why is body image still so hard in recovery — what actually helps | recovered-ish with chloe cox

Honest confession: my body image has been pretty rough lately. And yes, I know — I'm a recovered eating disorder therapist who just last week talked about how quiet my ED voice has gotten. So what gives?In this episode I'm getting real about what bad body image actually looks like for me now, 11 years into recovery. How it's different from the eating disorder voice. What body dysmorphia really feels like from the inside. And the specific things that actually help me move through it — not the textbook DBT stuff, just what genuinely works for me right now.This one is honest, a little messy, and I think a lot of you are going to relate.This Episode Is Brought to You By Cozy EarthBad body image weeks call for a soft place to land at the end of the day. Cozy Earth makes the softest, most comfortable pajamas and the absolute coziest bedding — and comfort is something I don't compromise on anymore. Visit CozyEarth.com and use code RECOVERY for up to 20% off.In This Episode:Why you can have a quiet ED voice and still have terrible body image — and how those are actually different thingsWhat body dysmorphia really is and how it shows up as a sensory experience, not just negative thoughtsWhy bad body image days are often a signal that something else is off in your lifeThe wardrobe disaster phenomenon and what it actually has to do with body imageWhy body neutrality is more accessible than body positivity — and what it actually looks like in practiceWhat I do instead of white-knuckling through a bad body image weekWhy clothing and personal style have genuinely been a game changer for my body imageSomatic tools that help when you want to completely dissociate from your bodyHow to talk about body image struggles in a way that actually helps you process themWhy showing your body care — even when you don't love it — is what actually heals the relationshipTimestamps:0:00 Intro 1:00 Life update — a weird season, turning 31, and learning to meet my own needs 5:30 This week's topic: my body image has been rough lately 6:00 How body image and the ED voice are actually different things 8:30 What body dysmorphia really feels like from the inside 12:00 The wardrobe disaster and what it signals 15:00 The sensory experience of body dysmorphia 18:30 Social media, idealized bodies, and wanting to dissociate 20:30 Body neutrality vs body positivity — and why neutrality is more accessible 23:00 Riding the wave vs actually doing something about it 25:30 Feelings change — they always have a beginning, middle, and end 26:30 What actually helps me: clothes, comfort, and personal style 29:30 Nuuly subscription — and why it's been a game changer especially for variable sizing in recovery 33:00 Zooming out: bad body image as a signal, not a fact 35:30 Somatic tools for when you want to crawl out of your skin 38:30 Orienting exercise — how to arrive back in your body 39:30 Body patting and butterfly taps 40:30 Talking about it — but in a specific way 43:00 Showing your body care even when you don't love it 45:00 Closing thoughtsPractical Tools Mentioned:Zoom out: when body image is off, look at what else is going on in your life — it's usually a signal, not the whole storyOrienting exercise: find the farthest point you can see, then the closest, then notice your surroundings — arrive back in your bodyBody patting and butterfly taps: gentle somatic tools to feel regulated instead of alienated from yourselfTalk about it — but speak to the feeling, not the criticism. "I feel unsettled and off in my body" instead of piling onShow your body care anyway: eating your meals, booking a massage, doing a face mask — add intention even when it feels hardWardrobe audit: clothes that feel comfortable anResources + Connect with Me:Instagram: @recoverwithchloeRecovery Skills Training: use code PODCAST for $57 off!Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple PodcastsSubscribe on YouTube!