6 OTT 2026 · [Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions about eating disorders, anorexia, and disordered eating behaviors. Please prioritize your mental health and skip this episode if this topic is triggering for you.]
As a mom, our first instinct is to immediately jump into "fix-it" mode when our kids are hurting. But what happens when your teenager is battling a secret illness that is completely out of your control?
Today on the Breakroom Mom podcast, we are sitting down with certified mental health coach Jennifer Hope Longenecker. Together with her daughter, Heather, Jennifer co-authored the book Held in the Dark, a raw and supportive guide for parents walking alongside a child with an eating disorder.
Jennifer vulnerably shares the exact moment she realized Heather was struggling, the heavy weight of a mother's guilt, and the crucial lessons she learned about treatment, relapse, and caregiver burnout. Whether you are currently in the trenches of a child's mental health crisis, or you just want to know what hidden warning signs to look out for, this episode is packed with grace, wisdom, and practical guidance.
In this episode, we talk about:
- The subtle, hidden signs of a teen eating disorder (including purging through exercise)
- How to stop blaming yourself and release the heavy weight of "motherhood guilt"
- Breaking down the different levels of treatment: Outpatient, IOP, PHP, and Residential
- How to approach your teen about getting help without making them feel cornered
- Why caregiver burnout is so real, and how to protect your own peace during a crisis
- Understanding that relapse is just a hurdle, not an erasure of recovery progress
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
- Get Jennifer's Free Bonuses: Includes recorded messages for parents and teens, private Facebook community access, and conversation starters for kids in residential treatment: https://www.google.com/search?q=http://jenniferhopelongenecker.com/bonuses
- Read the Book: Order Held in the Dark by Jennifer Hope Longenecker & Heather Longenecker
- Find a Support Group: Visit http://feast-ed.org for resources and weekly support groups for families and loved ones.
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