My eating disorder journey: Recovery

Going through treatment and starting recovery is hard. It is challenging to stop and change behaviours that while very dangerous can feel like a comfort – that feeling of the unknown is bound to happen and it can feel very scary but that doesn’t mean you should hold onto your eating disorder. Working towards a full recovery will give you more opportunities and joy than you can ever imagine. Try to focus on something you want in the future that you can do when eating disorder patterns fall away – it could be going to a festival or on holiday or maybe a dream job!

It can feel very isolating having an eating disorder and working to fight it so it is important to reach out to friends and family, but using digital support can be helpful too – you are not alone

• To those suffering – you can do it, you deserve to be happy and live without this shadow of an eating disorder and you deserve support to get there. It’s a lot of work but it is so, so worth it.
• To those supporting a loved one – it will be difficult to watch and witness and those suffering will likely take out a lot of these big emotions and difficult hurdles but please stick with them, they will get there but they need your support (see below for my suggestions on how to support, my promise of hope and how to look after yourself).

Image ref: verywellhealth

Body image and self-esteem

Body image and self-esteem are also massive parts of recovery from eating disorders. It can be hard to change this mental conversation but building these will help work towards and maintenance of recovery! Try complimenting yourself or telling your body you are grateful for all that it does. Even if it feels forced and silly if you replace these thoughts with harmful eating disorders it will be common and more of a habit!

• Listen to our MindMate podcast about body image and body positivity

How to support a loved one

It can be really scary to watch a loved one go through this and difficult to try to work to help them. There are lots of resources available but as someone who has been through this and got to the other side with the support of family and friends, please stick around and be present in any way you can even if your loved one might seem cold.

If you live with someone suffering…

• Ask them for permission to take control over meals to remove this aspect of control the eating disorder has
• Sit with them and give moral support during meals or when trying particularly challenging foods or new coping behaviours
• Engage in activities that might not need to focus on food to have other fun aspects of life
• Work to reintroduce foods throughout day-to-day life (snacks at the cinema, a pastry and a coffee at a café)
• Remember that scary or angry behaviours aren’t coming from the person you love but are generated by a really serious illness
• Look after yourself! It can be really challenging so make sure you are checking in with how you are feeling and if you have the capacity to provide support. Sometimes it could be sitting with them through a difficult meal, or going to a therapy appointment, sometimes it could be dropping them a text with a new recommendation for a good show
• Please know they value you more than you know, and it will get better. There will be really fun, amazing times ahead!

Worried about an eating disorder? More from MindMate here

See part 1 of my blog for more of an overview on treatment and what options there might be