Please welcome back one of our most favorite people, Johanna Kandel! Johanna is the founder of The Alliance for Eating Disorders — the nation’s leading nonprofit providing referrals, education, and support to individuals experiencing eating disorders and their loved ones. After recovering from a long battle with various EDs, she founded The Alliance, bringing her personal insight into the incredible work that she does. Last time Johanna graced TMV (“Thought 55. Johanna Kandel On Supporting Yourself When You Have An Eating Disorder”), the response was overwhelming! Y’all loved her wisdom, vulnerability, and tangible tools. So, this week, we brought her back for a community Q&A. We asked her many of your questions including early signs to tell you’re relapsing, how to implement boundaries, navigating food guilt, body neutrality vs. body positivity, and more. From 29:15 - 35:23 we speak to questions related to strategies around eating + nourishing your body (re: food guilt, building healthy relationships with food while eating “well”, + tips to nourish yourself). While there are no specifics in here, if this feels a little activating to you go ahead and skip go the next question at 35:23 <3 0:17 UN Event Recap7:42 Johanna’s Unpacking10:52 Q&A starts! Q1: I’m sick of talking about my ED because nothing has changed even after talking about it a lot. Any advice?16:19 Q2: Early signs to tell you’re relapsing + how to open up to a partner when you know you are relapsing21:19 Q3: Any thoughts or advice for those who fall into disordered eating but not full ED?24:35 Q4: Is there anything The Alliance For ED is doing to help facilitate revisions to the DSM?25:37 Q5: How to put boundaries with your friends on topics to voice without feeling “sensitive”?29:28 Q6: I finally feel free from food guilt or the fear of certain “unhealthy foods” but now I feel like I eat in a really chaotic way without being conscious of what I eat for the fear of being obsessive with it again. How do I build a healthy relationship with food while also eating “well”? 31:33 Q7: I’m trying so hard to eat but nothing sounds good. Tips for nourishing yourself when it just feels hard? 36:26 Q8: How to achieve body neutrality? Don’t think I can get to body positivity? 41:12 Q9 I still engage in some behaviors that aren’t as detrimental as others just to ensure less anxiety. What are the best tools to calm down to stop a purge or engagement?45:11 Q10 How to support a friend who is deep into an ED and getting worse?47:11 Q11 I’ve been struggling with an ED for 10+ years, can you ever say you’re recovered?The Alliance offers comprehensive services, including: • Educational presentations and training days • Free, weekly, therapist-led support groups nationwide (virtual and in-person) for those experiencing eating disorders and for their loved ones • Support and referrals through both our free help-line and comprehensive referral website/app • Direct, low-cost, life-saving, outpatient treatment to underinsured and uninsured adults in the South Florida community. • Unique and empowering Southern Smash scale smashing events and SmashTALK panel discussions.BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE ALLIANCE! https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/https://www.instagram.com/alliancefored/Weekly support groups include Pro-Recovery ED Support, LGBTQ+ Support, Friends + Family Group, and more! Don’t forget to DM us on IG or submit a question on thoughtsmayvary.com to have your question or theme unpacked on a future episode!  SHOP “CO-CREATE” TMV’S MANIFESTATION JOURNAL: https://www.thoughtsmayvary.com/the-tmv-shopDiscount codes, extra unpackings, journal prompts, vlogging (+more!) all happening with our familia over on Patreon. Come hang out — https://www.patreon.com/thoughtsmayvary?️ Listen anywhere you get your podcasts ?️? Watch episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@thoughtsmayvary  ? Follow along, we're funny on the internet sometimeshttps://www.thoughtsmayvary.com/https://www.instagram.com/tho