It was supposed to be a standard relapse.
In early 2022, Glennon Doyle—the voice behind Untamed and the patron saint of modern "truth-telling"—told her massive audience that her bulimia had come back. For twenty years, she’d identified as a recovering bulimic. It was her story. It was the "monster" she knew how to fight. But when she finally sat down with an eating disorder specialist, the world shifted.
The doctor didn’t confirm a bulimia relapse. She diagnosed Glennon with anorexia.
Honestly, the revelation was a total gut punch to Doyle and her "Pod Squad" listeners. It wasn’t just a medical update; it was an identity crisis. You've probably spent years thinking you know your own patterns, only to have a professional tell you that the very "discipline" you used to "fix" yourself was actually just a different version of the same sickness.
The Shock of Glennon Doyle Anorexia
Glennon described the moment of diagnosis as "baffling." She actually told the doctor she thought it was an "amazing overreaction."
The doctor's response? "That is a very anorexic reaction to have."
For anyone following the glennon doyle anorexia story, the nuances are where the real lessons hide. Doyle hadn't been binging and purging in the traditional sense. Instead, she had replaced the "chaos" of bulimia with what she called "robotic" control. She thought she was being healthy. She thought she was being disciplined.
📖 Related: Bridal Hairstyles Long Hair: What Most People Get Wrong About Your Wedding Day Look
It turns out, she had "cured" her bulimia with anorexia.
This is a terrifyingly common trap in the world of eating disorders. We often think of these illnesses as distinct boxes, but they’re more like a spectrum of survival strategies. Glennon had spent two decades using willpower to crush her old habits, not realizing that the rigid control she was exercising was just the other side of the same coin.
Why This Diagnosis Changed Everything
"Anorexia is a different religion," Glennon explained on her podcast, We Can Do Hard Things.
It’s a different way of thinking. It’s a different threat. When she was bulimic, she felt like a "mess." When the anorexia took hold, she felt like she was finally "good." That’s the danger. Anorexia often masquerades as a virtue in a culture that prizes thinness and self-denial.
The Role of Abby Wambach
One of the most moving parts of this journey has been the involvement of her wife, soccer icon Abby Wambach. Abby was the one who eventually pushed for the medical intervention. She saw what Glennon couldn't.
But there was a hard boundary.
👉 See also: Boynton Beach Boat Parade: What You Actually Need to Know Before You Go
Abby told her, "I can't do this for you."
That’s a heavy thing to hear from a partner. It’s also the most loving thing a spouse can say in that situation. Doyle recalled feeling "chilled to the bone" and more alone in her body than ever before. But that loneliness was the catalyst. It forced her to realize that while her community could support her, she was the only one who could actually do the work of re-feeding her body and rewiring her brain.
The "Symptom" of Personality
When Glennon started reading about anorexia, she hit a wall of "humiliation."
She’s a woman who has built a career on self-examination. She’s the one who digs deep. Yet, she found herself reading medical texts and realizing that things she thought were "quirks" of her personality—her need for control, her specific anxieties, her rigid routines—were actually just a collection of symptoms of a disease.
It's a weird feeling. To find out you aren't "special" or "disciplined," but just... sick.
Recovery in Real Time
Doyle decided not to wait until she was "fixed" to talk about it. She’s been open about the messy, non-linear process of recovery throughout 2023, 2024, and into 2025.
✨ Don't miss: Bootcut Pants for Men: Why the 70s Silhouette is Making a Massive Comeback
She recently spoke with Dr. Becky Kennedy about how this recovery has even changed her relationship with social media. She realized that the "cerebral" nature of her eating disorder was mirrored in the way she used the internet—disconnected from her physical self. She’s had to learn how to be "embodied."
What does that even mean?
Basically, it means actually feeling your feelings instead of just analyzing them. It means eating when you're hungry, even when your brain screams that it's a "failure." It means surrender.
Key Takeaways from Glennon’s Journey:
- Diagnosis isn't always linear. You can struggle with one form of an eating disorder and migrate into another without realizing it.
- Willpower is not a cure. Using "control" to stop a behavior often just creates a different type of restriction.
- Embodiment is the goal. Recovery isn't just about weight; it's about moving from your head back into your body.
- Honesty is a safety net. By speaking her "scars" (and sometimes her "gaping wounds"), Doyle creates a space where secrets can't thrive.
If you’re looking at the glennon doyle anorexia diagnosis as a roadmap, the biggest lesson is probably that "recovery" isn't a destination you reach and then stay at forever. It’s a daily, sometimes hourly, choice to choose life over control.
Actionable Steps for Moving Forward
If Glennon’s story resonates with you, or if you suspect your "healthy habits" might be something more restrictive, here are a few ways to start looking at your own relationship with food and control:
- Audit your "Control" moments. Are you making choices because they make you feel energized and free, or because you're terrified of what happens if you break the routine?
- Speak the secret. Eating disorders thrive in the dark. Tell one trusted person—a partner, a therapist, or a friend—the thing you're most ashamed of.
- Ditch the "Identity" labels. You are not "a bulimic" or "an anorexic." You are a human being experiencing a set of symptoms. Labels can be helpful for treatment, but don't let them become your soul.
- Seek specialized help. General therapists are great, but eating disorders are complex. If you’re struggling, find someone who specifically understands the "different religion" of anorexia.
Glennon Doyle’s journey proves that even the most "evolved" people can have blind spots. It’s okay to be a "messy human in a messy world." The hard thing is the right thing.
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, you can contact the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) at 1-800-931-2237 or visit NationalEatingDisorders.org.