Book excerpt: This past year, and living through a pandemic, has ultimately changed our lives forever. It has caused increased levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and isolation. Add to that a great reliance on a virtual world filled with misinformation and societal pressure, food safety issues and insecurity, an influx of body identification and you have the perfect storm for a mental health crisis and an explosion of people who are struggling to gain control of something and as a result, a surge in eating disorders. I have been a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RDN) in private practice since 1990 where I specialize in eating disorders and felt compelled to put together this book of relational essays. When I decided to write about eating disorders, I took a different approach. Instead of scientific data and test cases, I gathered my patient's stories together to paint a vivid and relatable picture. In addition, I have included 23 pieces from recovered patients, parents of recovered patients, and professionals I've had the pleasure of knowing, with their permission.My intent on putting this book of relational essays together is to help those of you who struggle WITH or WITHOUT food to know that you are not alone in the world. Most people just keep their eating problems hidden. They do not express themselves because they feel people will think they are crazy or because other people just do not "get it."People struggle every day. Unfortunately, most people with eating disorders struggle internally and feel misunderstood. People in their lives can not relate to the inner dialogue and beliefs they have, so they struggle alone. My patients are so frustrated with the messages society and the media have insinuated that we need to be robotic or less than human. In this one size doesn't fit the same world we live in, I have found a way to provide stories that are truly relational so each person can feel special in their skin.