Category Archives: self care

The Optimistic Food Addict Podcast Interview

I appeared on Mental Health Radio this past week. I talked with host Kristin Walker about body dysmorphic disorder, “This is My Brave,” relapse, and embracing sexuality in binge eating disorder recovery. Give it a listen when you get the chance. I have…

Relapse-Resistant Recovery: A Snapshot

Of course, we should maintain our abstinence no matter what, but sometimes we don’t. Sometimes we slip. Sometimes we fall. Sometimes we don’t get back up for a long time. And there we have the million dollar question: Why does recovery seem easier…

Surviving the Holidays Gratefully

‘Twas the night before Thanksgiving in the food addict’s home. All the relatives were sleeping, and the food addict sat alone. “Should I eat some pie in this peace and quiet? Or should I be a good girl and stick to my diet?”…

The Power of Anger in Recovery

by Christina Fisanick Greer, Ph.D. Optimistic Food Addict I was up late working, like usual, when a message popped up from a man that I dated 25 years ago. Although the conversation started out with both of us commiserating about being up late,…

The Ocean Gives Up Its Lesson

by Christina Fisanick Greer, Ph.D. Every single time I visit the ocean, I learn something new. I have learned how to grieve, I have learned how to let go, and I have learned how to accept the day-to-day fluctuations of recovery. So, I…

And Then I Stopped Breathing

All fat people are out of shape. You know, they can’t walk too far. They can’t take the stairs. They can’t do much more than hold down the living room sofa with one hand in a bag of chips and the other on…

Friending Your Inner Beast

Not long ago I read Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict by Tsultrim Allione. In the book she reveals an ancient Buddhist practice of making peace with our inner demons–addiction, self-hatred, and so on. She makes the radical argument that…

Recovering on YOUR Terms

Once again I had forgotten the number on the bottom of my foundation. As I stood at the counter sorting through bottles of beige make up that were each just slightly different than the other, I realized that I needed help. An associate…

Coping with the Shame of Food Addiction

by Christina Fisanick Greer, Ph.D. Just hours old Newborn nurses, picking up my round legs giggle: “Look, mama, her thighs are so big.” Age 11 Mom, clearly disgusted by my behavior: “You’re having another bowl of potato salad? You just ate two. How…

The Small Steps of Self-Care

It’s cold in my bedroom, and I reach down for the cover, balled up somewhere at the end of the bed. I pull it over me and feel the scratchy threads of the decorative side of the blanket against my skin. It is…

About Us

Christina Fisanick Greer, Ph.D. is a writing professor and published author. Her goals are to help as many people in recovery as possible through writing and creativity. Christina can be reached at clfisanick@aol.com.

Testimonials

Kelly M. ---The resources on this site really helped me in my recovery from food addiction. Lisa F. ---Christina goes above and beyond to help people in recovery.

Optimistic Food Addict

OptimisticFoodAddict.com is a website devoted to supporting recovery from Food Addiction and Binge Eating Disorder. Christina Greeer, Ph.D., the founder and editor of this site, is not a physician but a writer and food addict who aims to help all.