How to Save Your Own Life
A Guide to Recovering from an Eating Disorder as an Autistic Person
- Author
- Foreword
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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.
- Published: Apr 21 2026
- Pages: 192
- ISBN: 9781805019022
Press Reviews
Dr Chukwuemeka Nwuba, mental health doctor and editor of Eating Disorders Don't Discriminate
In her own way, Clark has powerfully conveyed just how challenging recovery from an eating disorder can be for autistic people. An enlightening read.
Cara Lisette, CBT therapist, Registered Mental Health Nurse and author of The Eating Disorder Recovery Journal
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.
Emily Katy, author of Girl Unmasked
How to Save Your Own Life is a powerful and compassionate guide that will bring hope to so many people. Rachel's writing is deeply honest and will transform the way autism and eating disorders are understood. It will truly change lives.
Lou Chandler, @neurodivergent_lou
A groundbreaking and essential read that bridges the long-overlooked connection between autism and eating disorders, with every page offering understanding, validation, and hope.
Fi Hollings, @finding_fi_
Rachel writes with honesty, courage, and compassion, giving voice to the often-overlooked experience of living with both autism and an eating disorder. Her words are filled with raw truth but also with profound hope. She reminds us that 'it is better to prove yourself wrong and one day be recovered, than spend your whole existence trapped in the same eternal darkness, governed by the very thing that is causing it.' Later, offers the reassurance that so many people need to hear: 'never lose hope that things can and will get better again. I am living proof. I believe in you.' This book is more than information - it is a lifeline, a source of comfort, and a companion to anyone who has ever felt unseen or misunderstood. It shows that recovery, while not simple, is possible, and that being fully yourself is not only enough, but a strength. I am so proud of Rachel for sharing her story, and I know her words will inspire, guide, and bring hope to so many.
Dr. Vinod Singaravelu, Consultant in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
This remarkable book is a testament to extraordinary resilience and compassion. Rachel bravely faced her own eating disorder and has transformed her experience into a powerful resource for others. Drawing from lived experience and a deep understanding of autism, she offers invaluable insights and practical guidance tailored for those navigating the complex intersection of autism and eating disorders.