What happens when recovery advice sounds beautiful… but doesn’t actually work for your body?
In this episode of Fly To Freedom, I’m joined by Rachael Stern — a clinician with both professional expertise and lived experience of an eating disorder — to explore something that so many people quietly struggle with:
Recovery is not the same for every body.
Sometimes the body doesn’t feel neutral.
Sometimes there is chronic pain, diabetes, food intolerances, gut issues, hormonal shifts, migraines, or autoimmune conditions.
And when that’s the case, phrases like “just trust your body” or “let go of control” can feel confusing… and even unsafe.
Together, we talk about what eating disorder recovery really looks like when your body has genuine physical needs — and how to navigate recovery in a way that is compassionate, realistic, and deeply personal.
This is a conversation for anyone who has ever felt like they are failing recovery because their body doesn’t fit the expected model.
Why “just trust your body” can feel unsafe in eating disorder recoveryThe overlap between eating disorders, chronic illness, neurodivergence, and traumaHow food intolerances, autoimmune conditions, and medical needs can shape recoveryThe difference between self-care and eating disorder behaviours when food choices are limited
Why intuitive eating doesn’t work for everyone — and what recovery can look like insteadThe grief involved when your body has limitationsWhy eating disorders can feel like they “work” — and how to move beyond thatHow to approach recovery when you don’t fully want it yetWhat it means to build trust with your body, even when it feels unpredictable
Your body having real needs does not mean you are doing recovery wrong.
Recovery is not a single path.
It is not a checklist.
And it does not need to look like anyone else’s.
You are allowed to find a way of recovering that works for your body.
Rachael Stern is a clinician in private practice with both lived and professional experience of eating disorders.
Her work focuses on the intersection of eating disorder recovery with chronic illness, chronic pain, neurodivergence, and medical complexity. She brings a deeply compassionate and realistic perspective to recovery — one that honours the grey areas, the nuance, and the individuality of each person’s experience.
🌐 Website: www.breaktheframetherapy.com📧 Email: info@breaktheframetherapy.com📱 Phone: 310-383-1090📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breaktheframetherapy
If this episode resonated with you, I want you to take this with you:
Recovery is still possible, even in a complex body.
It may look different.
It may feel different.
But it is still available to you.
And you don’t have to figure it all out alone.
Inside The Eating Disorder Recovery Circle, you’ll find support, tools, and understanding from people who truly get what this process feels like — especially in the messy, in-between moments.
You are very welcome inside:
https://www.edrecoverycircle.com/join
If this conversation spoke to you, there are many more episodes of Fly To Freedom exploring eating disorder recovery, healing, and finding your way back to yourself.