Overcoming an eating disorder is not an easy feat. It takes time and commitment and requires you to push yourself in ways that are not always comfortable. However, this doesn’t mean that the situation is hopeless—with a solid plan in place you can still find recovery. Here are five tips that will help make your own journey a bit easier and more effective.
Consider an eating disorder treatment center.
It can be difficult to admit you need outside help, but it’s one of the best things you can do to overcome an eating disorder. Counseling and other forms of therapy have been shown to be incredibly effective in helping people deal with the condition, so do some research about eating disorder specialists in your area. However, in some cases outpatient therapy just isn’t enough. If your condition is particularly severe, you may need to find an eating disorder treatment center. These inpatient facilities allow you to focus all your efforts on recovery in an environment that is safe and supportive.
Be patient with yourself.
Recovery from an eating disorder doesn’t occur overnight, and this can be frustrating for some people. There will be times when you struggle and fail on your journey, but you shouldn’t beat yourself up over your shortcomings. Use these situations as learning moments and do everything you can to get back on track. Most importantly, have patience and compassion for yourself by realizing that recovery is rarely, if ever, easy.
Share your struggles.
Many people living with an eating disorder are embarrassed by their condition and try to hide it from everyone. However, discussing your problems with a close friend or family member can actually be quite beneficial. In addition to opening yourself up to love and support, doing this psychologically relieves you of the burden caused by secrecy.
Keep a journal.
Journaling serves two purposes when trying to overcome an eating disorder. For one, it allows you to collect and organize your thoughts in a single place. Many times an eating disorder makes you feel confused and jumbled, and journaling is a great way to overcome that problem. Secondly, keeping a journal is a great way to track just how far you’ve come in your recovery. If there’s ever a day when you feel like you’re not making enough progress, looking back on previous entries can show that you’re actually further along that you think.
Find something you love.
When dealing with an eating disorder, thinking about food takes up a lot of your time and energy. So, during recovery it’s important that you find something to take its place. What this “thing” is will vary from person to person—it could be anything from a new hobby to a pet. Regardless, make sure it’s something you’re passionate about that helps you improve your life.
