Dear Recovery

Going to sober living can feel really freaking scary. In Part 1 of this two-part episode of Dear Recovery, we’re talking about what it’s actually like to leave detox or treatment and head into sober living—including the fear, anxiety, uncertainty, and “Oh my God, what am I doing?” feelings that can come with it. I share my own experience of driving to sober living crying the entire way, what helped me take that first step, what sober living actually is, how to find the right place, what to consider financially, and some important questions to ask before you move in. Because you don't have to feel ready. You don't have to know exactly what you're doing. Sometimes you just have to take the next step. And yes…you might feel a little bit like a baby pony trying to figure out how to stand. ;)-🩶 Part 2 coming Monday. "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 [email protected] 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 your eating disorder is the thing keeping you from drinking or using drugs? In this episode of Dear Recovery, we talk about the fear of letting go of one coping mechanism when you're terrified another one might take its place. I share some of my own recovery story, including what happened when I recovered from my eating disorder but hadn't yet learned how to cope with life without it. Recovery doesn't mean trading one addiction for another. But it does mean learning the tools, support, and coping skills you need for whatever comes next. 🩶  "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 [email protected] or send me a DM on Instagram @dear_recovery1. No question is too messy, and you never have to figure it out alone."  

What happens when you want to go shopping with a friend, but your eating disorder starts telling you that you don’t belong because your bodies are different sizes? In this episode of Dear Recovery, we’re talking about body comparison, shame, friendship, and the fear that other people are judging our bodies—even when they may not be judging us at all. Because your body size doesn’t determine who you get to spend time with, where you get to shop, or whether you deserve to be included. We’ll talk about choosing safe people, setting boundaries, separating past experiences from present relationships, and—most importantly—not letting your eating disorder make your world smaller. You don’t have to be the same size as your friend to belong beside them. 🩷 "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 [email protected] or send me a DM on Instagram @dear_recovery1. No question is too messy, and you never have to figure it out alone." 

In this episode of Dear Recovery, we talk about the fear of “bad” foods, why food labels can hold so much power over us, and whether recovery is possible while only eating the foods that feel safe. 🩶 If the thought of introducing foods like pasta, ice cream, burgers, or Oreos feels terrifying, you're not alone. Recovery can feel like a leap into the unknown—but you don't have to have the whole path figured out before you take the first step. And if you can't believe recovery is possible for you yet...maybe you can borrow a little hope from me. 🩷   "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 [email protected] or send me a DM on Instagram @dear_recovery1. No question is too messy, and you never have to figure it out alone." 

In this special guided meditation, we make space for sadness instead of pushing it away. Together, we'll gently explore what happens when we allow ourselves to feel difficult emotions with compassion and curiosity. You don't have to fix your sadness or make it disappear—you can simply give it a moment to be seen, felt, and processed. <3         

Why do certain comments about our bodies stay with us for years? In this episode of Dear Recovery, I answer a listener's question about the confusing and sometimes painful impact of other people's opinions about our appearance. We talk about why even comments meant as compliments can become complicated, especially in eating disorder recovery, and how we can begin to set boundaries and stop letting other people's opinions become the voice in our own heads. "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 [email protected] or send me a DM on Instagram @dear_recovery1. No question is too messy, and you never have to figure it out alone." 

In this episode of Dear Recovery, I answer a listener's heartfelt question about the confusing, messy, and sometimes scary process of eating disorder recovery. We talk about taking steps forward and backward, learning to nourish and trust your body, the sneaky ways an eating disorder can hide behind “healthy” rules, and why recovery doesn't have to be perfect to be real. If you've ever wondered whether you're doing recovery “right,” this episode is for you. 🩷  "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 [email protected] or send me a DM on Instagram @dear_recovery1. No question is too messy, and you never have to figure it out alone."  

Can you recover from an eating disorder and substance use disorder at the same time? In this episode of Dear Recovery, I answer a question from a listener who is trying to navigate recovery from both. I talk honestly about how difficult it can be to face two battles at once, because I’ve been there myself. We’ll talk about whether you have to recover from one before the other, how one issue can sometimes improve as the other heals, and why there isn’t always a simple “which came first?” answer. Most importantly, we’ll talk about why having two things to recover from doesn’t mean recovery is out of reach.   "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 [email protected] or send me a DM on Instagram @dear_recovery1. No question is too messy, and you never have to figure it out alone."     

Hi friends, I had a laptop crash, but I'm already in the works to get a new one and I will be back. My goal is to start uploading episodes again by next Monday. Okay, thank you, love you, and I will see you soon friend <3

Episode 18: “Why Can’t I Sit Still?” — When Rest Feels Scary Why can’t I just sit still? Why does resting feel so uncomfortable? And why does my eating disorder make me feel guilty for doing it? In this episode, we talk about low-level movement, why it can become such a powerful part of an eating disorder, the biology behind the urge to keep moving, and some small ways to begin interrupting the cycle. Most importantly, we talk about what happens when you start learning to trust your body again—and what to do when you don't believe recovery is possible yet. 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 [email protected] or send me a DM on Instagram @dear_recovery1. No question is too messy, and you never have to figure it out alone."  

BMI: Part 2 — Taking Back the Power In Part 2 of our conversation about BMI, we continue exploring its history, limitations, and why we give numbers so much power. I also take another little research rabbit hole—this time into credit scores—and somehow bring it all back to recovery. 😂 We’ll talk about breaking the cycle of checking, advocating for yourself, and learning to loosen BMI’s grip on your recovery. Because your worth has never lived inside a formula. 🩷  "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 [email protected] 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 found yourself checking your BMI over and over, believing that one number somehow determines whether you're healthy, successful, or enough? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, we gently unpack the history of BMI, why eating disorders cling so tightly to it, and why your worth has never belonged inside a mathematical equation.   "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 [email protected] or send me a DM on Instagram @dear_recovery1. No question is too messy, and you never have to figure it out alone."  💙

In this episode of Dear Recovery, we talk about why old photos can feel so triggering, how eating disorders attach meaning to past versions of ourselves, and how recovery helps us build compassion for every chapter of our lives. 💜

Why do some foods feel completely safe while others feel terrifying? In this episode, we explore why eating disorders create safe foods and fear foods, how our brains learn these patterns, and how recovery helps us find freedom—one courageous bite 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 [email protected] or send me a DM on Instagram @dear_recovery1. No question is too messy, and you never have to figure it out alone." :) 

Episode 13: Why Does It Feel Wrong If I Don't Eat My Food in a Certain Order? Have you ever felt anxious because you ate your meal in the "wrong" order, at the wrong time, or didn't follow your usual routine? If so, you're far from alone. In this episode of Dear Recovery, we explore why eating disorders create rigid food rituals, why breaking those routines can feel so overwhelming, and how anxiety often mistakes familiarity for safety. I share pieces of my own recovery journey—including the food rules I once believed were keeping me healthy—and explain how tiny acts of courage can help retrain the brain toward freedom. If you've ever wondered why changing one small eating habit can feel like such a big deal, this episode is for you. Recovery isn't about being fearless—it's about choosing freedom, one small bite 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 [email protected] or send me a DM on Instagram @dear_recovery1. No question is too messy, and you never have to figure it out alone." 💙

Hello Friend, Swimsuit season can bring up a lot of fear, anxiety, and body image struggles—but you don't have to let those thoughts steal another summer. In this episode of Dear Recovery, we're talking about what really matters when recovery meets beach days, pool parties, and vacations. We'll explore how to quiet the eating disorder's voice, make room for flexibility, and remember that the people who love you aren't inviting your body—they're inviting you. Because the goal was never the swimsuit. The goal was always your life.  "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 [email protected] or send me a DM on Instagram @dear_recovery1. No question is too messy, and you never have to figure it out alone."  

Episode 11: You Can Change Your Body Later Can you recover if you still want to change your body? If you've ever thought, "I want recovery...but I don't want my body to change," you're not alone. In this episode, we talk about one of the biggest fears that keeps so many people feeling stuck in an eating disorder. Together, we'll explore why recovery isn't introducing change—it's introducing healing—and how to begin rebuilding trust with a body that has been fighting for you all along. Friend...you can worry about changing your body later. Today, let's just help it heal. 💚  "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 [email protected] or send me a DM on Instagram @dear_recovery1. No question is too messy, and you never have to figure it out alone."  

Did I trade my eating disorder for alcohol...or was I trying to survive the same pain in a different way? 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 [email protected] or send me a DM on Instagram @dear_recovery1. No question is too messy, and you never have to figure it out alone."  

Episode 9: How Do I Stop Comparing What I Ate to What Everyone Else Ate? 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.

Episode 8 (Part 3 & 4): What If I Gain Weight...and Never Stop? 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 [email protected] or send me a DM on Instagram @dear_recovery1. No question is too messy, and you never have to figure it out alone." 💙 

Episode 8 (Part 1 & 2): What If I Gain Weight...and Never Stop? "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 [email protected] or send me a DM on Instagram @dear_recovery1. No question is too messy, and you never have to figure it out alone." 

Recovery has a funny way of moving the finish line. Just when we think we've arrived, we start worrying about what's next. 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 [email protected] or send me a DM on Instagram @dear_recovery1. No question is too messy, and you never have to figure it out alone."  

Hello friends:) Recovery is hard—but rebuilding your life afterward can feel even harder. In Part One of Episode 7, we explore the discouragement that can come with starting over, finding work, and learning to trust the timing of recovery. Through personal stories, gentle encouragement, and practical hope, this episode is a reminder that healing isn't a race—and you're not behind. 

Welcome! This short snip it explains how and where to send in your questions, thoughts, fears, hopes, etc. Cant wait to get started and connect with you! I have updated my Instagram handle to make it more streamline. You can email your questions to [email protected]  or send me a direct message (DM) at @dear_recovery1. This episode sites my previous email address but I have linked the new email here :)

A simple text saying "Dinner plans changed" can send an eating disorder into overdrive. In this episode, we talk about why unexpected food situations can feel so threatening, how eating disorders rely on certainty and control, and what it means to practice flexibility in recovery—one meal at a time.  Send me your questions to my email: [email protected] or DM me at @dear_recovery1

Episode Title: "Why do I feel guilt after eating even though I know I shouldn’t?" Episode Summary: It’s one of the most common—and frustrating—questions in eating disorder recovery: Why does eating trigger an overwhelming wave of guilt, even when you logically know your body needs the nourishment? 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.

Hello beautiful people. On today's episode, I wanted to answer a question I think many people who are struggling with with an eating disorder or disordered eating may or do have. I know it will take time to build up questions and DM's, so I thought I'd start with one I used to ask myself when I was in my eating disorder. Remember, no question you have is to crazy and you are not alone with your thoughts. Okay, love you & thank you!

Hello everyone, I wanna thank you for listening, and maybe telling a friend:) In today's episode I'm sharing the rest of my story because it occurred to me that I didn't explain the relationships that had blossomed with family and friends and my career as a therapist in my present everyday life. I hope that something in this episode identifies with you and something gives you courage, strength, or hope, or all three. Love you and thank you!

In this episode, I share a little of my own recovery story—from eating disorders to alcohol recovery, and all the messy, beautiful in-between. I spend extra time talking about eating disorder recovery because I want you to know that no question is too weird, too embarrassing, or too "OCD" for this space. Trust me, I've probably thought it too. 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 [email protected] or DM me on Instagram at @dear_recovery1. I'd love to hear from you.