Recognizing the Signs: Understanding Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are not just about food; they are deeply rooted, complex conditions that touch the very core of a person’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. They do not discriminate—they…

What My Diabetes Management Looks Like Now

By Quinn Nystrom, MS I’ve lived with type 1 diabetes for over 25 years. When I was diagnosed back in the late 90s, the way that we were told how…

Nearly 10 Percent of Teens Utilizing Harmful Diet Products

By Quinn Nystrom I’ll never forget when I started resenting my body. I was sitting in the figure skating locker room, surrounded by high school girls, and comparing my body…

Living and Learning with Diabetes for Nearly 50 Years

By Quinn Nystrom and Mike Swinyard, MD, FAAP Dr. Mike Swinyard was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes nearly 50 years ago. He was told that after 10 to 15 years…

Eating Disorders in Pregnancy

By Quinn Nystrom, MS For many years, I didn’t know if the destruction I had inflicted on my body in the form of bulimia would ruin my chances of getting…

Treating Diabetes and Eating Disorders is Personal

Did you know that women living with diabetes are 2.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with an eating disorder? Since there is a high prevalence of this co-occurring illness,…

Basics of Diabetes

I’ve gotten to partner with the Center for Change for the past eight years, specifically with their diabetes and eating disorder specialty program. I’ve spoken at events to people with…

Eating Disorders and Substance Abuse

By Quinn Nystrom, MS When I first went to residential treatment for my eating disorder in 2012, we had a lot of educational classes that we attended. One of those…

Eating Disorder Relapse Prevention in a Time of New Year’s Resolutions

By Quinn Nystrom, MS Frankly, I’m always ready for January to be over. Not because I don’t love January (my birthday month), but I’m not too fond of the hyper-focus…

Celiac Disease & Eating Disorders: Safety & Recovery

By Krista Lample, M.Ed Center for Change Outreach Specialist I had to have surgery last year. It was a day surgery but was a long, extensive reconstructive type of deal,…

Getting Through the Holidays

By Quinn Nystrom, MS My father always sings the famous Christmas song, “It’s the most wonderful time of year…”. It’s kind of a running family joke because we know he’s…

There is No “Uncontrolled Diabetes”

By Quinn Nystrom, MS I’m nearing the 7-month pregnancy mark, WHOO! I have weekly medical appointments to check on my type 1 diabetes, eye health, baby’s health, heart, etc. This…

Mental Illness Awareness Week: Breaking the Stigma

By Quinn Nystrom, MS Did you know that 1 in 5 adults experience mental illness? Less than half receive proper medical treatment. Additionally, about half of the U.S. population lives…

Pregnant and Living with an Eating Disorder

By Quinn Nystrom, MS This spring, I discovered that I was expecting my first baby (I’m already a proud Mom to two incredible stepdaughters). The news came as a beautiful…

15 Ways to Relax and Recharge for National Relaxation Day

by Quinn Nystrom In a world that is constantly moving at such a quick pace, with things always thrown your way and a to-do list that never seems to end,…

Freedom from Eating Disorders

By Quinn Nystrom What does freedom from an eating disorder look like for me? It means utilizing the tools I learned and learning from treatment and therapy. I don’t ever…

Social Media’s Effect on Mental Health in Youth

By Quinn Nystrom, MS Did you see the Surgeon General’s recent report on the dangers of youth going on social media too early? It states that up to 95% of…

Pride Month: What does it mean to be an ally?

By Quinn, Nystrom, MS I will start by saying this: I’m a cis, heterosexual female who grew up in a small, rural town in central Minnesota. When deciding what I…

Standing By Your Partner: Navigating an Eating Disorder as a Couple

Guest Bloggers: Utah Valley University MFT Program Contributors Karina Bahr, Sydney Bean, Hayley Jorgensen, Timothy Tsai, and Natalie Wennergren When you fly on an airplane, one of the first things…

Eating Disorders and Food Insecurity

By Quinn Nystrom Many misconceptions exist about people living with an eating disorder (ED). What caused it? What do we look like? What do we eat? Or not eat? So…

How Eating Disorders were Affected by the Pandemic

By Quinn Nystrom, MS Three years ago, we started to hear about a thing called COVID-19. What was it? Was it going to hit the states? Is it as bad…

The Surprising Connection Between Mind and Heart

There’s a long history of people seeing the body and mind as two separate things. However, much research has shown, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms,…

Learning to Love Yourself First

By Quinn Nystrom, MS I walked into an appointment today, and they shouted, “Happy 25th Birthday Quinn!” They were joking, of course. I’m not turning 25; I’m celebrating my 37th…

New Year, Same Me

By Quinn Nystrom As I sat scrolling through my social media feeds on New Year’s Day, I was inundated with ads to buy into plans to “get thin” and “lose…

Ways To Shift Your Eating Perspective During the Holiday Season

By Quinn Nystrom Around the holiday season is when every commercial, Facebook ad, Pinterest Pin, and grocery newsstand is bursting with colorful images of decadent desserts, festive recipes, and well-staged…