Welcome to our blog!
We are passionate about offering a service and community which is inclusive, empathic, understanding and non-judgmental. We believe that support should be available for all those affected by eating difficulties and disorders regardless of age, race, gender identity, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.
These principles of equality and diversity underpin our person-centred, service user led approach to mental health and a big part of the reason we decided to launch our blog space. Here you’ll find First Steps ED updates, as well as stories and features from our community. We want to give everyone an opportunity to share stories, introduce unheard voices and discuss important topics around mental health and eating disorders.
My ARFID Journey: Finding the Right Support
My ARFID Journey: Finding the Right Support In April last year, everything changed for me. What started as a bout of sickness, possibly food poisoning, landed me in the hospital. It seemed manageable at first, but by August, something had shifted. I began to notice a
My ARFID Recovery Journey: Finding Hope through Therapy
My ARFID Recovery Journey: Finding Hope through Therapy When I began my 16 weeks of therapy with Rebecca at First Steps ED in early 2024, I never imagined how transformative this journey would be. Not just for me, but potentially for others facing similar challenges with
Finding Hope: A Parent’s Journey
Finding Hope: A Parent's Journey By Zoe, mum to Jack, 8. There were good days and bad days, but during those six weeks of school holidays last year, the bad days seemed endless. Jack's behaviour was completely off the charts – I couldn't control any aspect
Ask the experts: the impact of social media on eating disorders
Ask the experts: the impact of social media on eating disorders Welcome to our new monthly ‘Ask the Experts’ blog, where we put forward some common and challenging questions about eating disorders to our First Steps ED experts. This month, to support our Scroll Safe campaign,
How To Take Back Control of Your Life from Social Media and Your Smartphone
How To Take Back Control of Your Life from Social Media and Your Smartphone Let’s be honest. Most of us didn’t mean to hand over our time, our attention - and in some cases, our peace of mind - to our phones. It just… kind of
Noticing the Impact of Social Media
Noticing the Impact of Social Media As a Specialist Support Officer, I work closely with individuals and groups navigating the complex realities of eating disorder recovery. One theme that comes up again and again is the harsh, corrosive influence of social media. With the introduction of
Our View on Weight-Loss Injections and Eating Disorders
Our View on Weight-Loss Injections and Eating Disorders Trigger Warning: Content mentions weight-loss injectionsIt can sometimes feel like conversations about weight loss injections are creeping into all aspects of our lives. In the past couple of months, I’ve seen adverts from social media influencers promoting the jabs,
My ARFID Recovery Journey
My ARFID Recovery Journey Marian’s Story Emily is my second baby, and we used baby-led weaning with her in the early years. However, when she was 2, the foods she would eat became less varied, and she became quite fussy. As time went by, we tried
First Steps ED Scroll Safe: Helping Young People and Families Navigate a Safer, Kinder Internet
First Steps ED Scroll Safe: Helping Young People and Families Navigate a Safer, Kinder Internet At First Steps ED, we're excited to launch our new campaign this September: Scroll Safe — a digital awareness initiative designed to help young people and families better understand the impact
The Fight Must Go On
The Fight Must Go On It’s one of those days. When giving up seems easier than fighting. The demon inside you is still strong. Not ready to be defeated yet. The ongoing battle is exhausting. The constant buzzing in your head. It’s tiring and draining. You
Menopause & Movement: Dancing Through the Change
Menopause & Movement: Dancing Through the Change What Is Menopause, Anyway? Menopause: that inevitable rite of passage where your ovaries decide to retire, typically between ages 45 and 55. Without getting too biological, your ovaries stop releasing eggs, which means there is a decline in the
My Journey with Food Anxiety – A Recovery Story
My Journey with Food Anxiety - A Recovery Story I found First Steps ED online when I was at my lowest point. My diet had become incredibly restrictive, and I was consumed by anxiety around food. I was terrified of contamination, and as time went on,
Write for us!
We are proud to support and offer a platform for individuals who are ready to share their stories and talk about their experiences of recovery. Together we can offer hope to lives affected by eating disorders. If you have something to say, a story to tell or advice to share, you are in the right place.
Get in touch!