Anxiety Dieting, Disordered Eating, and the Crunchy-Granola-to-Wellness Pipeline with Leah Kern

Breaking Free

Leah Kern recounts her decision to step back from social media, highlighting the buildup of moments that led to this choice. She describes how the constant pull of social media affected her daily life, from waking up with her phone in hand to falling down the stairs while checking it. These experiences made her realize the negative impact social media had on her well-being.

I would sometimes wake up in the morning and my phone would be in my hand, and I was like, I know I put that on the nightstand, or sometimes even in a drawer. Why is it in my hand?

--- Christy Harrison

Leah emphasizes that the nature of social media apps makes it difficult to break free, similar to the cycle of dieting. She found inspiration in books and documentaries that critique social media, which helped her consider the possibility of leaving 1 2.

   

Navigating

Navigating social media while maintaining mental well-being is a complex challenge. Christy Harrison shares her own struggles with stepping back from social media, noting that it felt like giving up an addiction. She emphasizes the importance of creating boundaries and recognizes that not everyone is in a position to leave social media entirely.

I empathize with anyone, too, for whom it's hard or feels impossible to leave, because I think that's probably part of the reason I also didn't see it as a possibility before, is that I needed it for my living.

--- Christy Harrison

Leah adds that people have different sensitivities and responses to social media, and it's crucial to find a balance that works for each individual. She suggests that even if one cannot fully leave social media, there are ways to reduce its negative impact 3 4.