“BODY POSITIVITY” OR THINNESS CONFIRMATION? ANTI-FATNESS IN EATING DISORDER RECOVERY SPACES
In recent years, the body positivity movement has achieved great prominence, with many regarding it as a means of promoting self-love and hence minimizing its social justice roots. As Project HEAL Ambassador Grace Bragdon illustrates, the co-opting of body positivity by thin folks epitomizes a deeply problematic trend in which those with certain privileges capitalize on movements established by and for individuals with marginalized identities. We are reminded that what many deem “body positivity” is virulent anti-fatness, just glamorously concealed and repackaged.
A PATHWAY TO FREEDOM
Rarely do we explore the intersection of pregnancy, parenting, and eating disorders, yet Amber probes this oft-neglected junction through powerful storytelling. In this piece, she relays how she navigated eating disorder treatment as an expectant mother and relentlessly strove for freedom — freedom from her disorder AND freedom to live her own life. She continues to approach this journey with valor, vulnerability, and compassion, leaving us deeply inspired.
THE REALITIES OF TREATMENT AS A BIPOC
What does it mean to be a BIPOC with an eating disorder? How does a BIPOC navigate the tricky waters of receiving an eating disorder diagnosis and subsequent treatment? In this brave story, we are reminded that all individuals have the capacity to develop an eating disorder; we are held accountable to the fact that we need to do better to support BIPOC with eating disorders.
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: “I LOVE ANA,” A SHORT FILM BY AYLSSA MULLINGS
A beautiful and heart-wrenching look at one woman’s struggle with her body and her eating disorder. As a first-generation Jamaican woman who has recovered from an eating disorder, Alyssa Mullings has crafted a wonderfully layered narrative about a young girl who joins an online chat group that supports people engaging with their eating disorders. Watch the video and read our Q&A with Alyssa afterwards!
I CHOOSE RECOVERY, I CHOOSE TO LIVE COURAGEOUSLY
Project HEAL Ambassador Ayanna opens up about her recovery journey. Ayanna is a recovery warrior and working hard every day to maintain her recovery. Her bravery in writing about why she chooses recovery every day can move us all towards a space of healing.
A PROUD LETTER FROM OUR CEO
For me, Pride means belonging to a community, it means creating more space for healing, and it means bravely and openly being myself.
At Project HEAL, Pride isn't an exclusive celebration just for people who belong to the LGBTQ+ community. The simple fact is that the eating disorder recovery community includes a lot of LGBTQ+ people and we have to make the recovery community safer for them.
PRIDE: THERE’S ALWAYS A FIRST
Lindsey Hall gets vulnerable in her latest, beautifully written blog post as she shares about her first queer love and how that exacerbated her eating disorder.
HEALING WITH PRIDE
Project HEAL is hosting a Pride Week on Instagram Live! We’ll be joined by 8 magical individuals for 7 incredible conversations amplifying the LGBTQ+ voices in the eating disorder community. Each Live is a fundraiser for our LGBTQ+ Treatment Equity Project. We hope you’ll tune in!
Poems
Nica Selvaggio is a Chicago-born non-binary and queer human who finds healing writing about the things that often go unspoken. Trauma. Grief. Sexuality. Addiction. Adoption. Eating Disorders. Race. Gender. Identity. Power. Nica’s deepest hope in sharing their writing is to create safe spaces to explore the darkness that resides within us all, thereby igniting the light found in connectedness.
My Healing is the Pride Movement Embodied
In this blog post, our new Development & Marketing Manager writes about how their experience of healing from their eating disorder mirrors the core values of the LGBTQ+ Pride movement.
Looking Back on 4 Years with Project HEAL..
Eating disorder therapy intern, plus-size ballerina, and social media maven Colleen Werner, reflects on 4 years with the Project HEAL Team!
“It’s about whether you are completely living or if you’re just surviving.”
Haley Albright Johnston met Rebecca Jane Leung in 2016 when they both attended the same PHP program in NYC (Haley’s treatment was sponsored by Project HEAL). Rebecca is based in Hong Kong and is now an active voice in the eating disorder recovery community on Youtube. The two sat down to discuss the path to recovery and the unexpected lessons learned along the way.
5 Strategies For Overcoming Negative Body Image
Did you know May is Mental Health Awareness Month? Check in with yourself this week with these strategies on how you can break through negative body-image noise.
Recovery & Motherhood
Amira walks us through her current role as the mother of a teen with an eating disorder, and Sara writes on what being a young mother with an eating disorder may mean for her daughter.
Tune In: Recovery Voices Virtual Event Series
This 5-part series brought attention to the many intersections related to eating disorders, barriers to treatment, and access to recovery.In case you missed them live, we've linked to each conversation on our Instagram here.
Debunking Eating Disorder Myths with Undone Beauty
As we kick off National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, we’re excited to highlight one of our partners, Undone Beauty, and the incredible work they’re doing to help more people with eating disorders access treatment.
Announcing Barriers to Treatment Access Study and Funding
We are thrilled to announce that Project HEAL's Barriers to Treatment Access Study, in partnership with EAT Lab at the University of Louisville, has received a generous grant from NEDA's Feeding Hope Fund for Clinical Research.
Support Project HEAL with Undone Beauty’s New Product Launch
We are so excited to share the latest update on our partnership with Undone Beauty! As we announced in August, we are collaborating with Undone Beauty to raise awareness and funds for eating disorder treatment.
Recovery While Navigating Myriad New Normals... and a Holiday Season
It seems that a topic has come up in almost every session I’ve had this week with clients: motivation. Whether it’s motivation for socializing, motivation for finding…
SUBMIT A GUEST BLOG
Project HEAL would love to share any and all stories that are aligned with our mission, vision and/or values. If you have struggled with an eating disorder, have experienced and/or overcome barriers to accessing treatment, or are an ED provider and/or recovery advocate — we want to hear from you!
We are especially interested in sharing stories from voices often excluded from and/or underrepresented in the eating disorder recovery community. Submitting a blog proposal does not necessarily guarantee publishing — we reserve the right to respond with proposed edits (for your approval) or pass on publishing your proposed content.
Thank you in advance for wanting to share your story with us and our community!