Stories of Healing: Lizzie
Lizzie came to Rock Recovery after leaving residential treatment for her eating disorder. She was overwhelmed and afraid of losing the progress she had made because her insurance had denied her coverage to a step-down program. Thankfully, she soon joined Rock Recovery’s Bridge to Life meal support group and found a community she desperately needed in her recovery journey. It was life-changing. Today, Lizzie is living free from her eating disorder and has built a life that she loves. Read her full story of healing below!
I struggled with an eating disorder for most of my life, but was not officially diagnosed until college. I worked with a counselor at school and was doing well, but a year after my boyfriend and I moved to DC, I relapsed. I entered a treatment program for the first time, and did really well. Unfortunately, my insurance kicked me out early and did not cover outpatient eating disorder specialists. Without a team or support, I relapsed a few months later and entered residential treatment.
In residential, I found an amazing community of people who struggled with all the things I was struggling with too – body image and weight gain, feeling hopeless and afraid. We laughed together, we ate together, and we cried together. We had 24/7 support from our peers, staff, and our treatment team. Residential was not easy, but it provided a safe place to focus on recovery without external triggers and distractions.
Leaving residential was hard. Overnight, I lost my team, my peers, and the 24/7 support. My insurance continued to deny coverage, so I left again without a step-down program or an outpatient team. Getting back into the “real world” and going back to work was so scary and overwhelming and I was afraid I would lose all of the progress I made. Thankfully, I was soon able to join Rock’s Bridge to Life program, a 3-hour meal support group. It was life-changing.
Rock was such an amazing experience and was truly one of the keys to my recovery. I found that sense of community and connection I had in residential and so desperately needed in an outpatient setting. Again, we laughed together, we ate together, and we cried together. We were challenged with restaurant foods and home-cooked meals. We helped each other through dinner and supported each other when life felt too hard and recovery felt unattainable. When others did not understand our eating disorder, we had a safe place to go, surrounded by clients and staff who did understand.
My journey was certainly not linear, but I am so proud to say I am fully recovered now and I do not know where I would be without Rock. Now, I enjoy all my favorite foods- pizza, pasta, bread, and desserts – without an ounce of guilt or sadness after. I am present during meals and I can enjoy conversations without being completely consumed in my eating disorder. I am spontaneous and flexible – trying new restaurants and new foods. I am finally able to enjoy this time with my boyfriend as we continue to build a life together.
Through my recovery, I learned that what I look like is not more important than who I am. I rediscovered my values and realized that living a life with my eating disorder was not in line with what I valued most – friends, family, and helping others.
I am so thankful I found freedom from my eating disorder. Thank you to all of the donors and supporters who made my time at Rock possible. Treatment is incredibly expensive and I struggled with covering the costs after my insurance denied my care. I’m so thankful that Rock removes these barriers to treatment. Your support can help others like me find freedom from their eating disorder. I never thought I would recover, but I am so glad I did! And I am so proud that I have built a life I love, a life I am proud of, free from my eating disorder.