From Struggle to Stability: How Megan Reclaimed Her Life

For Megan, recovery from an eating disorder was about reclaiming her voice, her strength, and her future. “The only way out is through,” she says, a motto that has carried her through some of her darkest moments. From childhood pressures around food to the relentless messages of diet culture, Megan’s struggle began early. By the time she was 23, she had been through multiple rounds of treatment while juggling work and financial uncertainty.

One thing made a big difference: a WithAll Recovery Support Grant. “I wasn’t worried about how I’d afford groceries or rent,” Megan says. “I could actually sit in group and focus on what I needed to do to recover.”

Her story is one of quiet power. Of pushing forward, one step at a time. And discovering that even small support can make a life-changing difference.

Megan, WithAll Recovery Support Program recipient

The Roots of a Struggle

Megan’s experience with an eating disorder began long before she had the words to describe it. “I think it basically started when I was 8 years old,” she shares. Growing up in a home where food was heavily controlled, she internalized the belief that not finishing her plate meant she was “bad.” And there was a constant cycle of scarcity and bingeing.

“When we did have certain foods in the house, it was like, I need to eat this all now because I don’t know when I’m going to get it again.”

That early pressure was compounded in high school, where both social media and peer comments left Megan feeling like her body didn’t belong. “You’re not good enough because you’re not in a smaller body,” she recalls.

Megan began seeing a new nutritionist who recommended a new treatment center. It was the first time she had access to a structured path toward recovery. She began intensive treatment for her eating disorder.

Finding Support in Recovery

As Megan progressed through treatment, her commitment to recovery was clear. But even with the right care team, the pressures of daily life and finances made it hard to fully engage.

“I was working reduced hours at my job back then, and I was really struggling to afford getting groceries,” she recalls. “Which is kind of a big thing when you’re in eating disorder treatment. You need to make sure you have food to eat.”

That’s when a facilitator at the program mentioned WithAll’s Recovery Support Program. 

Megan applied, received a grant, and immediately felt the impact. “It was really helpful in being able to get groceries, and it helped pay rent. It definitely made my time in treatment a lot easier. I wasn’t so stressed about outside things like finances. I could really focus on being in treatment and working towards recovery.”

Life Beyond the Struggle

Today, Megan’s life looks very different. She’s living with intention, making her own choices, and embracing a future where recovery is not only possible, but sustainable. To everyone in recovery, Megan offers this message: “The only way out is through. It is worth the struggle. It is worth the pain. The freedom you feel in recovery is so amazing.”

WithAll’s grants make that freedom possible.

If you’d like to help more people like Megan focus on healing, not survival, explore ways to get involved, whether through donations, volunteering, or simply spreading the word.

Just $18 provides one day of groceries to someone with a life-threatening eating disorder. Donate today to help prevent eating disorders and support those in recovery. Your gift fuels our What to Say Initiative and Recovery Support Program.