How to Save Your Own Life
A guide to recovering from an eating disorder as an autistic person
Published on 21. May 2026
176 pages
978-1-80501-903-9 (ISBN)
Description
There are a thousand books about eating disorders, taking everything from gender to age into account. But they have a habit of assuming that you're neurotypical, and that your brain works in a very specific way.
Not exactly helpful if yours doesn't!
In this essential self-help guide, Rachel Clark shares what she's learned from her own experiences as an autistic and ADHD young person with anorexia, and how you can use it for your own recovery. She explores how eating disorders can be a coping mechanism for the stress of a neurotypical world, and how autism can both create the ideal environment for an eating disorder to develop, but also provide key tools to overcome it. Practical exercises help you get to grips with your ED in a way that suits your brain, and advice from direct experience supports you in advocating for yourself and creating an environment where you can save your own life on your own terms.
Not exactly helpful if yours doesn't!
In this essential self-help guide, Rachel Clark shares what she's learned from her own experiences as an autistic and ADHD young person with anorexia, and how you can use it for your own recovery. She explores how eating disorders can be a coping mechanism for the stress of a neurotypical world, and how autism can both create the ideal environment for an eating disorder to develop, but also provide key tools to overcome it. Practical exercises help you get to grips with your ED in a way that suits your brain, and advice from direct experience supports you in advocating for yourself and creating an environment where you can save your own life on your own terms.
Reviews / Votes
In her own way, Clark has powerfully conveyed just how challenging recovery from an eating disorder can be for autistic people. An enlightening read. -- Dr Chukwuemeka Nwuba, mental health doctor and editor of Eating Disorders Don't Discriminate How to Save Your Own Life gives a unique insight into the experience of being autistic whilst living with an eating disorder. Rachel addresses some of the challenges that arise which are not always catered to or recognised in traditional treatment settings or self help resources, and I would consider this essential reading not just for those experiencing an eating disorder, but also carers and any professionals working in this field. -- Cara Lisette, CBT therapist, Registered Mental Health Nurse and author of The Eating Disorder Recovery JournalMore details
Edition
Digital original
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Edition type
Digital original
Illustrations
1x B&W line drawing
File size
0,85 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-80501-903-9 (9781805019039)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Rachel Clark
How to Save Your Own Life
A Guide to Recovering from an Eating Disorder as an Autistic Person
Book
04/2026
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
€19.00
Shipment within 3-4 weeks
Persons
Rachel Clark is an autistic advocate and qualified ADHD/AuDHD coach with lived experience of eating disorder survival. She works within the NHS Eating Disorder service, Autistica, National Young minds and regional Mind on delivering adaptations for autistic patients. Rachel is active on social media as @rachelc1ark.
