Recovery From An Eating Disorder

You may struggle silently. That battle may rage on for years without anyone knowing. That is the tricky thing about eating disorders, and why they are so hard to overcome. My wish for you is that you take these tips and make them your own. The recovery journey is beautiful, and also one of the most challenging things you will ever face. The end result will be rewarding, and I promise that every bit of effort pays off.

I am here to share my story, to give others a chance at happiness and inner peace.

1. Recovery is not the same for everyone.

If you only take away one thing from this article, I hope it would be this. Social media is filled with expectations of a linear, glamorized recovery processes. This is what tripped me up the most when I first began my own journey. One day would be filled with rest, meals, and a sense of emotional stability. The next would only bring chaos: family conflict, self-hate, and a feeling of hopelessness. First off, this is completely normal, in fact, I have yet to hear of a single case where one did not struggle along the way. It is here, however, in the hardest moments, that the leaps and bounds of progress are made.

Every time you pick up the pieces of a hard yesterday, and build a better today, new pathways are being carved toward an ideal tomorrow. This can only be achieved through hard work and dedication to your well-being. Failure is ok too. Perfection is not the goal, instead, focus on little victories. Remember, these add up!

2. Take it one bite at a time.

The scariest thing to do when sitting down to a meal is often taking the first bite. But look! That's all it is! One bite after another.

Breaking down the processes is how I would recommend tackling a challenging meal. Split up the meal in your head into simple bites. This will make it seem easier to manage. Think of your mouth as a machine. A mechanical piece, trained to move up and down to turn food into nutrients. Food is medicine, after all, and the more bites you eat, the easier it will get.

3. Engage your support system.

Surrounding yourself with people you love and trust is crucial in this journey. It's perfectly normal to want to push those who want to help out of your life. Remind yourself this part of you isn't who you are truly are, it is simply your eating disorder wanting to gain more control over you. Therefore, it is a great accomplishment to simply accept support! It is good to be aware of the people of who truly care about you, and if you feel comfortable, share your journey with them! Shame surrounding an eating disorder may feel powerful, and this may spike when you accept help. My advice to you is to remember that you are worthy of recovery. There is nothing wrong is reaching out to someone, rather, it is a sign of strength.

4. Identify your values.

Life may seem grim when you are at battle with an eating disorder. By identifying things that make up you are, it can give meaning to day-to-day life. My personal values are honesty and self-compassion. I follow these ideas every time I find myself at war with my mind. These are very personal, and I would take time to chose what speaks to you. Remember that these are goals that take a lifetime to achieve. There is no need to stress about achieving perfection.