The Biggest Misconception About Eating Disorders

Setting boundaries in relationships feels uncomfortable.

The biggest misconception about eating disorders?

It’s not about food. It’s about:

• The perfectionism that started in childhood
• The voice that says “you’re not good enough
• The attempt to find control when everything feels chaotic

After years of working with clients navigating eating disorders, here’s what I’ve learned:

1. It exists on a continuum

You don’t have to “look” sick to be struggling. You can be high-functioning at work, juggling kids, and still feel exhausted by your relationship with food and your body.

2. Body image isn’t reality—it’s perception.

Body image encompasses your thoughts and feelings about your body, including the fear of how you appear to others, as opposed to what your body looks like.

3. External pressures matter.
Social media, diet culture, and bullying shape how you feel about yourself. Especially in adolescence, those impressions last. Sometimes decades.

4. Food is rarely the root issue.

Anxiety. Mood. Burnout. Shame.
Food becomes the outlet, but the pain runs deeper.

So, what does real healing look like?

• Start with compassion. Shame is not a motivator—it’s a barrier.
• We use a CBT-based approach to build awareness, regulate emotion, and challenge the deeper beliefs that fuel disordered patterns.
• Therapy is collaborative, not prescriptive. Trust leads. Change follows.
• Progress looks like small wins: identifying a harmful thought, trying a new coping tool, letting yourself rest.

The turning point?

When clients realize:

• My worth is not tied to my weight
• My body deserves care, not punishment

That’s where healing begins—not with a perfect meal plan, but with deeper connection, clarity, and compassion.

What helped you shift your relationship with food or body image?

Let’s talk. You’re not alone.

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