Sam(story) - Therapist, Advocate, Yoga Teacher, Hiker

“The ED community will exclude people because they don’t have this preset label, because they don’t have this diagnosis written on a paper somewhere. There is this whole other group of people that, because they never received treatment, they’re not even allowed to have a conversation with people who have” - Sam

Growing up watching her mom struggle with food and body issues, Sam started overeating at a young age; she dealt with bullying as a child because of it. From middle school through grad school, her symptoms bounced from purging to overexercising to restricting to drinking too much. In her story, Sam tells of what recovery looked like as someone who never received formal treatment, likely due to her family’s financial insecurities. Sam believes that if you can get treatment, get it, but wants people to know that she recovered by learning about eating disorders in her college classes and becoming involved with NEDA and the body positive community on social media. Follow Sam on IG: @countkissesnotcalories

Resources:

- NEDA

Instagram Accounts to check out:

@danasuchow

@iamdaniadriana 

@bodyposipanda 

@neda 

@lizzobeeating

@scarrednotscared

@simonemariposa

@glitterandlazers

@curvesbecomeher

@iskra

@mynameisjessamyn

@iamivyfelicia

@realryansheldon

@tessholliday

@rybnyc

@lexiemanion

@aerie (don't retouch their models ever)

@beatingeatingdisorders

@unlikelyhikers