Goodbye Eating Disorder, Now What?
Have you begun your journey towards overcoming an eating disorder?
Are you feeling confused about what is supposed to replace something that felt so entrenched in your identity?
Are you left with a feeling of, now what?
These are all really common ways to feel when overcoming disordered eating. Leaving these behaviors can feel like leaving a piece of yourself behind because they have defined your day to day for so long. All of a sudden you are feeling confused, lost, and unsure of who you are without your eating disorder. This right here is the uncharted territory between overcoming disordered eating and redefining yourself without it. There can even be a period of grief as you leave behind an old identity for a new one. This is okay and this is expected! For however long you have used certain behaviors (restricting, binging, purging) to feel better, even if only for a brief moment.
So what do I do with this extra time, mental energy, thought space, etc?
I put together a list of resources, skills, and self care tips to refer to when your recovery feels hard to navigate.
Reach out to a trusted friend or family member for support - it is so important to keep the dialogue open and running. The more comfortable that you feel sharing about your road to recovery, the less shame and guilt you will feel.
Get inspired about your recovery - listen to a podcast, read a book, or contribute to a blog dedicated to those who are also in recovery. Some great resources are Food Psych Podcast, Isabel Foxen Duke Blog, Intuitive Eating Books
Learn how to say ‘no’ - it is incredibly common for those with disordered eating to put their own self worth second to those around them. As a result, saying no is not a common word utilized in their vocabulary. By practicing saying ‘no’ you will learn to become more in touch with your needs. You also may find that speaking up for yourself is not as scary as it once felt
Express your feelings - one of the main reasons that eating disorders develop is due to the lack of space individuals give themselves to really feel. All feelings are welcomed. Give yourself the space to be sad, angry, confused, happy, etc. There is no such thing as a bad feeling and if you try to push them away, they will come back in bigger and badder ways. Again, all feelings are welcomed, let yourself feel them.
Just breathe - I so often see this in my practice. When a client is recovering from an eating disorder they are so frightened to be alone. When they are alone they feel as though they cannot trust themselves with their decisions, thoughts and feelings. When you feel these moments come give yourself the space to take time and just breathe. This can be done in many forms. If you have a more structured breathing practice or one that is simply done by just lying down with your hands on your belly, there is no right or wrong. It is in these moments that you rewire your neural network to feel okay when you are by yourself
Seek the help of a professional - recovery is possible in many different ways. It can be so beneficial to seek the support of a trained professional to help you navigate your recovery. Reaching out for help is a sign of strength and not weakness, truly.
Are you interested in learning more about how I work with eating disorder treatment?
Please feel free to reach out! I would be excited to hear from you and discuss how to best support you towards your recovery goals. I offer a free 20 minute consultation. I hope to hear from you!
-Ellie