Restoring your relationship with food and your body can feel lonely at times, trapped in your own mind with disordered thoughts running the show. During recovery, we work to bring those private thoughts out into the open to allow you the opportunity to reflect on them without taking action.  Remember - disordered eating thrives in secrecy.  The more that you are able to talk about it, the more power you are taking away from it!  The secret to that?  Cultivating community in recovery.

Now, we understand that this is hard work, and although you have your treatment team to support you in recovery, adding an additional layer of community support can allow the process to feel less scary and remind you that you’re not alone.   That’s why we’ve created the NourishRX PATH - a place of community that is meant for sharing barriers that you are facing in recovery, little wins along the way, and for lifting others up.

 

Back up - what is the NourishRX PATH?

The short answer is:  It is a Powerful Avenue To Healing (see what we did there?)  Whether you are in the trenches of eating disorder recovery, you’re embarking on a journey to Intuitive Eating, or even if you’re a parent/caregiver of someone with an eating disorder, we’ve got a specific online community just for you.

Within the NourishRX PATH, you will find a library of resources that can help you get started on your journey to finding food freedom or as you help someone you love restore their relationship with food.  We’ve got guides to everything from how to call your insurance company to how to prevent relapse!  In addition to that, our dietitians will lead you through each module in a weekly group call with other PATH members.

Cultivating community in recovery can help to give you a sense of connection, positive human interaction and a sense of belonging, which can elicit feelings of understanding and togetherness. And when it comes down to it - we all need our people in our corners when things get difficult.  Still not convinced? Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of community in recovery.

5 Benefits of Cultivating Community in Recovery

1) Support

Having a community that understands what you are going through can be the best sense of support for you. This allows you to be able to share your thoughts, feelings and challenges knowing someone else out there will be able to say, “I hear you, I’m with you, you can get through it”.

 

2) Education

When you are a part of a community, there is typically a lot of education going on that you may not even realize. This can come from others sharing their experiences and coping skills that worked for them, or potentially there’s the opportunity of clinicians and experts in the field to answer questions and problem solve as difficult situations arise. 

3) Resources

Whenever there’s more brain power happening (like, let’s say, a community setting) there is typically more access to resources you may not have known existed. You may be able to open up about a question or challenge you have and another member may be able to provide you with the exact resource you were looking for. When you are a part of a community, it can open doors for options you may have not thought of before. 

4) Inspiration

Communities are a place for people to share their stories, be vulnerable about recovery and sometimes provide valuable tips and inspiration. You never know, opening up about your own journey and experience could be immensely helpful for someone who is having a difficult time. 

5) Connection

This may go without saying but when you have a sense of community that comes with a sense of connection and belonging. It can help your recovery process feel less isolating knowing that there are others experiencing similar thoughts and feelings. 

 

How to Take the Next Step in Finding Your Community

This one is easy because, well, you’re here! NourishRX not only offers you the individual support of working with our dietitians, but we also have the option for you to become a part of our online community. Interested? Click here to see what it’s all about.

Eating disorder recovery can be a difficult process to navigate, with many layers, thoughts and feelings to work through. Having a community in your corner who *get it* can help remind you that you are not alone, and inspire you to keep going in your recovery, because you are worthy of a life without your eating disorder.