Amazon.com best-seller~ now an audiobook!
Even in kindergarten, Rachel Richards knows something isn't right. As she grows up, unable to comprehend or communicate her inner trauma, Rachel lashes out, hurting herself, running away from home, and fighting her family. Restricting food gives her the control she craves.
Being hospitalized and force-fed keeps her alive, but only makes her retreat further into herself. Rachel leaves college a sixty-nine-pound young adult, a shell of obsessive behaviors and inner battles.
Acting on stage offers her moments of freedom from the skewed perceptions she's constructed over the years. But how can she pursue a career in theater when she can barely survive?
"Enlightening and moving, this book gripped me from the first page to the last."
"Through her story, readers can really see how a person can think so differently under the throes of a mental disorder."
"Telling her story from the inside out allows the reader to better understand the tenacious grip of this disorder and the pain, fear and confusion that goes along with it."
"It is heart wrenching but the author clearly has a sense of humor and knows how to tell her life story with ease."
"This book really pulled me in. I savored every word on each page. A thoroughly enjoyable read. I couldn't put it down."
Rachel Richards Speaks Up About Anorexia and Her Book 'Hungry For Life': Speak Up Talk Radio Network
Author Interview with Rachel Richards, Author of Hungry for Life: It's Write Now
If I'm not my eating disorder, then who am I? - an article by Rachel Richards
Is this the missing link in your eating disorder recovery? - an article by Rachel Richards
Stressed? An expert reveals exactly how to stress less - an article by Rachel Richards
Feeling lonely? How to form meaningful relationships in recovery - an article by Rachel Richards
Eating disorder recovery is possible. Not only that - with the right treatment, it is probable. Watch Rachel Richards, best-selling author of Hungry for Life: a memoir unlocking the truth inside an anorexic mind, reveal her personal struggle with anorexia nervosa, the leading cause of death among those with mental illnesses. Understanding the mind of the sufferer, and the detrimental effects an eating disorder has on both the body and the brain, is essential to helping your friend or loved one get the treatment they need.
This talk was presented at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
After years of struggling with an eating disorder, author Rachel Richards turned her life around and now helps others in pain. Returning to school after earning her BFA in theater from Hofstra University, she graduated from the Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences and started her own private practice in Manhattan as a licensed and board-certified massage therapist. She hosts a popular YouTube channel and has written many articles on health and self-care, which can be found at www.Rachel-Richards.com.
Also Available!
Annie knows there's something wrong with her. A child genius with crippling social anxiety and a compulsion for tearing at her wrist, Annie struggles to please her reputation-obsessed mother. Annie's dad is the only one who understands her. But when he runs off on a spiritual quest during a manic episode, Annie blames herself.
As she matures, Annie's grief is reignited each time someone she cares about mysteriously disappears without a trace. Suspecting she's gone insane, Annie learns she can't trust anyone, least of all herself. When she finally discovers the shocking truth, Annie's next move could mean the difference between life and death.