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There are plenty of resources for people beginning recovery from any kind of eating disorder. And yet, it’s still difficult to get a straight answer for the most pressing question on people’s minds. What is recovery going to look like? Will it go on like this forever? Will I be strong enough to make it? Take it from me: Recovery is hard. But it doesn’t need to be any harder than it has to be.

Eating disorders are everywhere, and finally, people are beginning to realize it. Unfortunately, with the increased awareness has come a rash of myths – both about the disorders themselves and the people who suffer. Learn what they are so you can better support someone struggling with an eating disorder.

Arrow pointing to feet on a weighing scale, urging "STOP!"

Who comes to mind when you think of eating disorders? Eating disorders don’t discriminate, but myths about them leave many people out – including mothers. Read one mom’s story of post-partum depression and a pressured post-pregnancy diet that led to an eating disorder. There’s no sure way to prevent an eating disorder, but we can learn from her recovery and parenting precautions.

A parent and child look away from each other sadly at the dinner table.

The hardest part of her recovery may have been dealing with loved ones who didn’t understand her eating disorder – so let’s bust these common myths.

“How could I not fall in love with my illness?” This is how it feels to go from being the girl everyone calls “fat” to the one congratulated for her weight loss – weight lost to an eating disorder.

Person holding up a handwritten sign that reads "HELP"

These are the tips that helped this author cope with her stressors. Find out if they can help you, too.

Fat shaming is very detrimental to a person’s health, mental well-being, and relationship to their body. Eating disorders are also very detrimental to a person’s health, mental well-being, and relationship to their body. Dealing with both of these at the same time? Unbelievably difficult. But we have to learn how to effectively deal with it. Recovery is possible.

Eating disorders affect about 24 million people in the US – but many can relate to this story of suffering without a name for what was wrong. If you’re one of those people, we hope this touching video can help.

A close-up on a stressed-looking person with their legs drawn up to their chest and their chin resting on their knee.

“Eating disorders aren’t just for rich white girls.” Stereotypes about who “can” have eating disorders are having some awful consequences.

When you think “eating disorders,” do you automatically think of women? It’s true that women are more commonly affected by eating disorders, but millions of men and boys also battle them. Yet, because our society sees eating disorders as a “women’s issue,” we often overlook and minimize how eating disorders affect men. So check out this infographic to learn more.

The experience of black folks is excluded from an endless list of discussions; one such discussion is that around the topic of eating disorders. Do black people have eating disorders? How is their relationship with food related to race? And how are these experiences valued in the community? Hear the opinions of dozens of black folks on these questions.

These obstacles hurt trans and non-binary people seeking eating disorder treatment, but all of us can learn from how to address them.

On a chalkboard, a fork, knife, and a plate with a question mark is drawn

Unhealthy “tips” about food are so common that a lot of us have disordered eating patterns and we don’t even know it. Do these signs apply to your eating habits?

If you’ve ever wondered what eating disorder recovery is supposed to look and feel like, then this video is for you.

You might ask yourself how you can be a righteous, authentic feminist, waving the flag for body-positivity, even though you’re struggling with an eating disorder. Well, as this article explains, feminism isn’t about being ashamed of yourself or your process. It’s about owning your truth and sharing it. You (and your story) are a critical part of this revolution!

With pregnancy comes changes to your body. And if you struggle with negative body image, those changes can provide a unique hurdle. For those struggling with or recovering from eating disorders, pregnancy can be a complicated time. So how do you cope with this in a healthy, productive way? Check out this infographic from NEDA for some quick and helpful advice!

The upcoming holiday season brings with it new hurdles for those recovering from eating disorders. With all the festivities involving food, not to mention the eating-related commentary, the next several months can be a mine field of triggers. So how can you support your loved ones in eating disorder recovery over the holidays? Vlogger and writer Melissa A. Fabello has some ideas!

I remember it more clearly than I want to – the memory of being forced to acknowledge the illness that my diet had spiraled into. We were at a pizza place, my friend Rob* and I. Despite everything that was going on,the only topic that I had energy to talk about was calories. A grimace passed Rob’s face, and he looked me right in the eye when he said: “I think you have a problem.”

It happens to all of us. That moment of sudden panic when you realize that you’ve heard these voices in your head before, that no matter how hard you try to make them vanish, sometimes they still call to you. And the truth is: Staying in recovery from an eating disorder can be a really difficult task. And yet, it’s not something that we talk about enough.

Eating disorders are difficult – not just for the sufferer, but admittedly for the people who care about that person, too. This is an article specifically for those of you who need a place to start, who are saying, “I know that my friend or family member has a history with an eating disorder. Now what?”