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.
The Brain and Eating Disorders
The Brain and Eating Disorders Despite advances in our knowledge of eating disorders, many people in the UK still perceive them as moral failures or vanity, not severe illnesses.1 These misconceptions developed partially from the portrayal of eating disorders in the media and partially from the
The Importance of Peer Support at First Steps ED
The Importance of Peer Support at First Steps ED Research by the Mental Health Foundation shows that peer support can significantly improve people’s wellbeing, meaning they have fewer hospital stays, larger support networks, and better self-esteem and social skills. It’s often said that there is nobody
Love Yourself: How To
Love Yourself: How To I recently read a quote that really made me think… “You cannot truly love another until you know how to love yourself.” Seems straight forward doesn’t it? But how on earth do you love yourself? Most people with eating disorders have huge
Eating Disorders and Body Image in Young People
Eating Disorders and Body Image in Young People Our relationship with food can change over time, especially when we are young and still navigating nutrition and body image. A young person’s relationship with food might begin to deteriorate if they begin to use foods as a coping
Book Review: Humankind: A Hopeful (or hopeless) History
Book Review: Humankind: A Hopeful (or hopeless) History Do you have a person in your life who is always happy? You know, that friend who always urges you to look on the ‘bright side’, always has a smile on their face no matter what the weather
It’s Time to Talk
It's Time to Talk Time to Talk Day is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation, encouraging us all to come together to talk, listen, and change lives. Simply being there and available for someone to reach out to is enough to make an impact. Offering someone
The A-Z of Fundraising for First Steps ED
The A-Z of Fundraising for First Steps ED As a fundraiser, you can help us continue to provide support and education to anyone affected by poor mental health and eating disorders, without judgement or discrimination. Over the year we will respond to over 1250 self and
Finding What Works For You in the New Year
Finding What Works For You in the New Year January always sets us up for a better and brighter outlook on life and we enter the new year with such high hopes of how ‘this is OUR year’, excited for change and raring to go. In
Obesity and Eating Disorders: What’s the Connection?
Obesity and Eating Disorders, What's the Connection? Obesity and eating disorders are usually seen as very different problems, but do they share some similarities? Being that it’s National Obesity Awareness Week, we though we'd try and answer that question! Let’s start with the basics… Eating disorders
A New Year of Hope and Opportunities at First Steps ED
A New Year of Hope and Opportunities at First Steps ED First Steps ED has seen a few changes since our founder, Cathy Cleary, set up the first support group back in 2004, a service open to anyone affected by eating disorders. We are now supporting
Realisation Over Resolution
Realisation Over Resolution January is filled with messages and pressures to ‘change’, it has us looking at aspects of our own life and body that we’ve never really thought about changing. We all adopt these ‘New Year’s Resolutions’ which are basically self-made rules and/or restrictions that
Mental Health at Christmas (and ways to boost it!)
Mental Health at Christmas (and ways to boost it!) For most people, Christmas is about spending time with loved ones, opening presents, eating lots of chocolate and taking a break from the stresses of normal day to day life. Nevertheless, with the expectation of having the
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!
