What to Do When You’re in Eating Disorder Recovery and Feeling Triggered by a Photo

By: Jennifer Rollin, LCSW-C, Therapist & Founder of The Eating Disorder Center

"I can't believe I actually look this bad. Have I really been lying to myself this whole time?"

Sound familiar?

If you've ever found yourself spiraling after seeing a photo of yourself, you're not alone. For so many people in eating disorder recovery, even a single snapshot can feel overwhelming and triggering.

As an eating disorder therapist and founder of The Eating Disorder Center—based in Rockville, Maryland and offering eating disorder therapy across multiple states—I see this reaction all the time. It’s painful, but it’s also understandable. Here are a few gentle reminders and tools to help you navigate those tough photo moments:


1. It’s Just One Moment—Not the Whole Story

I remember once trying to take a photo of a stunning sunset from my window. The sky was filled with rich oranges and pinks—absolutely breathtaking. But when I looked at the photo? It was flat, dull, completely uninspiring. Nothing like the real thing.

Photos can do that to us, too. They capture one angle, one second, one version of you—not the fullness of your spirit, your energy, or your kindness. It’s just a single snapshot, not the whole picture.


2. Shift Your Focus from Appearance to Experience

When you look at a photo, your inner critic might immediately zero in on what it thinks are “flaws.” That’s the eating disorder talking. Try this instead: zoom out and reconnect with the memory.

Ask yourself: What was happening in that moment? Who was I with? What did it feel like to be there?

One day, when you're 90 and looking back at your life, you probably won’t care about how your arms looked in a photo. You’ll remember the laughter, the connections, the joy of simply being present.

Photos are about capturing memories, not measuring beauty.


3. You Are So Much More Than a Body

Diet culture would have us believe that our worth is tied to how we look. But the truth? Your appearance is the least interesting thing about you.

You were not put on this planet to shrink yourself or chase an impossible ideal. As I often tell clients, “You don’t have to fall in love with your body—but I do want you to fall in love with your life.”

Bodies change. It’s normal, natural, and human. Instead of chasing an image, chase the things that light you up: your passions, your relationships, your dreams.


The Bottom Line

At the end of your life, you won't wish you'd spent more time picking yourself apart in photos. What you will wish is that you allowed yourself to live more freely, more joyfully, more fully.

If you find yourself spiraling after seeing a photo, try practicing self-affirming statements and journal prompts to gently guide yourself back to a place of compassion.

What matters most is not how you looked in that moment—but that you were there.
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You were present. You were living.


Journal Prompts for When a Photo Triggers You:

• Am I focusing in on specific body parts? Can I zoom out and view the full picture?
• Who or what am I comparing myself to? My past self? Others? The “thin ideal”?
• What do I want to remember about this moment 10 years from now?
• What is my inner dialogue saying—and can I offer myself a more compassionate response?
• What industries profit from my discomfort with my body?
• How does my social media use impact the way I feel about photos of myself?
• Do I feel any eating disorder urges right now? What opposite actions can I take?
• Who can I reach out to for support today?

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re feeling stuck in a cycle of photo-triggered shame or body image distress, you don’t have to navigate this alone. Reach out for support.

✨ Book a free 15-minute consultation with a therapist at The Eating Disorder Center and begin your journey toward freedom.
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You deserve a life that’s not ruled by photos—or body image. You deserve peace.

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Schedule a FREE 15-minute consultation to explore how eating disorder therapy or recovery coaching can help you to find freedom.

🌟 Available in MD, VA, DC, PA, NY, FL, and CA for eating disorder therapy
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The Eating Disorder Center is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin. We specialize in helping children, teens, and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, OSFED, and body image issues. We provide eating disorder therapy in Rockville, MD, easily accessible to individuals in Potomac, North Potomac, Bethesda, Olney, Silver Spring, Germantown, and Washington, D.C. We also provide eating disorder therapy in Arlington, Virginia and virtually throughout Virginia. Additionally, we offer eating disorder therapy virtually in New York (NYC), Florida, Pennsylvania, and California. We provide eating disorder and EMDR trauma therapy in Rockville, Maryland and virtually throughout Maryland and Virginia. We provide eating disorder recovery coaching via Zoom to people worldwide. Connect with us through our website at www.theeatingdisordercenter.com