The Therapeutic Potential of Eating Disorder Vlogging on YouTube: Action-Theoretical Perspectives

Eating disorders affect millions worldwide, yet persistent stigma, cultural myths and misconceptions continue to exacerbate the psychological distress of those who suffer. In search of relief and companionship, many individuals turn to the communicative spaces offered by social media. This interdisciplinary study combines a critical perspective on discourse and embodied cognition with an action-theoretical linguistic analysis to explore the therapeutic potential of vlogging on YouTube in contrast to traditional healthcare institutions. By reconstructing how individuals with eating disorders articulate their lived experiences of pain, loss and social isolation for different audiences, this book further examines how hegemonic-dominant ideologies shape narratives of health and illness, and unwittingly reinforce the stigmas surrounding debilitating conditions.