193. 4 Things We Mean When We Say "Let Go of Control" (And 1 Thing We Don't)

"Eating disorders are about control." It's one of those phrases that gets repeated so often it starts to sound like an unquestionable truth. But when you sit with it for more than a few seconds, it gets messy fast. Because if eating disorders are "about control," then recovery is often framed as the opposite: letting go of control. And that's where a lot of people understandably get stuck. That advice is usually offered in a vague, almost dismissive way, as if the problem is that you're gripping too tightly, overthinking everything, or refusing to loosen your hold. The implication is that if you could just relax, stop trying so hard, and surrender a bit, recovery would naturally fall into place. Which, let's be honest, is not how this works. Tweetable Quotes "People love to use the phrase 'Eating disorders are about control', but it's really vague. Like being "in control" is good, and being "out of control" is bad. - Rachelle Heinemann "When we say release control, we mean loosening rigidity… but we're not asking to lose structure." - Rachelle Heinemann "When we talk about control and loosening control, we do not mean to enter into chaos." - Rachelle Heinemann "What we're asking people to do when we ask for increased flexibility is to take away the protection against anxiety. So we have to understand this is not just a matter of asking your clients to just loosen the reins a bit. It's something that is going to feel internally, very, very uncomfortable." - Rachelle Heinemann "Ultimately, when we use the term control… it's only problematic when it really constricts your life." - Rachelle Heinemann "Recovery… is about widening that bandwidth." - Rachelle Heinemann "We are increasing your capacity to experience whatever it might be… without flooding, without impulsivity." - Rachelle Heinemann Resources Join my FREE webinar happening on March 18th: Brave on Purpose! Grab my Journal Prompts Here! Looking for a speaker for an upcoming event? Let's chat! Now accepting new clients! Find out if we're a good fit!    LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone who may need this podcast by sharing this episode. Be sure to sign up for my weekly newsletter here! You can connect with me on Instagram @rachelleheinemann, through my website www.rachelleheinemann.com, or email me directly at [email protected]