Irene’s story — rediscovering self after eating disorder recovery
How Joining a Recovery Circle Helped Irene Shift Her Perspective, Take Control of Her Eating Disorder and rediscover herself.
For years, Irene felt like she had exhausted every avenue in therapy—she had processed her past, talked through everything, and yet... nothing seemed to shift. Eating disorder recovery felt stagnant, like she had reached a dead end.
Then she found her Recovery Circle, Ianthe House’s long-term, peer-supported program, and something changed. For the first time in years, she felt real movement—not just in her eating disorder recovery but in how she approached life and her identity.
before ianthe house - ‘i was feeling stuck’
Irene had spent years trying to heal, but despite all the therapy and self-reflection, she felt trapped in the same cycle.
“I was feeling stuck before—it felt like, oh, well, you know, I’ve talked through everything with my therapist. What else is there? I’d just put up with things.”
💡 Many people in eating disorder recovery feel “stuck” at some point. They’ve been through therapy, they understand their patterns, but nothing is changing in their day-to-day life
⤷ where she was
Four years of talk therapy left her with insight but no tangible progress
Binge-purge cycles persisted, even though she understood the root causes
She saw her relationship with food as an addiction, making recovery feel impossible
A late ADHD diagnosis added another layer of struggle, making motivation and structure even harder to maintain
She felt like she was doing everything “right” but wasn’t getting better
📍 Joining Ianthe House offered Irene something her previous therapy had not—a structured, community-driven approach to healing that focused on self-compassion, peer-support and emotional healing, as well as real-life strategies and practical tools.
“It feels like I’ve been looking for something like this for a very long time.”
Big Breakthroughs - "It Doesn’t Feel Like Everything Revolves Around My ED Anymore“
The first big shift came when Irene realised that her eating disorder was not the cause of her issues—but a symptom of deeper emotional trauma that requires compassionate resolution.
“I’ve gained a completely different perspective on my eating disorder. It doesn’t feel like everything revolves around it anymore. It’s strongly linked to so many other issues, and by working on those, I feel like I’m directly addressing the ED itself.
I feel a lot more in control when it comes to eating. There are definitely some difficult days, but it doesn’t take over my life anymore. It doesn’t feel like it consumes all my time, and that’s such a massive win for me right now.”
These changes signified a profound emotional transformation. Irene experienced a shift towards greater self-awareness, control, and a renewed sense of agency in her recovery journey.
⤷ key breakthroughs
Recognising that her ED was a coping strategy for deeper emotional issues, not just a food issue.
Reconnecting with her authentic self and building emotional regulation skills, enabling long-term recovery.
A psychedelic medicine session led her to confront deep-seated self-worth issues and ask herself —“is it possible that I actually do love myself?”
This was a defining moment—for the first time, she realised that at her core, she was okay.
⤷ data snapshot
Her eating disorder recovery scores improved from 31% → 50% in just three months
Her monthly spending on ED behaviours dropped from £301-500 → £0-50.
💡 Irene is not just managing symptoms anymore—she's addressing the root causes of her struggles
Finding Control — A Shift in Daily Life
With a newfound sense of agency, Irene began taking control of her daily habits and breaking the cycle of avoidance that fuelled ongoing disordered eating.
“Procrastination and motivation have gotten so much better for me. I’ve been keeping myself busy, setting small goals like meeting a friend once a week or making sure I don’t just go home and sit on the sofa. Even if it’s just walking up and down the road—it breaks the cycle and keeps me active.”
⤷ How she built momentum
Identified procrastination as a limiting belief—linked to self-worth rather than laziness.
Set small, structured goals—meeting friends, staying engaged, and avoiding isolation.
Rediscovered her love for art, using it as an emotional regulation tool.
⤷ data snapshot
Her wellbeing and quality of life scores improved from 46% → 71%.
Her self-advocacy scores increased from 29% → 71%.
“I’ve also been getting back into my art. It’s something I used to do to regulate my mood and focus emotionally.”
💡 Recovery isn’t just about food—it’s about building a life you actually want to be present for
🔗 Discover why re-connecting with purpose and meaning during recovery Is our North Star.
The Power of Peer Support — "You Hold Our Hands Through the Process"
Irene discovered that recovery wasn’t just about self-work—it was about feeling supported by people who understood her struggles.
“The therapeutic sessions are amazing, and they always feel like I’m doing great work. But the one-to-ones with the team are so nice and so helpful. You have this way of, in a very chilled, friendly, sisterly way, helping us look at everything. It’s like you hold our hands through the process, and that’s so special to me.”
⤷ why peer support made the difference
Personalised mentorship helped her work through emotional breakthroughs in a supportive way
The safe space of her Recovery Circle allowed her to be vulnerable without fear of judgment
A structured support system gave her both independence and accountability
💡 Healing doesn’t happen in isolation—It happens in community, in deep, human connection, in spaces where you feel truly held and understood
🔗 Learn how peer support transforms eating disorder recovery outcomes
Where Irene Is Now — A New Chapter in long-term ED recovery
Irene feels more grounded, more in control, and more hopeful about the future. For the first time, she’s in the driver's seat and actively shaping her eating disorder recovery, not just observing it.
“The last three months since joining you guys have been transformative. I’ve started looking at things from a different perspective. It feels like I’ve been given the tools to push myself again, even though it’s terrifying sometimes, but I’m also kind of ready.”
⤷ how her life has changed
She no longer sees her ED as an uncontrollable force—instead, she sees it as a pattern she has the tools to navigate.
She's now tackling the deeper root causes of her binge eating disorder head on via personalised 1:1 EFT sessions.
She feels much more at peace, even when challenges arise.
She knows her journey isn’t over, but for the first time, she believes in long-term recovery.
⤷ data snapshot
Irene’s active tackling scores (her commitment to and consistent engagement with recovery focused activities) increased from 57% → 71%.
Sustained active tackling for 9 months or more is a key predictor of long-term recovery.
📍 At Ianthe House, we empower our clients to take charge of their recovery, equipping them with tools to build a personalised and sustainable path forward
🔗 Build your own recovery toolkit via our therapy marketplace
start your eating disorder recovery journey today
At Ianthe House, we empower our clients to take charge of their own eating disorder recovery journey, equipping them with the tools to build a personalised and sustainable path forward.
⤷ why choose a recovery circle?
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💛 work with an intimate, therapist-led group that provides expert therapeutic guidance and peer support at every step.
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💌 maintain momentum with structured, compassionate support and mentorship, in your pocket, through every moment of your day.
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🧰 experience psychodynamic therapy, EFT, somatic therapy, psychedelic therapym, and other powerful recovery tools.
📍 A full year in a Recovery Circle costs the same as just one month of intensive outpatient or two weeks of residential treatment—making long-term, structured support finally accessible.
Take the first step towards reconnecting with your authentic self through the power of peer-supported eating disorder recovery with Ianthe House’s Recovery Circles. We can’t wait to meet you.
