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.
Quick Tips for Carers
Quick Tips for Parents and Carers for Early Intervention There are a number of ways parents, peers and relatives can be more mindful and engaged in a loved ones development, especially when it comes to their relationship with food, body and exercise. can be difficult. Below are
Summer Holidays with an Eating Disorder
Summer Holidays with an Eating Disorder 'Tis the season of travelling. There is something about May where it feels like everyone is on holiday, planning a trip or dreaming of being anywhere else but home. I've just returned from a few weeks down in Cornwall, my neighbour is
How Stigma and Identity Played a Part in My Eating Disorder
How Stigma and Identity Played a Part in My Eating Disorder When I was a teenager, someone in my school year had an eating disorder. I don't feel great saying this but I don't remember it being a huge thing at our school. I wasn't close
How To Be Around an Eating Disorder Sufferer
How To Be Around an Eating Disorder Sufferer When people are struggling with a restrictive eating disorder, they can often become quickly agitated and easily triggered or upset. Due to low energy intake, the sufferer may have low glucose levels, and the brain releases a chemical
Until All We Have is Her
Until All We Have is Her Until all we have is her Tried to take the girl We’d already grieved for From us. Moved the Devil in To her room, bones, face Without permission. Behind sunken eyes Rage curdles sour Kind words. Hate and anger shrink
Masculinity… a help or hindrance towards eating disorders for the LGBTQ+ community? An informed opinion.
Masculinity… a help or hindrance towards eating disorders for the LGBTQ+ community? An informed opinion. It's quite commonly understood these days that the LGBTQ+ community has an increased susceptibility towards mental health conditions due to the specific, stressful and/or traumatic experiences they endure throughout their lives,
What I Learnt from Volunteering with First Steps ED
What I Learnt from Volunteering with First Steps ED I always thought it took a particular kind of person to volunteer. I have always had friends that had different passion projects in their lives, spending a few hours a week supporting a cause close to their hearts,
My Experience with First Steps ED: ICS and Psychotherapy
My Experience with First Steps ED: ICS and Psychotherapy I was first introduced to First Steps when I had just been discharged from a hospital and inpatient admission. I had eaten to get out of hospital in order to relapse; I had no intention of getting
The Cost of Living Crisis with an Eating Disorder
The Cost of Living Crisis with an Eating Disorder The cost of living crisis in the UK has a huge impact on all individuals living with an eating disorder or in recovery. Food and energy prices have been rising markedly over the past year, this is in
People with Anorexia Don’t Get Pregnant
People with Anorexia Don’t Get Pregnant I was diagnosed with anorexia when I was 13. At an all-girls school where my peers were hypercritical of every aspect of appearance, periods and development before you were 13 were seen as a sign you were fat, you couldn’t control
Learning to Understand the Eating Disorder
Learning to Understand the Eating Disorder Eating disorders (ED's) don't develop out of nowhere, for no good reason. Even the link between social media and ED's is a little pushed in my opinion. Whilst social media can have a negative impact on a person's perception of
Managing Exam Stress with an Eating Disorder
Managing Exam Stress with an Eating Disorder It’s natural to feel stress around tests and exams, that’s what they say anyway. For someone that has an eating disorder the upcoming exam period is possibly the most daunting time I’ve experiences so far in recovery. My parents don’t
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!
