by Claire Engels (she/her), EDF Program Coordinator

Eating disorder recovery is a journey to be incredibly proud of. You have prioritized your healing, learned valuable tools and coping skills, and deepened your relationships with yourself and your loved ones. You may now be eager to share your experience and give back to the eating disorder community in a new role—as a volunteer in recovery. 

Many eating disorder organizations rely on volunteers to help fulfill their mission. There are opportunities to mentor, facilitate support groups, fundraise or answer a help line. As a person in recovery, you have a unique gift to offer in these roles—hope. You can provide a level of understanding that someone’s friend, parent, therapist, or partner might not grasp if they haven’t struggled with disordered eating themselves. 

Volunteering can be a valuable tool in recovery. It can serve as a reminder of how far you have come, be personally fulfilling, and allow you to be part of a meaningful community. It can be healing, as you can support someone in a way you wish someone had supported you when you were struggling. 

A volunteer mentor at EDF shares that mentoring: “was a great chance for me to revisit what I have learned in recovery, explore resources, and continue figuring out how to translate my experience into something helpful for others. It helped me realize how much work I’ve done personally and how much value I can bring to someone else’s journey.” 

However, it is important to start volunteering only when you feel absolutely ready. To be a mentor at EDF, we ask that you be in stable recovery (behavior-free) for at least two years. While there is no single definition of recovery, it is essential that you are in a place where exposure to others discussing their eating disorder struggles and behaviors is no longer distressing or compromising. We understand that it can be difficult to know exactly when you are ready. To help, we have compiled some questions to ask yourself when considering a volunteer role: 

• What are my triggers, and how do I manage them? 

• What emotions arise when I hear someone else talking about their eating disorder? 

• Am I prioritizing rest enough? 

• Do I have a strong support system? 

• Have I discussed volunteering with my therapist? 

• Do I want to volunteer for personal fulfillment, or for external reasons (e.g., people-pleasing, discomfort with downtime, over-achieving traits)? 

• Am I feeling burnt out talking about my recovery, or does it feel empowering? 

• Will taking on another responsibility compromise my time for nourishment, hobbies, or support? 

Before becoming a mentor with EDF, we will discuss these questions with you to ensure you feel capable and ready for the role. Our programs can run thanks to the commitment and dedication of our volunteers, and we are tremendously grateful. But, our number one priority is to ensure that the volunteer experience is mutually beneficial and rewarding for you—because you deserve it. 

Interested in volunteering with EDF? Learn more about how to become a mentor here.