Lately you’ve been feeling more trapped than ever before. You are doing all of the “right” things to make your life happy & good, and yet underneath the happy moments or facade, you are exhausted. Exhausted from scrutinizing your body, your grades, your conversations, your food, and just about anything your brain can come up with-and you feel like you are falling short. Your eating disorder may feel like a cage from which you can never escape.
You want to change your thinking about food and your body, but it just seems like an uphill battle, and honestly, you aren’t feeling up for that Mt. Everest vibe of a climb. It looks & seems impossible, and you’re not even sure if it will be worth it. You want to sit down & give up, cry, or go on strike from trying so hard in every aspect of your life. You’re ready for things to just click, to feel less anxious, and for your inner mean girl & eating disorder bestie to back down and leave you alone. If any of that resonates, eating disorder treatment in Utah is here — and this piece is for you.
Your Brain Says Recovery Isn't Possible. But Your Brain Is Not Always Right.
One of the most common things I hear each week is the fear that recovery isn’t possible and that the internal fight will never let up. And I get it; you’ve been struggling with yourself & that inner critic for much longer than you care to count. Our culture is swimming in diet culture land, and recently, people who never seemed concerned with their weight are suddenly experiencing body changes.
It’s easy to believe that making peace with one's body, eating disorder or not, is just not possible. There are only a few hills I’m willing to die on, and believing that recovery is possible is absolutely one of them. There is hope, and it is absolutely possible to recover from an eating disorder, and if that feels like too big of a leap, then maybe you can hope that at the very least you can lessen its grip.
The first step is to admit that you have a problem.
This may seem obvious to you, and you may be thinking, ‘I’ve already done that - that’s why I’m reading this article!’ Disordered eating and eating disorders often start sooner than most people think. Which makes sense, because exposure to dieting, body comparisons, and self-criticism has likely been present in small degrees long before it was obvious it had a strong hold on you. Another hill I will die on is: No one chooses an eating disorder. Full stop. This is not your fault, and I wish you didn’t have to put in the work of recovery even though you do.
I’ve yet to meet someone who, when they started doing certain behaviors, hoped to be in a state of constant fear, obsession, stress, moving through every day controlled by the presence or avoidance of food, mirrors, clothing, etc. It can feel safe & predictable, but it is also the stuff of nightmares- that feeling when you are having a bad dream, and you are struggling to wake up & feel safe & centered again. But admitting to yourself and being willing to admit the problem to someone who can help you are two parts of the same step.
And recovery happens one step at a time, so even reading this blog is a forward step.
Your Brain Learned These Patterns. That Means It Can Learn New Ones.
The behavior surrounding eating disorders is a set of behaviors and feelings that are very strong and very convincing. What is also true is that feelings, even when they are SO strong and SO loud, are not facts. So yes, your brain is telling you so many fear- and shame-based things that you believe and feel like facts. Our brains LOVE predictability, and so even fear or shame-based patterns can start to feel safe even if they are also causing harm.
But the good news is that our brains are wildly capable of learning new patterns, gaining new tools, and feeling a sense of empowerment instead of the sense of control that the eating disorder provides. This is not easy and will take effort from you, but with the right guidance, tools, practice, and support, it is absolutely possible to navigate your world without being pushed & pulled by an eating disorder.
To truly recover from an eating disorder, you will learn to:
Listen to your body
Listen to your feelings
Listen to your thoughts that create those feelings
Understand yourself
Accept yourself
Love yourself
I know that reading a list like this can kick up an array of emotions. You may feel hopeful, you may feel overwhelmed, you may feel irritated, or you may believe that some of these things are not a problem. And however you feel is okay; our feelings always make sense when we are looking through the lens of lived experience and where our nervous system is at the time. So we start where it makes sense for you to start & what you think might help you most.
Not Every Therapist Is the Right Eating Disorder Therapist — Here's What to Look For
The most effective way to see improvement is to enlist the help of a licensed therapist who specializes in eating disorders. Therapy is most successful when you find someone who truly gets how an eating disorder presents, where it’s straightforward, where it can be tricky. It’s very similar to choosing a doctor. If you have the flu or something that’s common, you see a primary care doctor. If you are having knee problems, you see an orthopedic doctor.
You also need to choose someone who you feel like you can connect with over time. Your eating disorder therapist needs to be an expert in the reasons you're seeking therapy; they need the tools that will best help you, and a personality style or way of interacting that is a good fit. If you are missing one of these elements, it may be time to pivot. A good therapist will want you to be with someone who is a fit on all fronts, so it’s totally okay to ask for their help in pivoting.
You need support- the right support, expert support, to help guide you back to health.
And eating disorders have a significant impact on both your physical health & mental health. Reaching out for help does not mean you have to agree to it right away, nor does it mean that you have to commit to a person(s) you think might be a good fit. Contact a few providers and see who you think might work. Call a few places and ask all of your questions.
When people reach out to us, we do a short intake call to see if we are a good fit for your needs on every front. If you feel we aren’t, we are more than happy to connect you to someone who you think will be. Our goal is for people to get the help they need. There are many excellent eating disorder providers in Utah, and I’m confident you can find the best fit for you. Schedule a call today with our intake coordinator, who will help you find the right therapist for you.
You Don't Have to Figure Out Eating Disorder Treatment in Utah Alone
Recovery is not a straight line. Some days the tools click. Some days the inner critic is loud, the feelings are heavy, and just getting through the day is the win. Both count. Both are recovery.
If you're reading this and wondering whether things can actually get better, that question itself is worth paying attention to. It means some part of you is still reaching. That part deserves real, specialized support — not just someone who sort of understands eating disorders, but someone who truly gets it.
Eating disorder treatment in Utah is here to meet you wherever you are in the process — whether you're just starting to consider help or you've been in the fight for a long time.
At Inside Wellness, we're here to help you get there.
We are here to help — give us a call 801-699-6161 or visit us at insidewellness.com
Learn more about working with an Eating Disorder Therapist in Salt Lake City, UT
You don't have to keep doing this alone — support is closer than you think.
Other Services Inside Wellness Offers in Provo and Salt Lake City, UT
Eating disorders rarely travel alone. They're often woven together with anxiety, perfectionism, body image distress, and the exhausting pressure to hold everything together while quietly falling apart on the inside. At Inside Wellness, we offer more than eating disorder treatment in Utah. Alongside specialized eating disorder support, we provide body image therapy, anxiety therapy, support for perfectionism, online therapy, and therapy for burnout, all designed to address the full picture of what recovery actually involves.
Whether you're just beginning to reach for help, working through the harder layers of recovery, or trying to find a therapist who truly understands how eating disorders work, our team is here. You don't have to keep pushing through alone. With the right support, recovery gets to be something more than managing the noise. It gets to be your life.
Visit our blog or FAQ to learn more about how therapy can support your recovery and help you find your way back to yourself.