In a recent episode of the Genuine Life Recovery podcast, I had the privilege of speaking with Brit Eaton, an author, speaker, and advocate for women in recovery. Brit’s story is a powerful testimony of overcoming struggles with body dysmorphia, identity issues, and the damaging effects of societal and religious messages on self-worth. Throughout our conversation, we explored what it means to truly find our identity in Christ, especially for those of us who have battled feelings of inadequacy or sought validation through appearance or performance.
The Stigma of Recovery in Christian Circles
One of the first things Brit and I discussed was the stigma that often surrounds recovery, often even within Christian communities. Too often, recovery is viewed as something only necessary for individuals struggling with addiction. But as Brit so eloquently pointed out, we are all in recovery from something, whether it’s addiction, trauma, or negative beliefs about ourselves that have shaped our understanding of who we are. Recovery isn’t just about overcoming substances—it’s about healing from the wounds, traumas, and lies that keep us from living in the fullness of our identity in Christ.
Brit’s journey through recovery began with a deep struggle with body dysmorphia, a mental health condition in which individuals become obsessed with perceived flaws in their appearance. For Brit, this struggle was deeply intertwined with messages she had received growing up in the church, where purity, perfection, and external appearance were often emphasized over authenticity and grace.
“I remember being told that my body was like a rose,” Brit shared during our conversation. “Every time I did something ‘impure’—whether it was thinking inappropriately about a boy, holding hands, or even just having a conversation—the petals of that rose were plucked away. By the time you were ready to present yourself to your husband, all that was left was a bare stem. That kind of message, especially when you’re young, makes you feel like you’re dirty, unworthy, and broken.”
This metaphor, used in some Christian circles to encourage purity, had a lasting impact on Brit’s self-image. It reinforced the idea that her worth was tied to her appearance and behavior, and that once she “lost” her purity, she would never be whole again. This, she explained, set the stage for years of struggling with body dysmorphia, where her sense of self-worth was constantly undermined by negative, intrusive thoughts about her body.
The Complexity of Body Dysmorphia and Codependence
During our conversation, Brit explained that body dysmorphia is more than just an obsession with appearance. It’s a deeply ingrained pattern of thinking that often develops in response to trauma or unhealthy messages about self-worth. For many people, this struggle extends beyond how they see themselves and spills over into how they view others. Brit shared how, at the height of her struggle, she found herself constantly comparing her appearance to others, obsessing over how she measured up.
This cycle of comparison can often lead to codependent behavior, where individuals seek validation from others rather than developing an authentic sense of self. For Brit, the need for validation manifested in a desire to appear perfect—both to herself and to others. She explained how the pressure to conform to certain standards, particularly within the church, can exacerbate this issue.
“I was constantly seeking approval,” Brit said. “I wanted people to see me as ‘good,’ as ‘pure,’ as someone who had it all together. But inside, I was falling apart. I believed that if people really knew who I was—if they saw the flaws I saw in myself—they wouldn’t love me.”
This is a reality that many of us can relate to, especially those of us who have struggled with issues of identity. Whether we’re seeking validation through our appearance, our performance, or our relationships, the underlying issue is often the same: a deep sense of not knowing who we are or where our worth truly comes from.
Breaking Free from the Cycle of Shame
For Brit, the turning point in her recovery came when she began to understand that her worth didn’t come from her appearance or from how others saw her—it came from her identity in Christ. This was a truth that had been obscured by years of negative messaging, but through her recovery journey, she began to embrace the reality that God loved her just as she was, without condition or judgment.
“Recovery, for me, wasn’t about becoming someone new,” Brit said. “It was about returning to who God created me to be. It was about shedding all the false identities I had built up—the perfectionism, the need for approval, the obsession with my body—and embracing the truth that I am deeply loved by God, just as I am.”
This realization was life-changing for Brit, as it is for many people in recovery. Often, the messages we receive—whether from society, the church, or our own internal dialogue—tell us that we need to be perfect, pure, or “fixed” in order to be worthy of love. But the truth of the gospel is that we are already loved and accepted by God, not because of what we do, but because of who we are in Him.
During our conversation, Brit emphasized the importance of grace in the recovery process. She explained that while the church can sometimes contribute to feelings of shame or inadequacy, it can also be a place of healing and restoration—if we’re willing to embrace the message of grace that Jesus offers.
“The church has to be a place where people can come as they are,” Brit said. “We need to stop reinforcing the idea that people need to be perfect before they can come to God. Instead, we need to create spaces where people can be vulnerable, where they can bring their brokenness and receive love, grace, and support. That’s where true healing happens.”
Rediscovering Identity in Christ
One of the central themes of our conversation was the issue of identity. For Brit, and for many others in recovery, the root of their struggles wasn’t the addiction or the behavior itself—it was a lost sense of identity. When we don’t know who we are in Christ, we begin to look for our identity in other places. Whether it’s through our appearance, our achievements, or our relationships, we seek validation and worth in things that can never truly satisfy.
Brit’s story is a reminder that true recovery is about rediscovering who we are in Christ. It’s about returning to the person God created us to be, the person He loves unconditionally. For Brit, this meant breaking free from the lies she had believed about herself—lies that told her she wasn’t good enough, that she wasn’t worthy of love, that she needed to be perfect in order to be accepted.
But through her journey of recovery, Brit learned that her worth didn’t come from what she did or how she looked—it came from being a child of God. This truth, once embraced, set her free from the cycle of shame and self-hatred that had defined her life for so long.
The Ongoing Journey of Recovery
As Brit and I wrapped up our conversation, we discussed the ongoing process of recovery. Even though Brit made significant strides in her understanding of her identity, there are still days when she struggles with feelings of inadequacy or the need for validation. But the difference now is that she knows where her true identity lies—in Christ.
“I’m not perfect, and I never will be,” Brit said. “But I don’t have to be, because God sees me as perfect, holy, and blameless through Jesus. My worth doesn’t come from how I look or what I achieve—it comes from being His creation. And that truth is unchanging.”
For those of us who have battled body dysmorphia, addiction, or any other form of brokenness, Brit’s story is a powerful reminder that recovery is not about becoming someone new. It’s about returning to the person God created us to be. It’s about shedding the false identities we’ve created and embracing the truth of who we are in Him.
As we continue on our own recovery journeys, remember that our identity is secure in Christ. We don’t have to earn it or fight for it—it has already been given to us. And as we learn to embrace that truth, we can begin to walk in the freedom and wholeness that God has always intended for us.
Final Thoughts
If you find yourself struggling with identity, body image, or feelings of inadequacy, know that you are not alone. We are all in recovery from something, but the good news is that our identity is secure in Christ. No matter what lies you have believed about yourself, no matter what struggles you have faced, God’s love for you is unchanging. You are deeply loved, valued, and worthy—not because of what you do, but because of who you are in Him.
