Eating disorders are not just about food, they’re about pain, control, fear, and the quiet battles happening beneath the surface. They can affect people of all ages, backgrounds, and body types, often hiding behind perfectionism, secrecy, or shame.

If you’re struggling with disordered eating, distorted body image, or thoughts that feel all-consuming around food, you are not alone. At Hope Floats Here, we want you to know that your worth is not tied to your weight, and recovery is possible.

Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental health conditions that involve harmful patterns around eating, exercise, body image, and self-worth. They often coexist with other mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, or trauma, and they can have both emotional and physical consequences.

Common types include:

• Anorexia Nervosa – Restricting food intake, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image
• Bulimia Nervosa – Cycles of binge eating followed by purging, excessive exercise, or fasting
• Binge-Eating Disorder – Recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food, often quickly and in secret, followed by shame or guilt

Eating disorders are not choices. They are illnesses rooted in emotional pain, and they deserve care, not criticism.

Everyone’s experience is different, but common signs and symptoms include:

• Constant thoughts about food, weight, or appearance
• Skipping meals or rigid rules around eating
• Frequent dieting, food rituals, or secret eating
• Binge eating or purging behaviors (vomiting, laxative use, excessive exercise)
• Feeling out of control around food
• Guilt, shame, or disgust after eating
• Avoiding social situations involving food
• Fluctuations in weight or signs of malnourishment
• Low self-esteem or a sense of never being “enough”

These patterns can be physically and emotionally exhausting, but with help, they can begin to loosen their hold.

Eating disorder recovery is possible, and it often requires a combination of emotional, nutritional, and psychological support. Healing takes time, but it starts with compassion for your body, your story, and yourself.

Common approaches to treatment include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps identify and challenge harmful beliefs about food and body image
• Family-Based Therapy (FBT): Particularly effective for teens, involving loved ones in the healing process
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Combines behavioral skills and mindfulness to manage overwhelming emotions
• Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT): Focuses on healing relationship patterns that may contribute to disordered eating
• Nutritional Counseling: Works alongside a registered dietitian to rebuild a balanced relationship with food
• Medication: Antidepressants or other medications may help address underlying anxiety or depression
• Support Groups: Being surrounded by people who understand your experience can offer powerful comfort and perspective

Recovery is rarely a straight line, but every step forward, no matter how small, is meaningful.

While professional care is important, there are also ways to support your healing day by day:

• Be patient with your body. It may need time to rebuild trust and safety.
• Practice self-compassion. You are not your disorder. You are worthy of care.
• Build structure into meals. Regular, balanced eating helps restore stability.
• Limit comparison. Social media and diet culture often fuel unrealistic standards.
• Express how you feel. Talk to someone you trust, journal, or create.
• Avoid isolation. Even a quiet connection can ease the weight of shame.
• Take breaks from body-checking. Step away from mirrors, scales, or clothes that trigger anxiety.
• Focus on nourishment, not punishment. Your body deserves kindness, not control.

If you’re also struggling with emotional self-care or nutrition, reading these pages may help.

You don’t have to earn your way to help. You don’t have to wait until things get worse. You deserve support now, exactly as you are.

Healing begins not with perfection, but with permission. You are allowed to take up space. You are allowed to rest. You are allowed to recover. Visit our Contact Us page if you’re ready to talk or even just to be heard.