eating disorder can feel like letting go of a sense of self-control, which leaves many people feeling vulnerable, as they can no longer use their eating disorder to cope with difficult emotions.
If you suffer from disordered eating or an eating disorder, you may find yourself avoiding certain foods for various reasons. These “fear foods” are avoided or heavily restricted due to the distress or other uncomfortable emotions the food brings. During eating disorder recovery, incorporating fear foods into your diet is challenging yet rewarding.
Maintaining stable relationships with loved ones in recovery can be challenging. People with eating disorders often isolate themselves and act differently than they do when they are not struggling. That does not mean all hope is lost or that you, as part of their support system, should give up or stop doing what is best for them.
Adjustment disorders are conditions that can arise during stressful situations in your life. The symptoms manifest differently for many individuals, depending on the event severity that caused the disorder. Although adjustment disorders are treatable, there is a possible link between how they impact those who struggle with an eating disorder.
Social media platforms, such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Twitter, dominate cyberculture for younger generations and beyond globally. Despite the tremendous efforts these platforms put into monitoring and banning triggering posts, we are subject to a wide array of content. However, the return of a culture perpetuated on Tumblr, a popular blog website during the early 2010s, brings concern over unfiltered content focusing on eating disorders.
Your eating disorder voice can cloud your perception of your body and affect your self-esteem. It's important to remember that seeking support and treatment is a significant step towards recovery but does not automatically restore your self-esteem. It's a journey that takes time, patience, and consistent effort.
Sunny June means the start of summer, the freedom of a break from school, and the bright celebrations of Pride Month. For people in the LGBTQIA+ community, June is a time to come together, remember the origins of this important month, and be unapologetically queer. However, during Pride Month and year-round, queer folks can experience increased body dissatisfaction due to heteronormative beauty standards.
