Posts Tagged “Co-Occurring Disorders”

Episode description:

An estimated 16% of the world’s population lives with a disability. Yet people with disabilities are woefully underrepresented in eating disorder research. As a result, disability often goes underaddressed in eating disorder treatment, and eating disorders often go unrecognized in people with disabilities. 

In this episode, Dr. Jillian Lampert examines that gap and what it costs the people caught in it—and what it looks like when care starts with curiosity and listening instead of assumptions.

Episode description:

Research suggests that 25 to 50 percent of people with eating disorders have also experienced trauma, and that the two conditions tend to reinforce and worsen each other when they co-occur. Despite this, care is often delivered sequentially—people are asked to address one condition before they can work on the other, even though the two are deeply intertwined.

Episode description:

Many people are surprised to learn that eating disorders are mental health conditions. Media coverage tends to focus on the visible markers of these illnesses—weight changes, what someone eats or doesn’t eat—and stops there. In this episode, Dr. Lampert breaks down the thoughts, feelings, and neurobiology beneath those physical and behavioral components, and why understanding eating disorders as a mental health condition matters for advocacy, recognition, and getting more people connected to care.

**Content warning: This is one person’s story; everyone will have unique experiences in recovery and beyond. Some stories may mention eating disorder thoughts, behaviors, and symptoms. Please use your discretion when reading and speak with your support system as needed.

Katherine Stancoff (they/she) is a 20-year-old mental health advocate and former client of The Emily Program. You can follow her on TikTok and Instagram at @thereispurposeinthispain and @katherinestancoff, and see more of her literary work at www.thereispurposeinthispain.com.

Comparison was my constant nemesis as a child. I’d compare my home life, friendships, personality, interests, skills, and talents to everyone around me. Quickly, I’d fallen into the deep waters of never feeling adequate. I’d try to excel the way others seemed to, but I always believed I’d fallen short somehow. I soon internalized the notion that I am defective.

This utter despair made me feel like a failure, and my mind began to tear itself apart, skinning itself dry in desperate search of a solution. Consequently, this exploration of “fixing” myself led to self-isolation, then a vow of silence, until it spiraled into disordered behaviors.

From this deterioration, I fell into a distorted “love” with my eating disorder. It convinced me that once I reached my goal weight, I would achieve “perfection,” setting me apart from my peers. I did as it told me, wholeheartedly believing that losing weight to an idealized number would “perfect” me, would satisfy the void my depression and OCD had created.

Episode description:

Research suggests that up to half of people with eating disorders also struggle with substance misuse, and about 35% of people with substance use disorder also have an eating disorder. In this episode, Jillian breaks down why these conditions so often overlap, what’s happening inside the brain when they do, and why treating them as separate issues can work against recovery.

If you or someone you care about is navigating both an eating disorder and a substance use disorder, this episode is a useful place to start. As Jillian affirms, “It is never too late, and it is never too early to reach out for help.”

Many people with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) notice that their eating habits don’t follow a predictable rhythm.

Maybe you lose track of time and forget to eat until hunger becomes unbearable. Or you snack impulsively—not out of hunger, but because it feels like the only way to calm down when your brain is buzzing and overstimulated. Or perhaps you’ve found yourself stuck staring at the contents of your fridge, so paralyzed by all of the steps involved in preparing a meal that you end up skipping eating entirely.

Episode description:

In this episode of Peace Meal, Abby Kurszewski reflects on how years of weight-related comments from family and doctors shaped her relationship with food and body image. She explains that these experiences—along with a ninth-grade calorie-tracking assignment—were among the factors that fueled disordered eating during her teenage years. Abby recalls the painful disconnect of being praised for weight loss while suffering inside.

She also speaks candidly about weight bias in healthcare, where providers dismissed her concerns because she lived in a larger body—barriers that delayed access to the care she needed. In 2022, Abby entered The Emily Program’s intensive day treatment and finally felt seen. With support from her treatment team and her dad—her “rock” throughout recovery—Abby began to reclaim herself: “It gave me part of my spark back.”

Episode description:

In this episode of Peace Meal, we hear from Jami Schadler, a mom of four and passionate eating disorder advocate from Dyersville, Iowa. Jami opens up about her 25-year struggle with an eating disorder, how unresolved childhood trauma played a role, and the turning point that sparked her recovery.

Now in recovery, Jami is dedicated to helping others find hope and healing. She shares how her advocacy began with a single social media post and grew into something much larger: facilitating a support group with NAMI Dubuque, working as an Ambassador with the Eating Disorders Coalition, and even spearheading a proclamation to recognize National Eating Disorders Awareness Week in her community.

Throughout the conversation, Jami emphasizes the importance of education, connection, and advocacy in breaking down stigma. She offers heartfelt advice to families, encouragement for those who feel isolated, and reflections on what recovery has brought to her life and her children’s lives.