Welcome to the January Q&A episode of Fly to Freedom.
This monthly Q&A comes directly from inside The Eating Disorder Recovery Circle and features real questions from real people navigating the complex, emotional, and deeply human process of eating disorder recovery.
In this episode, Julia answers questions around nervous system regulation, identity, extreme hunger, perfectionism, control, and the exhausting cycle of food and exercise. These are conversations for anyone who wants recovery, but feels overwhelmed, unsure, or afraid of letting go of the strategies that once felt safe.
Throughout the episode, Julia explores how healing is not about fixing yourself, but about learning how to stay with yourself — even when fear is loud, even when the body feels dysregulated, and even when recovery feels slow.
How to regulate the nervous system during eating disorder recovery without forcing calm
Why recovery can feel threatening to the body, even when it’s what you want
What nervous system regulation really looks like when fear and panic are present
Extreme hunger in recovery: why some people experience it strongly and others don’t
Why feeling full quickly or disconnected from hunger cues is common and meaningful
How anxiety, stress, and past restriction affect digestion and hunger signals
Identity confusion in long-term eating disorder recovery
How to tell where the eating disorder ends and where you begin
Perfectionism, control, sensitivity, and self-imposed rules — coping strategies, not character flaws
Perimenopause, ageing, and emotional sensitivity in recovery
Letting go of control while learning to feel safe in your body
Going “all in” with food and exercise without overwhelming your nervous system
Why recovery is about presence, not perfection or speed
How compassion and safety create sustainable healing
This episode is for you if you:
Feel dysregulated or panicked during recovery
Worry that your hunger signals are “wrong”
Feel unsure who you are without the eating disorder
Feel stuck in cycles of food challenges and compensatory behaviours
Want recovery, but need it to honour your nervous system and capacity
Julia gently reminds you that your responses make sense, your body is protecting you, and recovery is about coming home to yourself — not becoming someone else.
If you want ongoing support alongside therapy or clinical care, this is exactly the kind of conversation that happens every month inside The Eating Disorder Recovery Circle.
Inside the circle, members receive:
Monthly live Q&A sessions
Group coaching calls
Expert-led workshops and courses
The Feelings Navigator to help you work with emotions in the moment
24/7 peer support from people who truly understand eating disorder recovery
You are welcome exactly as you are, and you do not have to do recovery alone.
🧭 Explore the Feelings Navigator:
https://www.edrecoverycircle.com/how-are-you-feeling
🌐 Website:
https://www.edrecoverycircle.com
📸 Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/juliatrehane