In Laramie, an active lifestyle is part of the culture. Between long winters, high altitude, college athletics, ranch and outdoor work, and youth and club sports, many people here train hard and expect a lot of themselves. Drive and discipline can be real strengths. But for some people, the pressure to perform slowly turns into pressure around food, weight, and body image.
If that sounds familiar, you are not alone, and you don't have to figure it out by yourself.
Athletes and highly driven people often share traits that help them succeed: perfectionism, self-discipline, high standards, and a strong tolerance for discomfort. Those same traits can also make someone more vulnerable to disordered eating. When performance is tied to self-worth, food can start to feel like something to control, earn, or fix.
Sport environments can add to this. Comments about weight or appearance, weigh-ins, aesthetic pressure, comparisons to teammates, and the belief that "lighter is faster" can all feed unhelpful rules about eating. Athletes are sometimes praised for behaviors that are actually warning signs, which makes it harder to reach out.
You don't need to be in a crisis to ask for help. Consider reaching out if you notice:
Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) happens when the body does not get enough fuel to support both training and normal daily functioning. It is not always intentional, and it can show up in athletes who are not "trying" to restrict. It can affect energy, mood, recovery, bone health, hormones, and performance. If you suspect under-fueling, it is important to work with a qualified professional team rather than trying to fix it on your own.
Mental performance work focuses on the skills that help you show up as your best: managing pressure, building confidence, handling setbacks, and reducing perfectionism and fear of failure. In sport psychology sessions, you might work on focus, self-talk, anxiety before competition, motivation, and your relationship with your sport.
For many clients, this is not only about performing better. It is about enjoying training again and feeling like more than your results.
At Healing Stones Therapy, eating disorder treatment is grounded in CBT-E (Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), an evidence-based approach for eating disorders and disordered eating. CBT-E is individualized. Together we look at what is keeping the eating problem going for you, including beliefs about weight, shape, and self-worth, and build practical steps toward regular, flexible eating and a healthier relationship with your body.
Treatment is collaborative, non-judgmental, and weight-inclusive. When helpful, care can be coordinated with your doctor, current therapist, or a registered dietitian so everyone is on the same page.
Healing Stones Therapy is based in Laramie, Wyoming, and offers telehealth so you can get support from home, whether you live in town, out on a ranch, or travel for competition. Our practice also serves clients in Utah, Nevada, Montana, Colorado, and Oklahoma.
Asking for help is not a sign that you are weak or failing at your sport. It is a way to protect your health, your performance, and your enjoyment of the things you love.
Ready to talk? Schedule a consultation with Healing Stones Therapy or call [phone number].
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call or text 988 or call 911.
