EP 238: The Truth About Recovering from an Eating Disorder Alone vs. in Community + Why I Wish I'd Had a Support Group Sooner

Her Best Self | Eating Disorder Recovery Podcast, Disordered Eating, Anorexia, Bulimia, Orthorexia, Body Image, Food Freedom, Calorie Counting, Obsessive Exercise, Food Restriction

Have you ever felt completely alone in your eating disorder recovery? Like you're the only one dealing with food thoughts, body image struggles, and the exhaustion of pretending you're "fine"? In this vulnerable episode, Lindsey shares her personal story of trying to recover mostly in isolation and why she's now passionate about creating healing communities for women.

Discover the research-backed reasons why community isn't just nice to have in recovery—it's essential. Plus, learn about The Recovery Collective, a new support group launching in October 2025 specifically for women in eating disorder recovery.

Today's Truth: You were never meant to heal alone, and community isn't just nice to have in recovery - it's essential.

Key Topics Covered:

🤝 Lindsey's personal story: What it felt like to recover mostly alone with limited community support

🧠 The science behind community healing: Research-backed evidence of why support groups transform recovery

💔 The isolation trap: How eating disorders thrive in secrecy and why healing alone is harder than it needs to be

✨ What community provides: Normalization, accountability, shared wisdom, and hope

🌟 The Recovery Collective: A new support group launching October 2024 for women in all phases of recovery

Research Highlights:

📊 Support groups reduce symptoms: Studies show support groups helped reduce post-meal distress in young people with anorexia and can prevent disordered eating

📊 Connection drives recovery: Research confirms that eating disorder recovery is largely influenced by the individual's sense of connection to self and others

📊 Isolation increases struggle: When socially isolated, you lack the support and connection that can help protect against negative self-perception and low self-esteem

📊 Community decreases stigma: Eating disorder support groups offer safe spaces that decrease isolation and stigma while increasing engagement and motivation

📊 29 million affected: Nearly 30 million Americans will experience an eating disorder at some point during their lifetime

What Community Provides in Recovery:

💬 Language for your experience - Finally having words for what you're going through instead of feeling "crazy"

🔍 Perspective and reality checks - Others who can distinguish between your eating disorder voice and your true self

💕 Accountability that feels like love - Gentle support that comes from care, not judgment

🌈 Proof that recovery is possible - Seeing women further along in recovery living free, vibrant lives

🛡️ Protection against isolation - Regular connection that prevents the dangerous spiral of being alone with ED thoughts

🎯 Practical wisdom - Real-life strategies from women who've faced similar challenges

Key Takeaways:

✨ You don't have to heal alone - Recovery was never meant to be a solo journey

✨ Community isn't replacement for therapy - It's the ongoing support that helps you live your recovery, not just survive it

✨ The right kind of community matters - Led by someone with lived experience who understands both clinical and personal aspects

✨ Consistency is crucial - Regular, ongoing support rather than crisis-only intervention

✨ Isolation fuels eating disorders - Breaking the cycle of secrecy and shame is essential for healing

Introducing The Recovery Collective (Launching October 2025!)

Finally, a recovery community that truly gets it.

The Recovery Collective is where women in all phases of eating disorder recovery come together every other week to lock arms, share real struggles, and heal together in a safe, supportive environment.

What You Get:

• Bi-weekly 60-minute group coaching calls via Zoom
• Intimate community of 10-15 women maximum
• Real, honest conversations that create actual change
• Support for navigating triggers, celebrating wins, and handling difficult days
• Led by someone who's walked this path and understands the lived experience
• Ongoing support to help you live your recovery, not just survive it

What Makes This Different:

• Led by someone with personal eating disorder recovery experience
• Focus on practical, real-life recovery challenges
• Community of women who truly understand the struggle
• Consistent, ongoing support (not just crisis intervention)
• Safe space free from judgment or competition

Special Founding Member Pricing:

• First 10 members: $47/month for 6 months (over 50% off!)
• Regular membership: $97/month
• Less than what you spend on takeout for bi-weekly coaching and community support

Who This Is For:

• Women in all phases of eating disorder recovery
• Those tired of feeling alone in their healing journey
• Anyone seeking understanding from others who've been there
• Women ready for ongoing support, not just weekly therapy appointments

Recovery is possible, and it's so much sweeter when you're not doing it alone.

Ready to learn more? www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective

Connect with Lindsey

• Website: www.herbestself.co
• Private Facebook Community: Her Best Self Society www.herbestselfsociety.com
• Client Applications: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms

About the Host

Lindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom.

If this episode helped you identify the core beliefs feeding your eating disorder, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs.

*While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.

Love this episode? Here's how you can support:

💕 Share it with a woman who's feeling alone in her recovery journey 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts to help other women find hope and community 💕Reach out if you're interested in The Recovery Collective founding member spots

Feeling Isolated in Your Recovery? Remember:

You were never designed to heal alone. The exhaustion you feel from battling thoughts by yourself, the loneliness of feeling like no one understands - that's not how recovery has to be. Community changes everything, and you deserve to be seen, heard, and valued in your healing journey.

Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you recover alone. Healing is meant to happen in relationship, with support, and with women who can look you in the eye and say "I've been there too, and you're going to be okay."

Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly.