Selena Gomez and the Importance of Mental Health Self-Care

Selena Gomez made headlines last week for her announcement that she would be taking time off from touring. The reason? To focus on her “health and happiness.” Last October, Selena revealed that she was diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disease for which she underwent chemotherapy. In an interview with People magazine about her decision, she […]

The Oscars and my ED

I was ten years old the first time I was fascinated by celebrities. I was in a grocery store aisle, immersed in a magazine determined to look like the women in these magazines no matter the cost.   Looking at these images was not the sole factor in the development of my eating disorder but it […]

Here’s How to Make Sports Body-Positive

I didn’t start out as a runner. I started out as a girl who loved being outside with my sisters and going on adventures in our backyard. I started out as a chaser of many things including animals, sisters, and boys on the playground. Being active was a normal part of my upbringing. I was […]

How Does Social Media Affect Your Body Image?

Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter have become a huge part of most teens’ lives. But do they help or hurt our self-esteem and body image? We asked. You answered. A recent CNN article explored how we are now exposed to more and more images of unattainable beauty, thanks to social networking: “Before social […]

Volunteer Spotlight

When I was struggling with my own eating disorder it became very clear to me that not a lot of people understood what I was going through, and when I was brave enough to talk about my illness, I felt insecure because of the stigma that having an eating disorder brought. There was a time […]

Combating Negative Social Media Feeds

I firmly believe in the power of sharing our stories — it creates trust, openness, and genuine connection in a community of people who, more often than not, feel isolated and alone. When we see something with which we can relate to in another, we are more likely to connect with and learn from that […]

High School Gym Class

High school gym class: unfortunately, we’ve all been there. The smelly uniforms and overly competitive students were bad, but the unhealthy and unhelpful lessons many take away are far worse. Gym teachers (sometimes because of requirements by the state) often run their classes in ways that can damage students’ self-esteem. In large part, this is […]

Letter to Your Principal

High school can be a difficult enough place on its own, and it can be an even bigger minefield when you or a friend is struggling with an eating disorder.  On the flip side, this can help to inform the school administration of your concerns and encourage meaningful change. Below is a template that you […]

Self-Care: Spa Tips

While reflecting on this past World Eating Disorders Action Day (June 2, 2018), I realized how much I love the word “action.” It’s about doing what we can to make a difference. On a personal level, when I think about action against eating disorders, I think about self-care. In my own recovery, self-care turned out […]

Self-Care: Sitting with Discomfort

Self-care is a practice of sitting with discomfort. It is more than a manicure, a massage, or even therapy and meditation. What lies behind all these acts of self-care that we deem so estimable? Why are these acts so difficult, and at times painful to practice, for some of us? The act of self-care is […]