Starting your recovery

Starting your recovery from an eating disorder

Dealing with an eating disorder is complicated. The first step toward addressing and eating disorder is acknowledging that you or someone you know may have one. When you have an eating disorder, your path to recover begins with acknowledgment of your condition.

If you haven’t already you should educate yourself with regard to everything there is to know about the type of eating disorder you may have. These include the signs and symptoms, physical and emotional effects of having an eating disorder.

Once you acknowledge your condition you can then look for treatment groups and support in your area that can help you overcome your condition. It is vital that you seek out professional and personal support in order to conquer your eating disorder.

Only you will be able to decide the mode of recovery that is best suited to help you through your illness. Some options include:

• Individual or one-on-one therapy/counseling

• Support Groups

• Group therapy

• Clinics designed to help overcome eating disorders

• In-patient/Out-patient hospital care

• Art Therapy

• Church Support

• Books

• Friends and Family members

You may choose a combination of any one of these forms of therapies for support.

It is also important that you seek out assistance from your health care provider so they may assess your overall health and help stabilize your condition. Your health care provider may recommend a particularly course of therapy and may set you up with a dietician to help you develop a more healthy dietary regimen.

If Someone You Know Has an Eating Disorder

It is important that you make yourself available to a friend or family member that may need your support.

Like the patient, it is vital that you educate yourself about the eating disorder. You can help someone by also identifying easily accessible and accommodating treatment facilities in your area.

The most important thing you can do for someone that has an eating disorder is listen and empathize with them regarding their condition or concerns, and show that you care.

Be sure that at all times you attempt to avoid discuss topics that center around eating or particularly dieting.

You should also attempt to be non-judgmental and supportive when communicating with your friend or family members.

Overcoming an eating disorder is very difficult, and often patients with an eating disorder are reluctant to ask for help. If someone you know is willing to accept assistance, you might offer to accompany them to support meetings or to meet with a professional for support.

Remember as a friend that you will not be able to force someone to eat or prevent them from purging, and that your focus should be on supporting your friend or family member emotionally.

Eating disorders do not stem from problems with food, but rather on emotional factors and other related problems. Most people with an eating disorder are looking for a way to gain control of certain aspects of their life they feel out of control over. You can act as a vital support system and encourage them to seek help.

The best thing you can do for someone with an eating disorder is listen to them and encourage them throughout their journey toward recovery.