Eating Disorder Recovery, External Validation and Finding your Beauty Within, with Eric Pothen

Today I’m talking to Eric Pothen, a middle school choir teacher and passionate eating disorder advocate based in Albertville, Minnesota, USA. Eric struggled with an eating disorder for several years, but I’m pleased to say is now well along the recovery road and healing from this. Today, Eric uses his eating disorder struggles as his strength, to raise awareness and become an advocate for those who are and have struggled with eating disorders, disordered eating, and/or body image. Eric is the owner and founder of an apparel company, "Embrace Wear," whose mission is to help others learn to embrace themselves and find beauty and self-worth within. At Embrace Wear, they believe that our bodies don’t define who we are, and that beauty does not come in one size; Embrace Wear means recreating what it means to be beautiful, accepting others for who they are not for what they look like. As a wonderful bonus,10% of the proceeds from this company go to local eating disorder clinics in Minnesota. In this episode, we talk about Eric’s journey in eating disorder recovery – what helped, what hindered and what triggered Eric to begin the courageous path to healing. Eric shares about the seduction of external validation, good and bad foods and bravely addresses the stigma around binge eating and chewing and spitting. Eric also shares about his new apparel company and his incredible advocacy work. I hope that you enjoy the conversation. To find out more about Eric: - Instagram: @embracewearco; @epothen https://www.etsy.com/shop/embracewearco