Eating Recovery Center

Foods are *so much more* than just the nutrients they contain. Food is creativity. Food is culture. Food is connection. In honor of #NationalNutritionMonth, Mental Health Advocate Eric Dorsa (they/them) shares how food isn't just nutritional to our bodies, but also our minds and our creative spirits. "Growing up, food was a central part of experiencing my Mexican culture. It was a key ingredient in identity, community, and family. The fear, rules, and rigidity of my eating disorder took these experiences from me. A huge gift of my recovery has been finding my way back into the kitchen and reconnecting with food, my culture, and my creativity." — Eric Dorsa 💙

We're excited to be attending American Case Management Association (ACMA) National Conference! 🤩 If you're planning on being there, come see our team at booth 912.

When it comes to food, diet, health, and nutrition, there is *so* much misinformation. 😵💫 Trying to sort out fact from fiction can feel overwhelming and impossible — what should you believe, who should you believe? If there are just a few pieces of wisdom we can leave you with as nutrition month comes to a close, here they are: 👉 Every person's nutritional needs will vary, there's no "one-size-fits-all" approach to nutrition. 👉 Your nutritional needs might evolve over time! What's felt right for you in your 20s nutrition-wise might be different in your 50s and 60s. 👉 Carbs aren't evil. Fats aren't dangerous. Sodium isn't bad. Any demonizing of foods is unhelpful at best and harmful at worst. 👉 Be wary of nutrition advice from "wellness" coaches or influencers, *especially* if they sell supplements or other products. Do you have anything to add to the list? Drop your wisdom in the comments!

Eating disorders don't follow a timeline — and neither does recovery. People may decide to seek support in adolescence, others in college or middle age, or even into their senior years. Mia, Olivia, Kate and Amy each began their recovery in a different stage of life. Their stories (snippets shared here!) show that while the challenges may differ, recovery *is* possible at any age. Swipe to read what they learned along the way, and head to our blog to read more: https://lnkd.in/duN9FQcX

Food is fuel! Do it scared! Nourish to flourish! You are worthy of recovery! Love love love this affirmation poster some of our patients made for the meal room in our Maryland center. 🥹

NOTE: Orthorexia is not currently recognized as an eating disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). However, orthorexia is a serious form of disordered eating that is currently on the rise. Many of the signs and symptoms experienced by those struggling with orthorexia overlap with eating disorders recognized in the DSM-5. *So* much of the content on social media (especially from ~wellness influencers~) pushes the idea of "clean eating" to reach "peak" health and fitness. 🥴 With so many different health claims and so many influencers posting about their own efforts to "be healthy" (hello, #WIEIAD), it can be hard to see when an unhealthy obsession with food is developing — or to even know what "healthy" really means. You can probably think of a time when you or a friend assigned moral value to a food, calling it (or yourself) “good” or “bad” when eating it. You may even have avoided certain foods because you believed they could negatively impact your health. These are just a few examples of behaviors that can be red flags for a disordered relationship with food. So, how can you tell when “clean eating” has become harmful? Tap to learn more about some of the warning signs, and read the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/eFdzFRpV

📣 We're gearing up for our annual conference on eating disorders and mental health! As we plan this year’s conference curriculum, we want to hear from you: what industry topics would you like to learn about this year? Tell us below.👇

Don’t miss our next complimentary continuing education event this Friday, March 21st. 💻 During this presentation, we’ll discuss the link between trauma and substance use disorders, share practical strategies for assessment and intervention, explore the impact on diverse populations, and address emerging barriers to care. Learning objectives: - Identify substances commonly encountered in patients with trauma disorders - Effectively screen and assess patients struggling with substance use - Apply the latest evidence-based approaches in your practice Register here: https://bit.ly/4hx7SUg

"Affirming care saves lives. By building community, deepening understanding, and advocating for inclusive support, we can help LGBTQ+ individuals access the care and healing they deserve." — Eric Dorsa (they/them), National LGBTQ+ Mental Health Advocate We’re committed to ensuring LGBTQ+ individuals and the professionals who support them have access to affirming, inclusive resources. With guidance from our incredible advocate, Eric Dorsa, we’ve developed a comprehensive LGBTQ+ support page — offering blogs, podcasts, gender-affirming care resources, support groups, community partners, and free continuing education for professionals. Explore our resource guide here: https://bit.ly/3DLxLCb

Loved this post we were tagged in for Eating Disorders Awareness Week! 🥹 "just wanted to share a bit more about my story! i’ve struggled with my anorexia and bulimia for years now and I am finally feeling encouraged that I can beat this. I know what it’s like to not want to recover and to only want to get sicker and sicker. I am so proud of myself for overcoming this feeling and finding the internal motivation I need to be healthy and happy. i’ve been in treatment for my EDs since November 2023. I was hospitalized in May 2024 and went back again a month after being released for a residential program in October. Being in the hospital for many months was so difficult, I had to sacrifice a lot and miss out on important events like my sister’s graduation and family and friend’s birthdays. I also had to withdraw from university for 2 semesters and that was probably the hardest decision I had to make. in both of my stays in the hospital, I met the sweetest and bravest people. I will never forget any of you and you’ve all had such a powerful impact on my recovery. I also loved being able to learn about myself more and grow my artistic skills. while being in the hospital for so long is an experience I never want again, I am very grateful to have spent it with amazing patients and supportive staff. recovery is an ongoing journey and i’ve made it so far already. I am super excited for what the future holds for me: traveling, school, living in the Netherlands, getting my own doggie (and ferrets), and working in the special education department for elementary schools! if you are struggling with an ED, negative body image, as well as anxiety, depression, or OCD, i’m right there with you and you can always talk to me, even if we’ve never talked before. 🤍"