“I don’t know how I truly feel about the fully recovered vs. recovery debate. But I can tell you this. I am a different person than when I was in the throes of an eating disorder. Nothing is the same. Nothing. I laugh, cry, take risks, speak in front of people, bake for fun, go out to eat, foster warm, caring relationships. I have my sense of humor back. Life is huge, and chaotic, and painful, and lovely, and I’m living it. Life in color with all of its uncertainties is so preferable to that cold, sterile certain life with an eating disorder.” – Colleen

In my conversation with Colleen we talk more about the biopsychosocial model of mental health and illness, personality traits in people with eating disorders, advice for people who are in recovery that want to work in the eating disorder field, Health at Every Size, and more.

Full List of Conversation Topics:

-Biopsychosocial model in developing an eating disorder

-Personality traits predisposed to an eating disorder

-How these personality traits can also help in recovery and life

-How to navigate the waves of emotions in recovery

-Importance of experiential therapy techniques in recovery

-How body language and changing your physiology can help

-Higher Purpose in Recovery

-Recovery Resources

-Instagram and Recovery

-Advice for people in recovery who want to work in the recovery field

-Health at Every Size

Resources:

-Project HEAL

-Recovery Warriors

-Food Psych Podcast with Christy Harrison

-Life Without Ed by Jenni Schaefer

-Food to Eat: Guided, hopeful, and Trusted Recipes -for Eating Disorder Recovery by Lori Lieberman, RD

-8 Keys to Recovery From an Eating Disorder by Carolyn Costin

-Eating in the Light of the Moon by Dr. Anita Johnston

-Appetites: Why Women Want by Caroline Knapp

-The Three Waves of Volunteers and the New Earth by Dolores Cannon (the book Kristen couldn’t remember the name of in the episode)