By Alex Xu

‍Heading back to school is a time of transition that may bring up a variety of feelings, including stress, anxiety, uncertainty, excitement, and dread. For students experiencing eating disorders or disordered eating, this can be an especially challenging period to navigate, and it is completely normal to encounter intense and complex emotions during this time. Understanding and preparing for the unique stressors, changes, and pressures of returning to school is important as we care for our emotional well-being and prioritize our healing (or look to support loved ones who are heading back to school). 

Changes in Routine and Environment

As a college student, I’ve experienced (and am currently experiencing!) the difficulties and emotional distress of transitioning from home—where my support system is understanding of my healing journey, and I feel I have more time and space to focus on my mental health and filling my cup—to being back at school with peers, faculty, and advisors (new and old) who may not be as familiar with my personal experiences and see me in different roles and capacities as I manage various responsibilities.

Whether in college or in elementary, middle, or high school, this change in routine and environment can be incredibly stressful as we face new experiences, responsibilities, and social situations. We may feel like we are juggling competing demands with less time to focus on our well-being, and it can be tough to balance and protect our recovery in this setting while leaving behind our summer routine and dealing with uncertainty. 

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Social Pressures and Normalization of Disordered Eating 

In school settings, disordered eating behaviors are often normalized, leading us to engage in self-comparison and face pressure to conform to certain body ideals, eating and exercise habits, or fashion and beauty trends to fit in. It is challenging to protect our recovery when we are in an environment where unhealthy attitudes toward food, exercise, and body are prevalent or even encouraged—especially when our friends are also struggling or promoting ideals that are not conducive to recovery. Given the stigma around eating disorders, we may feel embarrassed or ashamed about our struggles and strive to conceal them from others. 

Meal times at school can be rigid, limited, or unstructured (exacerbated by the stress of eating in front of other people). Negative comments and peer interactions concerning appearance can unfortunately be widespread as well; weight-based teasing and bias are common in schools and are associated with negative psychological and physical effects, contributing to disordered eating and making it hard to shield ourselves from harmful comments and behavior. 

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Academic, Extracurricular, and Athletic Pressures 

Without a doubt, students experience pressure to perform well academically, and the academic workload can be stressful and time-consuming. Being in an environment that promotes a narrow vision of “success” and accomplishment may lead us to adopt a more perfectionist, outcome-driven mindset and attempt to push ourselves, which negatively impacts our recovery and mental well-being. Worrying about college applications, internships, and job-hunting further increases stress and workload.

The time commitment and pressure to succeed in extracurricular activities can be significant as well. For athletes (particularly those in sports that emphasize appearance or leanness), body ideals and the pressure to adjust eating and training habits to enhance athletic performance are omnipresent. The constant focus on diet, exercise, and body size or shape can significantly impact athletes’ body image and their relationship with food. 

Protecting Recovery and Mental Health

By acknowledging and understanding the unique dynamics of heading back to school, we can begin to think about how to prioritize our recovery and mental health amidst these stressors. This doesn’t mean that we won’t struggle at all; experiencing challenges as we navigate the new school year is completely normal. 

That being said, we can plan some ways to feel a bit more supported and comfortable when starting this year while focusing on our healing and well-being. Making time for self-care (doing something relaxing or creative, spending time in nature, taking a nap—whatever works and feels good for you!); having a plan for regular meal times and snacks, therapy/dietitian/doctor appointments, and taking any medications; connecting regularly with our support system (whether at home, at school, or elsewhere); and checking in with ourselves and our needs are so important. 

Remember that it’s totally okay to say “no” to obligations and to communicate our needs and how we’re doing with our loved ones, friends, and/or providers—our well-being matters and deserves to be prioritized!

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Back to School Support with Arise 

Arise is here for you as you embark on this journey, offering compassionate, personalized, comprehensive support that fits into your schedule and real life. We aim to help you rebuild your relationship with food, make peace with your body, and navigate the stressors and pressures of school and life. If you are seeking care for a loved one who is navigating the transition back to school, we are here to support you as well. Book a free consultation with us to get started!