‘Rogers gave me a second chance at life’: Former ED patient shares story to inspire others
Recovery isn’t a straight line, and Shannon knows that firsthand. She went through residential treatment for an eating disorder twice on her journey toward healing.
Shannon’s struggle started during her senior year in high school.
“I was really into softball,” Shannon says. “I became a perfectionist with sports. That became my control.”
As Shannon lost weight, people began to notice and compliment her. At first, she believed she could stop when she reached a certain point, but that wasn’t the case. Her teachers grew concerned. They noticed she didn’t look well and reached out to her mom who connected with Rogers for help.
During treatment, Shannon met people who truly understood what she was going through.
“That was really cool and helpful to know that I wasn’t the only person who was experiencing this,” she says.
Years later, while trying on wedding dresses, Shannon faced an unexpected trigger and experienced a relapse.
“I just kind of felt like I was still stuck,” she says.
Shannon returned to Rogers for residential treatment and left feeling like she was ready to start her adult life.
“Rogers gave me a second chance at life,” she shares. “I always told my treatment team that they saved me, and they’d always say, ‘No, you saved yourself. We just guided you along the way.’”
Watch the video by clicking here to hear more of Shannon’s story.
“Here at the Eating Disorder Recovery Center, we help people discover how to best support themselves in a way that fosters personal understanding and growth,” says Emma Dew, behavioral specialist II, Eating Disorder Recovery Adult Residential Care. “Shannon’s story is a beautiful example of this. You can see how she applies what she learned from her time in treatment to different situations she encounters, how she actively engages in life, and allows herself to connect with others regardless of the presence of food or other anxiety cues.
“By employing cognitive and behavioral strategies, Shannon and other residents are equipped with the tools necessary to create a new path in life. Recovery is challenging, and it’s stories like Shannon’s that demonstrate just how resilient and adaptive we can be. Whether it’s someone’s first or sixth time seeking treatment, each experience is unique and serves as an opportunity to rewrite our stories. The EDRC team loves hearing from alumni like Shannon who are taking back control from ED, daring to be vulnerable, and sharing their experiences along the way as they continue their journey of eating disorder recovery.”
