Dear Recovery

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 sometimes improve as the other heals, and why there isn’t always a simple “which came first?” answer. Most importantly, we’ll talk about why having two things to recover from doesn’t mean recovery is out of reach.
 
"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 can email me at dearrecovery1@gmail.com or send me a DM on Instagram @dear_recovery1. No question is too messy, and you never have to figure it out alone." 
 
 

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 cycle. Most importantly, we talk about what happens when you start learning to trust your body again—and what to do when you don't believe recovery is possible yet.
You can borrow my belief until you find your own. 🩷
  "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 can email me at dearrecovery1@gmail.com or send me a DM on Instagram @dear_recovery1. No question is too messy, and you never have to figure it out alone."  

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 your recovery. Because your worth has never lived inside a formula. 🩷
 "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 can email me at dearrecovery1@gmail.com or send me a DM on Instagram @dear_recovery1. No question is too messy, and you never have to figure it out alone."  

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 love to hear from you. Send me your questions, your thoughts, or even just say hello. You can email me at dearrecovery1@gmail.com or send me a DM on Instagram @dear_recovery1. No question is too messy, and you never have to figure it out alone."  💙

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 can email me at dearrecovery1@gmail.com or send me a DM on Instagram @dear_recovery1. No question is too messy, and you never have to figure it out alone." :) 

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 anxiety often mistakes familiarity for safety. I share pieces of my own recovery journey—including the food rules I once believed were keeping me healthy—and explain how tiny acts of courage can help retrain the brain toward freedom.
If you've ever wondered why changing one small eating habit can feel like such a big deal, this episode is for you. Recovery isn't about being fearless—it's about choosing freedom, one small 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 can email me at dearrecovery1@gmail.com or send me a DM on Instagram @dear_recovery1. No question is too messy, and you never have to figure it out alone." 💙

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 people who love you aren't inviting your body—they're inviting you.
Because the goal was never the swimsuit.
The goal was always your life.
 "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 can email me at dearrecovery1@gmail.com or send me a DM on Instagram @dear_recovery1. No question is too messy, and you never have to figure it out alone."  

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 healing—and how to begin rebuilding trust with a body that has been fighting for you all along.
Friend...you can worry about changing your body later. Today, let's just help it heal. 💚
 "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 can email me at dearrecovery1@gmail.com or send me a DM on Instagram @dear_recovery1. No question is too messy, and you never have to figure it out alone."