22 Comments
User's avatar
Jane E. Buckley's avatar

The perfect read for this moment in time. 💕

I appreciate your vulnerability and willingness to dive deep and share with us. Reading this made me feel so much less alone this morning.

Sending you love!

Abbie Attwood's avatar

You are truly wonderful, Janie. So glad this resonated. Thank you for being here 🙏🏼 Sending hugs!

Randis's avatar

Thank you so much Abbie. This is exactly where I am right now, and this is so so so helpful!!

Abbie Attwood's avatar

I'm so glad to hear that it's helpful! Appreciate you so much. And I'm sending you loads of compassion as you navigate this.

Breathing Through The Cracks's avatar

Sending you hugs! I have those dx as well along with a grocery list of others ... minus the work stress since I am disabled ... but I figure being a human being right now is hard af. So, that said, you deserve all the self-compassion and self-care in the world. We all do! 💕

Breathing Through The Cracks's avatar

How this found me at this moment in my own f*cking flare I don't know. But I know one thing for certain, I AM GRATEFUL it did!! This is me, I am here and UGH! And also, it's comforting to know I'm not alone. At the same time, I hate others feel this way. And to talk to a medical provider other than an RD or Therapist, is purely traumatic so, thank you Abbie!! You are appreciated! 🫂🥹 (also, bread & butter ... yes! w/ ginger tea!)

Abbie Attwood's avatar

Ginger tea!! So soothing. I appreciate you, Christine, and am sending you all the love and hugs. You’re not alone 🫶🏼

Elizabeth's avatar

I don’t have a chronic illness, so I feel invalid in my struggles right now. However, I do have OCD, am on the spectrum, anxiety, and am dealing with extreme burn out from work stress lately.

It’s so hard to show kindness to myself when everything I see in the media says to do the opposite — be more active, control how much you eat, don’t eat too much sugar, UPFs, etc.

By the way, I love the image of the dog in the Darth Vader costume. My boss and I use Slack to communicate and we came up with a mascot. We use the dog in the R2D2 costume emoji as our mascot. I actually painted him a picture of it and gave it to him as a Christmas gift last year.

Abbie Attwood's avatar

All of your struggle and pain is valid, Elizabeth. I hope that everything I write affirms that for you. Suffering can never be compared 🙏🏼 I can so relate to the mental health conditions you mention, and the burnout. It’s hard and adds so much complexity to your recovery. You are so strong. Love the R2D2 story!!!

Elizabeth's avatar

Despite the difficulty and stress of my job right now (working on a government contract in this political climate is awful), I feel so fortunate to have my boss. He’s so understanding, cares about my well-being, and has a great sense of humor. I feel bad that he is even more stressed/overbooked than me, so I struggle to tell him about being burnt out because his job is so much harder.

Allison Drueck's avatar

Beautifully written, felt so deeply. Thank you Abbie for explaining what is going on in my brain & body that I often cannot express & for validating the experience. You are a beautiful human that makes such a difference 🫶

Abbie Attwood's avatar

Thank YOU, Allison! So happy to have you here. Your presence and kindness are felt, deeply.

Jamie Aird's avatar

I have to sit with this one for a bit, Abbie.

Overcome with so many deep emotions that I was not expecting.

Sitting in it all taking a deep breath. Trying to hold tight to your words and the truth that they hold, until they can fully become my own truth. So much love and hugs to you.

Jamie

Jamie Fenimore's avatar

So powerfully and beautifully articulated. Thank you. ❤️

Abbie Attwood's avatar

Thank YOU, Jamie! Appreciate you very much ♥️

Ashlee Britt's avatar

Thank you Abbie..I'm currently struggling to give my body the fuel it needs as I recover from my 3rd and probably most relieving endometriosis surgery. I see you. ✨💛

Abbie Attwood's avatar

I see you and hear you too, my friend. I'll be thinking of you and sending all the warmth and rest to you as you recover. So much love xoxo

Jennifer Blackburn's avatar

This is exactly what I needed to read today. It seems like every post you make, every thing I read by you, it just resonates so much. So thank you for sharing. Eating disorder recovery is hard work and your content helps make it a little easier.

Abbie Attwood's avatar

This means so much to hear, Jennifer. I'm in your corner and here for you. Thank you for always sharing kind words!

Catherine's avatar

It's such a gift when you read something that feels like the author is speaking directly to you and your experience—it's so validating and encouraging. Thank you! This resonates deeply. I've been dealing with debilitating chronic pain for the past 3 years, and it's drastically altered my life and my physical capacities, career options, etc. During the first year of the pain, amidst the unending doctors' appointments, tests, surgeries, and lack of answers, my ED reached its peak. There undoubtedly was a link between my feeling out of control with my body's pain and my desire to control my food intake. But, in the end, the restriction ONLY caused harm to my body, a body that was already in pain and distress. Now, I like to remind myself that I have a much better, more healthy, powerful form of control: the ability to not act on the ED-related thoughts and to choose nourishment even when it's hard. (And, even though I still can't control the pain and don't have any answers). Love your writing as always, Abbie!

Laura Peppard's avatar

Abbie thank you I’m trying to be with your thoughts and words . Once again your timing is perfect. I appreciate your wisdom courage to share with all of us and the comments thoughts of everyone here . There are no coincidences.

Abbie Attwood's avatar

Agree wholeheartedly, Laura! I seem to find the same is true for myself. Things find us exactly when we need them. Our work is to stay open, curious, compassionate when they do. Very grateful for you.