Eating Disorder Recovery

An eating disorder can be hard to identify and treat. There are many different forms of disordered eating and thinking, such as anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, orthorexia, and others, and no disorder will look the same for everyone. Often, an eating disorder can go unnoticed depending on the degree of seriousness that it has reached. Whether it is you or your loved one dealing with an eating disorder, this can be a difficult path to navigate. Today, we will discuss some warning signs of an eating disorder, and how you can rework your thinking to combat one.

Early warning signs

If you notice that you or a loved one are obsessively thinking about meals and numbers (such as weight, calories, times to eat), or if there have been significant changes in weight over a short period of time, it is important to think about seeking out resources. These warning signs are not universal, however, they are common indicators of disordered eating. Practice active awareness if  thinking and eating habits have changed drastically. If an eating disorder can be detected in its early stages, reworking negative thinking and accessing help for recovery will be much easier than if it it continues to progress.

Understanding Your Disorder

The first step towards recovering from an eating disorder will include identifying the root causes. It is commonly misunderstood that eating disorders only arise in response to a desire to change one’s weight or appearance. While this may be a contributing factor, eating disorders can also be a response to trauma, emotion regulation, issues with control, personality disorders and addiction. If you are finding it difficult to pinpoint the source of your disorder, it is a good idea to sit down with a professional and discuss where it might be stemming from. Once you are able to identify the cause, you will then be able to begin your recovery process. While eating disorders are commonly discussed in relation to young women, eating disorders can impact any gender and any age.

Another step towards recovery is identifying the specific times that your disorder is triggered. Perhaps your disorder affects you the most at night or in times of high stress, or it flares up at times when you feel a lack of control elsewhere in your life. Whatever the cause, triggers will often vary depending on the time of day, mental state, and the source of your disorder. It is very important to pay special attention to when you are most vulnerable to being affected in order to take extra precautions against negative behavior.

Recovery Process

Start your recovery process by setting small goals for yourself. Take these goals day by day, and do not expect full recovery overnight; this process will take time, so be patient with yourself. Remember that sleep, hormonal balance, mental health, and stress are all factors that will affect your recovery process. Likewise, this is a disorder that worsens in solitude, so reach out for help where you need it, and don’t navigate your recovery process alone. 

It may not always feel like it, but you are in full control of your thoughts and your eating patterns; they are not in control of you. Although starting your recovery process may sound difficult or intimidating, if you allow yourself the time and patience to heal and change these negative behaviors, you can return to health, strength, and control over your eating habits and your life.