Spiritual Health & Eating Disorder Recovery
By Jason Wood, ANAD Director of Community Engagement
When I first began to explore my own relationship with spiritual health, I thought it was solely rooted in faith and religion. Through conversations with others in the ANAD and eating disorder recovery community, I’ve learned that spiritual work comes in many forms.
What is spiritual health?
Spiritual health is a personal thing and just like recovery, it will look different for everyone.
Generally speaking, spiritual health is the connection with our inner and outer worlds to support us in living our values and purpose. Our spiritual well-being is associated with our sense of connection, purpose, and meaning in life. It is an aspect of eating disorder recovery that may not be talked about as much, but it is fundamental to the healing process.
Spiritual Health & Religion
In 2024, I had a moving conversation with ANAD Peer Mentor Julie and former mentee Julie when both women opened up about their personal experiences with faith and identity in Christ. These shared convictions strengthened their peer mentorship connection and provided empowerment for Julie throughout her recovery process.
Eating disorders isolate individuals from ourselves and each other, but many people of faith are able to find connection and a sense of community through their church. We see this same dynamic occur in several of our pop-up support groups, which are offered throughout the year in conjunction with religious holidays.
To gain further insight into the power of faith in the context of eating disorder recovery, I strongly recommend reading Erin L. Todd’s article on the Rock Recovery Blog. In her writing, she explores building a foundation of trust in God, reclaiming her identity in Christ, and learning to live according to the Spirit.
Spiritual Health & Mindfulness
While mindfulness may often be associated with mental health, it is an important factor in our spiritual health as well. When we are able to slow our minds down, it becomes easier to process the world around us.
I can attest to this.
During the early days of my recovery journey, my therapist and I worked together to identify mindfulness exercises to quiet the noise in my mind. Several of the techniques I found helpful included the 4-7-8 breathing exercise and progressive muscle relaxation. While these activities helped me become more mindful in challenging moments, they also gave me a chance to connect with my inner being, my soul.
Several months into my recovery journey, I began attending a mindful men’s group, where I was able to connect with other individuals while participating in mindfulness exercises. Much like the connection that some people experience through their church, I found a sense of community and belonging within these groups. The connection between spiritual and social health is quite amazing!
Additionally, I have found yoga to be a powerful tool for healing my mental and spiritual health. This is why I am so pleased that ANAD partners with our friends at Eat Breathe Thrive to offer our Connect, Practice, Recover series. Again, these groups are at the intersection of mental, social, and spiritual health and can be instrumental in the holistic healing journey.
Spiritual Health & Nature
Okay, so religion and yoga may not be for you but what about connecting with nature?
Research has shown that more time in nature can reduce stress hormones, increase endorphins, and improve overall mood. And guess what? That walk through the park, stroll along the beach, or time in the garden is spiritual work in action. For Erin, this has led her on a journey to find yellow in her day-to-day life for joy, hope, and strength.
You are taking the opportunity to build a greater connection with something bigger than yourself, mother nature. The connection can foster a deeper appreciation for the world around you, providing grounding in those tough moments, and opportunities for reflection and healing.
Spiritual Health & Gratitude
My husband and I have a Thanksgiving tradition of making a gratitude tree from leftover boxes and tape. During the day, we each write five things we’re grateful for on small cut-out leaves, which we then share at dinner and attach to the cardboard branches.
This simple yet meaningful tradition fosters joy, connection, and healing.
As someone managing anxiety and recovering from past trauma, cultivating gratitude was initially difficult, but I’ve learned that it can be achieved through consistent practice. In my recovery journey, I’ve made a point to practice gratitude daily. While this may not always involve a physical tree, I find journaling or simply voicing my daily gratitude to be immensely helpful. I attribute this practice to helping me navigate some of the toughest challenges of recovery.
Like many other humans, I am prone to negativity, but intentionally practicing gratitude enables me to shift my perspective and cultivate a more positive view of the world. By doing so, I discover the hope and strength necessary for my ongoing spiritual and mental health healing.
Questions To Ask Yourself
Are you looking for ways to heal your spiritual health?
I recommend reflecting on the following questions to help you get started:
What does spirituality mean to me?
As we discussed above, it’s different for everyone! Spend some time exploring what spiritual well-being and health means for you.
How do I connect with myself and the world around me?
From prayer to nature walks and inspirational messages, there are many ways to practice.
How do I slow down and spend time with myself?
Ditch screen time for some quality me-time to try and heal your spiritual health.
Where do I find meaning and purpose?
While an eating disorder may try to fool us, we know it is not the source of our meaning and purpose.
Be curious in your exploration of spiritual health and remember healing takes time and practice!
