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 behaviors with compassion instead of judgment. If you've ever wondered whether you've "traded one disorder for another," this conversation is for you. As always, my hope is that you leave feeling a little less alone—and a little more hopeful. 💙

 "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 sat down to eat and found yourself paying more attention to everyone else's plate than your own?

If so, you're not alone.

In this episode of Dear Recovery, we're talking about one of the most common—and exhausting—parts of living with an eating disorder: comparing what, how much, and how quickly you eat to everyone around you. Together, we'll explore why our brains do this, how comparison steals us from the present moment, and what it looks like to begin trusting ourselves instead.

💙 Dear Recovery Reminder: You weren't invited to dinner because of what you eat. You were invited because someone wanted to spend time with you.

And if today you don't believe recovery is possible...you can borrow my belief until you find your own.

In Part Two of this conversation, we explore why healing can feel so scary, how to move forward even when anxiety comes along for the ride, and what it means to trust your body one courageous choice at a time. Together, we'll talk about borrowing hope, protecting your peace, and discovering that recovery isn't about becoming fearless—it's about choosing freedom, even while fear is still in the room.

If you've ever wondered whether recovery is really worth it, I hope this episode reminds you that it absolutely is.

"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." 💙 

"What if I gain weight...and never stop?"

If you've ever asked yourself that question, you're not alone. In fact, it's one of the most common—and most frightening—questions I hear as both a therapist and someone in recovery.

In Part One of this two-part conversation, we're exploring where that fear comes from, what "food noise" really is, and why your body isn't trying to betray you—it has been trying to protect you all along.

We'll talk about rebuilding trust with your body, why recovery can feel so overwhelming at first, and why healing often feels like losing control...right before you realize you're finding freedom.

Whether you're just beginning recovery, supporting someone you love, or simply curious about the recovery process, I hope this episode reminds you that you are not broken, your body is not your enemy, and you don't have to walk this path alone.

✨ Dear Recovery Reminder: Recovery doesn't ask you to stop being afraid. It simply asks you to stop letting fear make every decision.

I'll see you Wednesday for Part Two, where we'll talk about letting go of control, borrowing hope from others, and what recovery has taught me about truly living.

💙 And if today you don't believe recovery is possible...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." 

In Part Two of Episode 7, we talk about the "pink cloud," learning to celebrate how far we've come, and letting go of comparison so we can reconnect with what really matters. This episode is a gentle reminder that you're not behind—you’re rebuilding, one day 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."  

Send me your questions to my email: dearrecovery1@gmail.com

or DM me at @dear_recovery1

In this episode, we dive deep into this exact question, looking at it through both a personal lens and a fascinating evolutionary framework known as Migration Theory (popularized by Tabitha Farrar). We explore how an ancient survival mechanism—designed thousands of years ago to keep us moving with our tribe—can misfire in modern recovery, interpreting the act of stopping to eat as a literal threat to survival.

If you have ever felt like you are fighting an uphill battle against your own mind after a meal, this episode is a reminder that your guilt isn’t proof that you did something wrong. In fact, it might just be proof that you did something incredibly brave.

What You'll Learn:

• The Evolution of Food Anxiety: How ancient biological alarm systems still impact our relationship with food today.

• The Misfiring Brain: Why logic and emotion don't always align during mealtime in recovery.

• Guilt vs. Reality: How to reframe food guilt as activated anxiety rather than a moral failure.

• Rewiring for Safety: The power of sitting with discomfort and teaching your brain, one meal at a time, that eating is safe.

Whether you're struggling with an ED, navigating recovery, supporting someone you love, or just curious, you're welcome here. Recovery can be hard, confusing, and sometimes a total bitch—but you don't have to figure it out alone.

Have a question? Email me at dearrecoveery1@gmail.com or DM me on Instagram at @dear_recovery1. I'd love to hear from you.