Welcome

A hard truth is that a person struggling with an eating disorder is often blind to the illness. This is true particularly if that person has body image issues or body distortions, common symptoms of anorexia and bulimia. Therefore, it can be difficult to share what you are observing with your loved one.

Fall isn’t just a time for pulling out your warm sweaters and crunching through the fallen leaves. It’s the season of open enrollment, your annual chance to ask “Is my health insurance plan working for me?”

Figuring out your insurance options can be a complex process. Here are some tips for getting started:

Stacy joined The Emily Program as office manager in the summer of 2012. It was a natural fit for her because she enjoys helping others and wanted a position where she could be a part of something meaningful every day.

The image that comes to mind when many people think of an “eating disorder” (ED) is a young female with anorexia or bulimia. But in reality, there is a vast spectrum of ED diagnoses, behaviors, body types, and people who “fit the bill.” The narrow view of the disease that prevails in our society can be extremely harmful, as it often results in a treatable disease going unnoticed.

Amy Patefield joined The Emily Program in the fall of 2004. Previously, she worked in a hospital setting, but decided to take the leap to a smaller agency — The Emily Program only had 25 total employees at the time — and has never looked back.

We recently asked people in recovery from an eating disorder to share their thoughts about the illness. We hope these insights from those who have “been there” help if you’re seeking answers and understanding. A big thanks to everyone who contributed to this post and to all the supportive friends and family out there.

These are personal perspectives; everyone will have unique experiences on their own path to recovery and beyond. Some stories may mention eating disorder thoughts, behaviors or symptom use. Please use your own discretion. And speak with your therapist when needed.

Check out our list of the top 5 online news items and stories that have fascinated or inspired us recently.

We often hear this question from individuals and their families: “How ill do you have to be to necessitate eating disorder treatment?”