Eating Disorder Treatment and Recovery

Eating disorder recovery

The road to eating disorder recovery starts with admitting you have a problem. This admission can be tough, especially if you’re still clinging to the belief–even in the back of your mind–that weight loss is the key to happiness, confidence, and success. Even when you finally understand that thinness isn’t the Holy Grail you thought it was, old habits are hard to break.

The good news is that the eating disorder behaviors you’ve learned can be unlearned. That doesn’t mean the process is smooth, quick, or easy, but you can do it if you’re motivated to change and willing to ask for help. However, eating disorder recovery is about more than giving up unhealthy eating behaviors. Overcoming an eating disorder is also about rediscovering who you are beyond your eating habits, weight, and body image.

True recovery from anorexia and bulimia involves:

• Learning to listen to your body
• Learning to listen to your feelings
• Learning to trust yourself
• Learning to accept yourself
• Learning to love yourself

This may seem like a lot to tackle, but just remember that you’re not alone. Help for eating disorders is out there; all you have to do is ask!

Eating disorder treatment: Help for anorexia and bulimia

It can be scary and embarrassing to seek help for an eating disorder. But it’s important to get treatment. Eating disorder recovery is much easier when you have experienced, caring health professionals in your corner.

Eating disorder treatment step #1: Find a specialist

The first step in eating disorder treatment is finding a doctor or therapist who specializes in anorexia and bulimia. As you search, focus on finding the right fit. Your relationship with your doctor or therapist is important to the recovery process. Look for someone who makes you feel comfortable, accepted, and safe.

To find an eating disorder treatment specialist in your area:

• Ask your primary care doctor for a referral
• Search online at the eating disorder websites listed to the right
• Check with local hospitals or medical centers
• Ask your school counselor or nurse
• Call the National Eating Disorders Association’s toll-free hotline at 1-800-931-2237 (Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PST)

Eating disorder treatment step #2: Address health problems

Anorexia and bulimia can be deadly–and not just if you’re drastically underweight. Your health may be in danger, even if you only occasionally fast, binge, or purge, so it’s important to get a full medical evaluation. If the evaluation reveals health problems, they should take top treatment priority. Nothing is more important than your physical well-being. If you’re suffering from any other life-threatening problem, you may need to be hospitalized. While the thought of hospitalization may be scary, try to remember that it’s sole purpose is to keep you safe!

Eating disorder treatment step #3: Make a long-term treatment plan

Once your health problems are under control, you and your doctor or therapist can work on a long-term recovery plan. First, you’ll need to assemble a complete eating disorder treatment team. Your team might include a family doctor, a psychologist, a nutritionist, a social worker, and a psychiatrist. Then you and your team will develop a treatment plan that’s individualized to meet your needs.

 

Your eating disorder treatment plan may include:

Inpatient treatment Individual or group therapy Family therapy

Eating disorder education Nutritional counseling Medical monitoring

Eating disorder support groups

Anorexia and bulimia are difficult to overcome without support. It’s important to have people you can turn to when you need a sympathetic ear or a word of encouragement. While family and friends can be a huge help, you may also want to join an eating disorder support group. Participating in an eating disorder support group can help you feel less isolated. They provide a safe environment where you can talk freely about your eating disorder and get advice and support from people who know what you’re going through.

There are many types of eating disorder support groups. Some are led by professional therapists, while others are moderated by trained volunteers or people who have recovered from an eating disorder.

To find an eating disorder support group in your area:

• Ask your doctor or therapist for a referral
• Call local hospitals and universities
• Call local eating disorder centers and clinics
• Visit your school’s counseling center
• Search the National Eating Disorders Association’s database of free support groups.

Self-help for eating disorders: Learning new coping skills

Anorexia and bulimia aren’t about food. They’re about using food to cope with painful emotions such as anger, self-loathing, vulnerability, and fear. Disordered eating is a coping mechanism–whether you refuse food to feel in control, binge for comfort, or purge to punish yourself. But you can learn healthier ways to cope with negative emotions.

The first step is figuring out what’s really eating you up inside. Remember, “fat” is not a feeling, so if you feel overweight and unattractive, stop and ask yourself what’s really going on. Are you upset about something? Depressed? Stressed out? Lonely? Once you identify the emotion you’re experiencing, you can choose a positive alternative to starving or stuffing yourself.

Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

Call a friend Listen to music Play with a pet Read a good book Take a walk

Write in a journal Go to the movies Get out into nature Play a favorite game Do something nice for someone else

Self-help for eating disorders: Improving your self-image

You are more than what you weigh, a fact you lose sight of when you have an eating disorder. When you base your self-worth on physical appearance alone, you’re ignoring all the other qualities, accomplishments, and abilities that make you beautiful. Think about your friends and family members. Do they love you for the way you look or who you are? Chances are, your appearance ranks low on the list of what they love about you–and you probably feel the same about them. So why does it top your own list?

Placing too much importance on how you look leads to low self-esteem and insecurity. But you can learn to see yourself in a positive, balanced way:

• Make a list of your positive qualities. Think of all the things you like about yourself. Are you smart? Kind? Creative? Loyal? Funny? What would others say are your good qualities? Include your talents, skills, and achievements. Also think about bad qualities you don’t have.
• Focus on what you like about your body. Instead of searching for flaws when you look in the mirror, appreciate the things you like about your appearance. If you’re distracted by “imperfections,” remind yourself that nobody’s perfect. Even supermodels get airbrushed.
• Challenge negative self-talk. When you catch yourself being self-critical or pessimistic, stop and challenge the negative thought. Ask yourself what evidence you have to support the idea. What is the evidence against it? Just because you believe something, doesn’t mean it’s true. Answering these questions will help you see things in a more realistic light.

Tips to Improve your Body Image
Wear clothes you feel comfortable in	Dress to express yourself, not to impress others. You should feel good in what you wear.
Cut labels out of your clothes	Don’t focus on a number. The size on the tags shouldn't dictate your mood for the day!
Stay away from the scale	If your weight needs to be monitored, leave that up to the doctors. How much you weigh should never affect your self-esteem.
Stay away from fashion magazines	Unless you can look through these magazines knowing they are purely fantasy, it's just better to stay away from them.
Do nice things for your body	Get a massage, a manicure, or a facial. Pamper yourself with a candlelight bath, scented lotion, or a new perfume.
Adapted from: The Something Fishy Website on Eating Disorders

Self-help for eating disorders: Learning healthy eating habits

If you’ve been struggling with an eating disorder, chances are you’ve forgotten what healthy eating looks like. But learning and establishing healthy eating habits is an essential step in recovery from anorexia and bulimia.

• Stick to a regular eating schedule. You may be used to skipping meals or fasting for long stretches. But when you starve yourself, food becomes all you think about. To avoid this preoccupation, make sure to eat every three hours. Plan ahead for meals and snacks, and don’t skip!
• Challenge your strict eating rules. Strict rules about food and eating fuel anorexia and bulimia, so it’s important to replace them with healthier ones. For example, if you have a rule forbidding all desserts, change it into a less rigid guideline such as, “I won’t eat dessert every day.” You won’t gain weight by enjoying an occasional ice cream or cookie.
• Don’t diet. Healthy eating–not dieting–is the key to avoiding weight gain. Instead of focusing on what you shouldn’t eat, focus on nutritious foods that will energize you and make your body strong. Think of food as fuel for your body. Your body knows when the tank is low, so listen to it. Eat when you’re truly hungry, then stop when you’re full. If you follow these simple guidelines, your body will look and feel its best.

Relapse prevention for anorexia and bulimia

The work of eating disorder recovery doesn’t end once you’ve adopted healthy habits. It’s important to take steps to maintain your progress and prevent relapse.

• Develop a solid support system. Surround yourself with people who support you and want to see you healthy and happy. Avoid people that drain your energy, encourage your disordered eating behaviors, or make you feel bad about yourself.
• Stick with your eating disorder treatment plan. Don’t neglect therapy or other components of your treatment, even if you’re doing better. Listen to the advice of your treatment team and continue to follow their recommendations.
• Fill your life with positive activities. Make time for activities that bring you joy and fulfillment. Try something you’ve always wanted to do, develop a new skill, pick up a fun hobby, or volunteer in your community. The more rewarding your life, the less desire you’ll have to focus on food and weight.
• Avoid pro-ana and pro-mia websites. Don’t visit websites that promote or glorify anorexia and bulimia. These sites are run by people who want excuses to continue down their destructive path. The “support” they offer is dangerous and will only get in the way of your recovery.
• Identify your “triggers”. Are you more likely to revert to your old, destructive behaviors during the holidays, exam week, or swimsuit season? Know what your triggers are, and have a plan for dealing with them, such as going to therapy more often or asking for extra support from family and friends.
• Keep a journal. Writing in a daily journal can help you keep tabs on your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. If you notice that you’re slipping back into negative patterns, take action immediately.

Related links for eating disorder treatment and recovery

Eating disorder recovery and self-help

Sharing with EEEase – Advice on how to talk to someone about your eating disorder and what you’re going through. (National Eating Disorders Association)

Overcoming Disordered Eating - Part A – Series of self-help worksheets designed to help you understand and recover from an eating disorder. (Centre for Clinical Interventions, Western Australia Department of Health)

Overcoming Disordered Eating - Part B – Second set of worksheets on eating disorder recovery, covering topics such as self-esteem, body image, and relapse prevention. (Centre for Clinical Interventions, Western Australia Department of Health)

Eating disorder treatment

Questions to Ask Your Treatment Provider – Helpful list of questions to ask the doctor or therapist involved in your treatment for an eating disorder. (National Eating Disorders Association)

Types of Treatment – Overview of the types of eating disorder treatment available for anorexia and bulimia. (The Something Fishy Website on Eating Disorders)

Finding help and support for eating disorders

Eating Disorder Treatment Finder – Directory of eating disorder treatment providers, including doctors, therapists, nutritionists, and support groups. (The Something Fishy Website on Eating Disorders)

EDReferral.com – Comprehensive, easy-to-search database of eating disorder treatment providers, including specialists for anorexia and bulimia. (The Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center)

Information & Referral Helpline – Eating disorders helpline offers advice and referrals. Includes an online directory of treatment providers and support groups. (National Eating Disorders Association)

HelpFinder – Searchable database of treatment and help for anorexia and bulimia in the United Kingdom and abroad. (beat, UK)

Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., Melinda Smith, M.A., contributed to this article. Last modified in April 08.