Dana celebrated a special anniversary today. It has been one year since she has binged and purged. Dana has been symptom-free since completing residential treatment at Renfrew Center in Philadelphia. “I still remember the night before I went to Renfrew and had my last binge,” says Dana. “It was horrible. I vowed never again.”
Dana recognizes that the road to recovery has been a long one. “I have tried this may times before and always relapsed. I knew I just couldn’t do it any more.”
There are many misconceptions about recovery from eating disorders. It is important to recognize that recovery is possible, but it takes work. The following tips can help:
Envision your recovery. Why is recovery important to you? What would you gain? In addition to freedom from eating disorder symptoms, are there other things that could happen as you embrace recovery?
Know that relapse is a tool. Relapse into symptoms teaches important lessons about the triggers for your eating disorder and the coping skills needed to address these triggers. Be sure you have a variety of coping skills.
If you fall, get back on track immediately. For example, if you binge and purge in the morning, don’t try to compensate by restricting all your other meals. Instead, have lunch and dinner, modifying quantities slightly if necessary.
Don’t isolate yourself. Eating disorders are very isolative. Often people with eating disorders have lost touch with family and friends, who can be important sources of support.
Don’t engage in all-or-nothing thinking. The road to recovery is not a straight path. Just as perfectionism in achievement or image is something that many of us need to work on, there is no “perfect” recovery. If you used to restrict every day and have two days of normal food intake, that’s a victory you can build on.
Have a recovery mission. Can you use what you have learned to help others? Can you advocate for changes in the media or in the insurance industry? Having a recovery mission helps to make sense of having had an eating disorder.
“Looking back a year ago, I can’t believe how much my life has changed.” Dana says. “We are so fortunate here in the Philadelphia area. There are many great resources to help with eating disorders. I hope that others can take advantage of these.”
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