Emily's Story

I grew up in a family that gathered around food. My Grandmother was a caterer and I often helped with tasks in her catering kitchen. I loved food. I loved the experience we created around food. I developed an appreciation for where our food came from as I grew up on a dairy farm where we also had other livestock, chickens, and crops. 

Food was a source of connection and joy.

My body allowed me to do many things. I was always an active child on the farm and especially enjoyed athletics. In the midst of so much goodness, there was also an awareness I came to know about the ways in which my body was different and that didn’t seem okay.

My struggle with anxiety and depression began in junior high and I eventually learned how to pursue control through my development of an eating disorder. For years I battled the negative self-worth that overwhelmed me. Many life circumstances and experiences contributed to how I felt and I didn’t have the tools or resources I needed to begin my healing journey.

When I got to college, a series of events led me to the help I had so desperately longed for. Access to appropriate care was the missing link in my journey and I was fortunate enough to pursue recovery by gaining access to professionals well-versed in eating disorders and trauma.