Uprooting Invisible Weeds: The Hidden Inner Work of ED Recovery
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. Some people may navigate this relationship with ease or neutrality, but for many, feelings of inadequacy are an all-too-common reality, magnified by unattainable beauty life standards that reinforce one message: "You are not good enough."
Try this exercise: think of a moment when you felt dissatisfied yourself. Picture these thoughts as small weeds in your mind. If the thoughts are fleeting, the weeds are manageable. For those at risk of developing an eating disorder, however, these weeds can take root quickly, spreading until they’re impossible to ignore. Each self-critical thought reinforces feelings of deficiency, and even positive personal achievements can mutate into an exhausting pursuit of perfection. Over time, the weeds of eating disorder thinking can become invasive, choking out joy, self-worth, and any chance for peace. In an inner landscape that becomes completely inhospitable, it’s understandable how people develop behaviours and coping mechanisms we label as eating disorders.
Recovery, then, is like reclaiming a garden taken over by weeds. It’s heavy work that requires attentive care and hope, that beneath the overgrowth, there is fertile soil for something better. Recovery invites individuals to uproot these relentless thoughts, creating space for self-compassion and new growth. Recovery is also learning how to manage weeds moving forward.
This metaphor may be a simplified way to approach an issue as complex as eating disorders, but I believe there is value in using a relatable analogy to broaden understanding how eating disorders take root and grow. I’m still learning myself. A resource that has helped with that learning is the book More than a Body by Lindsay Kite and Lexie Kite (2021). The authors share this definition: “Positive body image isn’t believing your body looks good: it is knowing your body is good, regardless of how it looks”. This reframe helps me get out of the weeds in my own thinking and a powerful reminder for anyone who has a body.
Here’s to reclaiming inner gardens from a place of knowing we are good.
Warmly,
Corinne