Dear Recovery

What if you think you might have an eating disorder…but you're not sure what to do next? In this episode of Dear Recovery, we're talking about what to do when you suspect you might have an eating disorder—and why you don't have to be “sick enough” to deserve help. I'll walk you through where to start, who you can talk to, resources that may help, and what it can look like to take that very first s...

Sometimes the anxious mind gets loud. Really loud. This 31-minute guided meditation is a space to slow down, breathe, reconnect with your body, and gently release some of the tension that anxiety can create. Through mindfulness and progressive muscle relaxation, I'll guide you through a practice designed to help calm the anxious mind and create a little more space between you and those overwhelmin...

We talk a lot about what eating disorders take from us—but what about what recovery gives back? In this episode of Dear Recovery, I’m talking about the recovery wins no one really prepares you for: sleeping better, feeling more comfortable in your body, having less food anxiety, being able to change plans, reconnecting with the people you love, and finally having more space for life. I’m also shar...

What happens when every calorie feels like it has a specific purpose—and eating something “extra” feels like a crisis? In Part 2 of The Fear of Wasting Calories, we’re going deeper into the anxiety around food, exercise, compensating, and the pressure to make every bite “count.” I’m talking about what happens when we moralize food, turn eating into an equation, and let the fear of wasting calories...

What happens when every bite of food feels like it needs to have a purpose? In this episode of Dear Recovery, I’m answering a listener’s question about the fear of “wasting” calories—and the anxiety that can come when eating something outside of your carefully planned meals. We’re talking about control, rigid food rules, and why something as simple as a bag of Cheetos can suddenly feel like a huge...

What happens when an eating disorder starts affecting more than just food? In this episode, I’m answering a heartfelt listener question about restrictive eating, bingeing and purging, depression, anxiety, sleep, isolation, and persistent thoughts of not wanting to live. We’re talking about why eating disorders can often exist alongside other mental health struggles, how restriction can affect the...

What should you expect when you actually get to sober living? In Part 2 of this two-part episode, we’re talking about some of the things I wish I had known before moving into sober living—from what to bring and how to find your recovery community, to navigating roommates, setting boundaries, helping others without losing yourself, and finding a job in early recovery. I’m sharing some of my own exp...

Going to sober living can feel really freaking scary. In Part 1 of this two-part episode of Dear Recovery, we’re talking about what it’s actually like to leave detox or treatment and head into sober living—including the fear, anxiety, uncertainty, and “Oh my God, what am I doing?” feelings that can come with it. I share my own experience of driving to sober living crying the entire way, what helpe...

What if your eating disorder is the thing keeping you from drinking or using drugs? In this episode of Dear Recovery, we talk about the fear of letting go of one coping mechanism when you're terrified another one might take its place. I share some of my own recovery story, including what happened when I recovered from my eating disorder but hadn't yet learned how to cope with life without it. Reco...

What happens when you want to go shopping with a friend, but your eating disorder starts telling you that you don’t belong because your bodies are different sizes? In this episode of Dear Recovery, we’re talking about body comparison, shame, friendship, and the fear that other people are judging our bodies—even when they may not be judging us at all. Because your body size doesn’t determine who yo...

In this episode of Dear Recovery, we talk about the fear of “bad” foods, why food labels can hold so much power over us, and whether recovery is possible while only eating the foods that feel safe. 🩶 If the thought of introducing foods like pasta, ice cream, burgers, or Oreos feels terrifying, you're not alone. Recovery can feel like a leap into the unknown—but you don't have to have the whole pa...

In this special guided meditation, we make space for sadness instead of pushing it away. Together, we'll gently explore what happens when we allow ourselves to feel difficult emotions with compassion and curiosity. You don't have to fix your sadness or make it disappear—you can simply give it a moment to be seen, felt, and processed. <3         

Why do certain comments about our bodies stay with us for years? In this episode of Dear Recovery, I answer a listener's question about the confusing and sometimes painful impact of other people's opinions about our appearance. We talk about why even comments meant as compliments can become complicated, especially in eating disorder recovery, and how we can begin to set boundaries and stop letting...

In this episode of Dear Recovery, I answer a listener's heartfelt question about the confusing, messy, and sometimes scary process of eating disorder recovery. We talk about taking steps forward and backward, learning to nourish and trust your body, the sneaky ways an eating disorder can hide behind “healthy” rules, and why recovery doesn't have to be perfect to be real. If you've ever wondered wh...

Can you recover from an eating disorder and substance use disorder at the same time? In this episode of Dear Recovery, I answer a question from a listener who is trying to navigate recovery from both. I talk honestly about how difficult it can be to face two battles at once, because I’ve been there myself. We’ll talk about whether you have to recover from one before the other, how one issue can so...

Hi friends, I had a laptop crash, but I'm already in the works to get a new one and I will be back. My goal is to start uploading episodes again by next Monday. Okay, thank you, love you, and I will see you soon friend <3

Episode 18: “Why Can’t I Sit Still?” — When Rest Feels Scary Why can’t I just sit still? Why does resting feel so uncomfortable? And why does my eating disorder make me feel guilty for doing it? In this episode, we talk about low-level movement, why it can become such a powerful part of an eating disorder, the biology behind the urge to keep moving, and some small ways to begin interrupting the cy...

BMI: Part 2 — Taking Back the Power In Part 2 of our conversation about BMI, we continue exploring its history, limitations, and why we give numbers so much power. I also take another little research rabbit hole—this time into credit scores—and somehow bring it all back to recovery. 😂 We’ll talk about breaking the cycle of checking, advocating for yourself, and learning to loosen BMI’s grip on yo...

Have you ever found yourself checking your BMI over and over, believing that one number somehow determines whether you're healthy, successful, or enough? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, we gently unpack the history of BMI, why eating disorders cling so tightly to it, and why your worth has never belonged inside a mathematical equation.   "If something has been weighing on your heart, I'd...

In this episode of Dear Recovery, we talk about why old photos can feel so triggering, how eating disorders attach meaning to past versions of ourselves, and how recovery helps us build compassion for every chapter of our lives. 💜

Why do some foods feel completely safe while others feel terrifying? In this episode, we explore why eating disorders create safe foods and fear foods, how our brains learn these patterns, and how recovery helps us find freedom—one courageous bite at a time.  "If something has been weighing on your heart, I'd love to hear from you. Send me your questions, your thoughts, or even just say hello. You...

Episode 13: Why Does It Feel Wrong If I Don't Eat My Food in a Certain Order? Have you ever felt anxious because you ate your meal in the "wrong" order, at the wrong time, or didn't follow your usual routine? If so, you're far from alone. In this episode of Dear Recovery, we explore why eating disorders create rigid food rituals, why breaking those routines can feel so overwhelming, and how anxiet...

Hello Friend, Swimsuit season can bring up a lot of fear, anxiety, and body image struggles—but you don't have to let those thoughts steal another summer. In this episode of Dear Recovery, we're talking about what really matters when recovery meets beach days, pool parties, and vacations. We'll explore how to quiet the eating disorder's voice, make room for flexibility, and remember that the peopl...

Episode 11: You Can Change Your Body Later Can you recover if you still want to change your body? If you've ever thought, "I want recovery...but I don't want my body to change," you're not alone. In this episode, we talk about one of the biggest fears that keeps so many people feeling stuck in an eating disorder. Together, we'll explore why recovery isn't introducing change—it's introducing healin...

Did I trade my eating disorder for alcohol...or was I trying to survive the same pain in a different way? In this deeply personal episode of Dear Recovery, I share my own experience navigating both eating disorder recovery and alcohol use while exploring why these struggles so often overlap. We'll talk about co-occurring disorders, coping, shame, and the hope that comes from looking beneath the be...