Recovery Is the New Routine This Semester

The leaves are changing, the air smells like textbooks and coffee, and campus is buzzing with new beginnings. Fall is here! And with it comes the familiar rhythm of a new semester. For many, it’s a time of fresh starts; but for those silently struggling with an eating disorder, it might feel like anything but. (Uhm okay, it definitely doesn’t feel like fall is you live in FL like us… but you get the point lol).

Maybe you’re already counting calories instead of credits. Maybe you’re planning how to “control” your body instead of setting boundaries for your mental health. Maybe you’re dreading the dining hall, the group outings, the pressure to look like you have it all together.

And maybe, just maybe, you’re exhausted.

The Reality of Survival Mode

Living with an eating disorder during the school year isn’t just hard–it’s all-consuming. You're going to class, turning in assignments, maybe even showing up with a smile. But inside? You're battling food rules, body image spirals, guilt, fear, and shame on a loop. You might look “fine,” but you’re just barely getting by.  Deep down, you know this isn’t sustainable. It’s not just hurting your grades, it’s taking pieces of your life, your relationships, your joy. You deserve better than another semester stuck in survival mode.

Choosing recovery is a brave thing because the truth is, recovery isn’t easy. Let’s not sugarcoat it. Asking for help? That’s terrifying. Sitting with feelings instead of numbing them through food rituals or restriction? That’s hard. Letting go of control and leaning into discomfort? It’s some of the bravest work you’ll ever do.

But you know what’s harder? Losing more time to this illness. What if this fall, you chose something different? What if this semester was the one where you finally said: “I’m done living like this. I want more. I want help. I want me back.”

Here’s What That Might Look Like:

• Reaching Out – Talk to a counselor at your school. Text a friend and tell them you’re struggling. Call a therapist. Use your voice, even if it shakes. You do not have to be so alone in this.

• Letting People In – You don’t have to carry this alone. There are people who want to help, but they can’t if they don’t know. Reach out to your support system and let them in.

• Setting Boundaries – It’s okay to protect your peace. Say no to triggering situations. Say yes to rest. Give yourself permission to choose healing over hustle.

• Choosing Nourishment – Not just with food, but with kindness, compassion, and truth. Your body is not the problem. It’s the house you live in, and it deserves to be taken care of.

• Showing Up Imperfectly – Recovery isn’t linear. You’ll have good days and hard days. That’s okay. Every step counts. Be open and honest in this journey.

A New Kind of Semester

What if this semester was about more than your GPA?

What if it was about:

• Reclaiming your joy

• Learning to trust your body

• Finding freedom from obsession

• Remembering who you are without the eating disorder

Imagine going to class and actually focusing. Meeting up with friends without food anxiety weighing you down. Taking photos, going to events, living your life and not just surviving it.

The reality is, you are worth the effort (whether you believe that or not.) The eating disorder might tell you you’re not sick enough, that you're fine, that you can handle it. But if you’re suffering, that’s enough. If you’re thinking about food and your body more than anything else, that’s enough. If you're tired of pretending, that’s enough. You are enough to get help. You are worthy of a life beyond this.

This fall doesn’t have to be a repeat of last year. This can be the season you choose healing. The season you choose you. So go ahead, sign up for classes, buy your books, plan your routine. But also make space for the hard, beautiful work of recovery. Because no grade, no number, no appearance is worth more than your freedom. 

If you’re struggling, reach out to a campus counselor, a trusted adult, or an eating disorder support organization like The Alliance for Eating Disorders. Help is out there, and healing is possible. Inclusive Healing Center is here to help. Contact us to find out how we can support you in your recovery.