I used to think of hope as an emotion; something I would experience inside me that was similar to a wish, or a dream, or thinking positively about the future.  My years in community and mental health work have given me different contexts to how hope is experienced, found and realized, leaving me with a much grittier view than my initial thinking.

Recovery is possible with the right support. I want to focus on the barriers that can prevent people from even starting on the path to recovery. I believe as care providers, it’s our responsibility to help remove as many barriers as possible, in order to lessen the load of an already arduous journey.

This week, I’m exploring an essential topic for understanding the journey of healing from an eating disorder: the difference between recovery and treatment. At first, I thought these terms were mostly interchangeable, but I’ve learned they are distinct, each playing a unique role on the path to healing.

Eating disorders are not a matter of "either you have one or you don’t." They don’t emerge overnight or out of nowhere; they grow, fed by a tangle of contributing factors. Although clinical diagnoses have specific criteria, the experiences that lay the groundwork for eating disorders are unfortunately familiar to most people. Each of us has a body, and with that comes a relationship with that body.

Eating disorders are not a matter of "either you have one or you don’t." They don’t emerge overnight or out of nowhere; they grow, fed by a tangle of contributing factors. Although clinical diagnoses have specific criteria, the experiences that lay the groundwork for eating disorders are unfortunately familiar to most people.

My goal with ‘Corinne in Community’  is to engage those who, like me, consider themselves informed mental health advocates but may not fully understand how eating disorders fit into that larger discussion. Through this series, I’ll be diving into the complexities of eating disorders, guided by our expert team at SLF and the stories of those with lived experience.

I didn’t know I had disordered eating at the time. Like everyone I knew, I believed that the way I thought about and consumed food was normal.

Recovery from an eating disorder brings the opportunity to discover our worth in every aspect of who we are. In this month's community blog post, Marcela shares art and words that empathize with the up and down process of personal growth and transformation.

What does being “recovered” truly mean? In the final post of this three part series, Jenna reflects on how her life has changed after eating disorder recovery.

The journey to wellness is never linear. In Part 2 of this blog series, Jenna gives us a detailed and honest look into what the process of her recovery entailed.

Keeping up with demand for eating disorder recovery services is high priority, but ensuring that support is relevant and effective is the most important part of our work. We partnered with J5 Design to gain a deeper understanding of the journey of eating disorder recovery.

What BIPOC & 2SLGBTQIA+ youth need for mental health and eating disorder supports in Alberta.

Peer Mentor, Jenna reflects back on how her troubled relationship with food began as a response to grief and the process of coming to terms with having developed an eating disorder. Don’t miss out on this vulnerable post.

In Budget 2023 the government of Canada introduced significant changes to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) regime that could impact your clients' charitable giving strategies, effective January 1, 2024.

“Most of all… I’m sorry that I let the little girl I once was believe those that told her who to be, how to act, and how to hide. I’m sorry I let her think silence was better than speaking. I’m sorry for all those times she cried alone.”

A parent shares their journey through their daughter’s battle with anorexia nervosa, reflecting on feelings of helplessness and growth.

Silver Linings Foundation was established almost a decade ago with a goal of making treatment for eating disorders accessible by everyone. That part of our mission hasn’t changed, but we know that we can do better to ensure that “everyone” includes people from all communities.

No matter where you are in your recovery journey, our groups can provide the support and skills you need to get there faster. Silver Linings Community Navigator and Registered Nurse, Jennie Mendoza, talks us through the options.

Alberta’s first live-in eating disorder recovery centre will save lives and change futures. Importantly, it won’t cost families a cent. 

As part of a network of care, group therapy can be a crucial step towards recovery. We spoke to Lakshmi Krishnan, social worker and therapist, about how groups work.

I’ve battled disordered eating, poor self-esteem, and an addictive personality since I was 14. What began as a desire to change my body spiraled into years of restricting, bingeing, and purging—a desperate attempt to quiet feelings of inadequacy and pain. Now, at 26, I’m on a journey to heal the deep roots of these struggles, embracing self-acceptance and finding strength in vulnerability. Through therapy, creative expression, and a commitment to growth, I’ve learned that recovery is possible, even if it’s an ongoing process. This is my story of turning darkness into light.

A growing number of women are seeking support for eating disorders over the age of 40. We spoke to Silver Linings Foundation mentor and board member, Kathryn Quick, about finding support later in life.

Underrepresented, underdiagnosed and undertreated, eating disorders among men often fly under the radar. We talk to recovered binge eater and bulimic Christopher about living with an invisible illness and why he encourages people to define their disorder on their own terms.

The conversation of “recovery” starts almost as soon as an eating disorder has been identified and diagnosed. Whether the person is a child or an adult, family and friends view the person as having “the issue” which must be fixed, cured or removed. Almost always, the person is also surprised to find themselves with a diagnosis and unsure of how to reverse the situation.

Registered social worker, therapist, and Silver Linings founding member, Lakshmi Krishnan, explains the link between calorie counting and anxiety and how to change your narrative with numbers.

Registered social worker, therapist, and Silver Linings founding member, Lakshmi Krishnan, explains where body issues might come from and how to parent through these tough times.

What is it like to be supported by a peer mentor? SLF chatted with a mentee in the program (M.) to get a first-hand account.

For over six years, I’ve lived with anorexia—a reality I kept hidden from most of the world. This is the first time I’m typing those words. In this open letter, I reflect on the struggles, the support I’ve found, and the gratitude I feel for those who’ve stood by me. If you’ve ever felt the weight of silence or the need for understanding, this is for you.

November 2022 marked the the start of the 2nd season of the Peer Support Program at Silver Linings. We are now training the second cohort of peer mentors who will go on to support individuals in recovery. Last year 15 remarkable people from our community stepped up to train as mentors for eating disorder recovery and this year we have 16 new people who want to do the same.  

Sometimes we feel like a war is raging within ourselves. This war, like any other war in the history of humankind and beyond, is a war disseminated by ignorance and fear.