Instagram story viewer> @aheadofed> Posts

AHEAD OF ED

@aheadofed

134

followers

169

following

psych grad | lived experience worker

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Download All

just sharing a little about the owner of this account :) despite having lived experience, the only part of my life my eating disorder takes up is my desire to help others.

many of the points listed on these slides would not be there if i had not chosen recovery.

i hope to use this account to stay involved in the eating disorder recovery community, stay up to date with the latest research, and share my own research and pro-recovery content.

i also hope to document my journey into becoming a licensed therapist.

please do drop me a follow if that interests you :) by @aheadofed

12

8

8 months ago

in lacanian psychoanalysis, jouissance refers to a kind of enjoyment that goes beyond pleasure, often tipping into discomfort, excess, or even suffering. it is not the same as liking something or feeling good in a stable way, but more like being caught in an intensity that is hard to step out of and can repeat even when it feels destructive.

in eating disorders, this idea is sometimes used to think about why certain behaviours can feel compelling even when they are distressing. the focus is not on the behaviour itself, but on how it can create a heightened bodily or emotional state that temporarily regulates tension, emptiness, or anxiety.

this does not mean people “enjoy” their eating disorder in a simple sense. instead, it points to a paradox where something can feel both unbearable and strangely stabilising at the same time, which can help explain why these patterns can be so repetitive and hard to disrupt.

recovery, in this framing, is not only about stopping behaviours, but about learning to tolerate emotional states without needing intensity or bodily extremes to manage them. 🤍 by @aheadofed

7

1

5 months ago

cognitive restriction can be invisible but still powerful. the goal isn’t tighter control, it’s less rules and more neutrality around food. progress isn’t linear 🤍 by @aheadofed

8

0

5 months ago

recovery isn’t always about balance straight away sometimes it means stopping completely so your body can catch up and feel safe again learning when to rest is just as important as learning how to move 🤍 by @aheadofed

5

0

5 months ago

sometimes it can feel like you don’t deserve help, food, rest, or care.
you might tell yourself you’re not “sick enough” to get support, or not “bad enough” to eat properly, or not “worthy enough” to take up space.
it’s a quiet, constant feeling that you shouldn’t have things you need, even when small improvements happen.
feeling undeserving is part of the illness, not proof that anyone is undeserving 🤍 by @aheadofed

9

0

6 months ago

black-and-white thinking makes small slips feel like total failure. noticing these thoughts and practising flexibility helps reduce shame and supports recovery. you can take back control, one step at a time 🤍 by @aheadofed

5

2

6 months ago

feeling “not sick enough” is a common thought in eating disorders. your struggles are valid and you deserve support and recovery, no matter how severe you think your illness is. you are enough and help is for everyone 🤍 by @aheadofed

4

0

6 months ago

you can be in quasi recovery and that is a stage in the process, yes. but to fully recover, you need to face the habits, thoughts, and fears that keep you stuck. moving through it is hard but necessary 🤍 by @aheadofed

9

2

6 months ago

giving in to extreme hunger is a healthy, biological response. it is your body taking care of itself, not a failure. honour your hunger and nourish yourself 🤍 by @aheadofed

5

0

6 months ago

you are never too old to recover from an eating disorder. change is possible at any age and progress can happen even after years of struggling. healing is always within reach 🤍 by @aheadofed

4

0

6 months ago

what first started out on incel forums, the concept of looksmaxxing has spilled into the mainstream media. since the near beginning of social media, pro ana sites have existed as a way of promoting thinness, disordered behaviours and a culture of self destruction.

however, the new idea of looksmaxxing targets mainly young men in their teens and early adulthood. it suggests that looks are the most important thing. it is not a foreign concept, as young people are usually focused on the way they look. this is how it can be so dangerous. it targets insecurities.

'starvemaxxing' is the idea that starving oneself increases attractiveness. it normalises and prescribes extreme restriction as a way to become more attractive, and therefore socially accepted.

while eating disorder behaviours have previously been marketed to women, this internet cultural change means that men are now targeted more than ever before.

currently, there is little research on this phenomena. however, it is extremely important to stay aware of these trends, and be mindful of the content we consume, and of what young people (who are at the highest risk of developing an ED) are consuming.

🤍 by @aheadofed

1

0

6 months ago

food obsession in eating disorders is a well documented response to restriction. the minnesota starvation experiment showed that even healthy people develop intense preoccupation with food when their bodies are underfed. understanding this can help reduce shame around a very biological response 🤍 by @aheadofed

8

0

6 months ago