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Eating Disorder Recovery
Tips on what eating disorders are, around recovery and how to Reach Out, Get Help and Give Help.
It may be a long & winding journey, but there's hope for recovery. Here's a story of someone's experience.
Read interviews or books on recovery to get informed, motivated and inspired.
Be honest with yourself & if you think you may have an eating disorder, reach out for help. http://bit.ly/2krZ5fE
Ask a professional (not random internet source) to help you create a meal plan with at least 3 meals & 3 snacks day, if appropriate.
Ditch the scale! There is so much more to you than a number describing your relationship with gravity.
Create a recovery-focused exercise contract with your doc/team to ensure your activity level is safe physically & mentally.
Learn to see your own beauty without comparing to others @ZainabSalbi talks about this on Oprah
Make an effort to eat with trusted friends or family and ask them to keep you accountable to your meal plan.
Eating disorders thrive on secrecy & isolation so push yourself to confide in others & ask for their help in your recovery.
Talk to a therapist. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy CBT is especially helpful in treating eating disorders.
While the media doesn't cause eating disorders, avoiding celebrity and diet magazines can help avoid extra triggers.
Spend time looking up motivational quotes and surround yourself with positive messages that support your recovery.
Remember that your eating disorder is valid regardless of weight, size, gender, age, race, etc.
Care for someone with an eating disorder? Avoid commenting on weight or looks. Even "you look healthy" can be triggering.
It can be helpful for some in recovery to plan WHEN you'll eat next meal, WHAT you'll eat, WHERE you'll eat it & with WHO.
Not sure what to do? Reach out to a teacher or guidance counsellor. Here's how Allen got help.
Planning ahead can be important. Plan your menu schedule and grocery list at start of each week to establish structure.
Avoid judgments/comments about food choices when supporting those with eating disorders eg. labeling food as good/bad.
Stick to predetermined meal times. Use the clock as a guide on when to eat, because hunger/fullness cues may be unreliable with EDs.
Challenge society's and your own beauty standards to start developing a healthy body image.
A journal can be helpful to track thoughts/feelings, food requirements, goals & behaviours that you may need to work on.
As a support person, avoid comments about your own weight gain/loss eg; "I've gotten so fat" "Finally lost those 5 pounds".
Make a list of life goals that your eating disorder is preventing you from reaching. Use it as motivation for recovery.
Feelings of shame are not helpful. Write out reminders that you deserve & are worthy of recovery.
Share all info about your illness with your drs & treatment team so they can better help you towards a successful recovery.
Don't go it alone, recovery from eating disorders is best with a good support team eg; doctors, family, friends and therapy.
Eating disorder recovery takes TIME be patient & stick with treatment nutritional/exercise rehab & psychotherapy are key.
Have a safety plan for when you're struggling and find someone to ask for support ahead of time.
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