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College is supposed to be a fresh start, but if you are living with an eating disorder, trauma, anxiety, or depression, that “new chapter” can turn into the perfect storm fast. We sit down with Lindsay James, LCSW, an eating disorder and trauma therapist at Hilltop Behavioral Health, to talk honestly about what actually changes when you move to campus and why those changes can destabilize recovery even when you feel motivated. We get practical about the stuff no one puts in the brochure: dining hall culture, limited food options, freshmen not having cars, and how poor access can quietly fuel restriction or chaos around meals. We also talk about social pressure and Greek life, including recruitment, appearance expectations, body checking, and how to decide whether joining is worth it for you. Lindsay shares how to think about “finding your people” without making belonging dependent on perfection. Then we dig into boundaries and support: what you do and do not owe a roommate, how to spot who is actually safe to tell, and why keeping a treatment team matters even when you want to reinvent yourself. If you are a parent, we cover communication plans, building a safety net, and ways to stay connected without hovering. Sponsor: Hilltop Behavioral Health. Learn more at www.hilltopbehavioralhealth.com. If you want more conversations like this, subscribe, share the episode with someone headed to school, and leave a rating and review.
Show notes:
Trigger warning: this show is not medical, nutrition, or mental health treatment and is not a replacement for meeting with a Registered Dietitian, Licensed Mental Health Provider, or any other medical provider. You can find resources for how to find a provider, as well as crisis resources, in the show notes. Listener discretion is advised.
Resource links:
Hilltop Behavioral Health: https://hilltopbehavioralhealth.com/
Alliance for Eating Disorders: https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/
ANAD: https://anad.org/
NEDA: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
NAMI: https://nami.org/home
Action Alliance: https://theactionalliance.org/
NIH: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/
How to find a provider:
https://map.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us
https://www.healthprofs.com/us/nutritionists-dietitians?tr=Hdr_Brand
Suicide & crisis awareness hotline: call 988 (available 24/7)
Eating Disorder hotline: call or text 800-931-2237 (Phone line is available Monday-Thursday 11 am-9 pm ET and Friday 11 am-5 pm ET; text line is available Monday-Thursday 3-6 pm ET and Friday 1-5 pm ET)
If you are experiencing a psychiatric or medical emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
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