Choosing to heal from an eating disorder is an incredibly courageous and transformative decision, one that will be very challenging, but one of the best decisions you ever made.
There’s no single or specific time of year that you should start treatment and recovery, but many people enjoy the concept of starting afresh, and starting the new year in recovery. For some, this means enrolling in a recovery program, while others are just beginning to open their mind to recovery and are looking for some practices they begin now.
Maybe you’ve tried to recover before, maybe you’ve enrolled in a treatment program before, maybe there’s a large part of you saying you’ll never be able to do this — it’s a lie. This could be your year, the year you finally overcame your eating disorder; the year you healed so much of your relationship with food and your body. We’re here to help you live out that year.
In this article, we’re going to discuss how you can begin healing an eating disorder in the new year, and give you eight different tips that will help set you up for lifelong, sustainable success.
Eating disorder recovery
There are many misconceptions that to overcome an eating disorder, you have to ‘eat more,’ but there’s much more to it than that. For one, certain eating disorders revolve around overeating; in which case, forcing oneself to eat more is simply fueling the disorder.
Additionally, eating disorders are very much rooted in unhealthy, often overly critical mindsets; psychological factors like body image issues (body dysmorphia) and an obsession to appear perfect reveal the importance of mental health when it comes to recovery.
Healing from an eating disorder is as much about healing your body as it is about your mind, but it can sometimes be difficult to know where to begin. We’re here to fill in the blanks for you.
Here are eight actionable steps to help you start your new year in recovery.
1. Acknowledge the problem
No one can help you if you don’t want to help yourself, or if you can’t acknowledge that you need help (treatment can’t be forced). Recognize you’re struggling — it’s okay, you’re human.
2. Learn about eating disorders
There’s a lot of misinformation that continues to circulate about eating disorders, how they develop as well and how to overcome them. Set yourself up for success and educate yourself.
3. Lean on your support system
This could be trusted friends and family members, or an official eating disorder recovery group. Having a strong support system can make all the difference in how sustainable your recovery is.
4. Keep your goals reasonable
Rather than setting overzealous goals that go uncompleted and leave you feeling discouraged, start small. Build your confidence as you fulfill each new goal, and celebrate your successes.
5. Work with a dietitian
Working with a dietitian who specializes in working with people overcoming eating disorders is a great way to begin healing your body from the inside out, assisting in healing it from the trauma.
6. Practice self-compassion
Learn to be aware of your thoughts and emotions without punishing yourself for having them. Be gentle with yourself when you stumble, but dare to get back up when you fall.
7. Join a support group
Not everyone has a family to support them in recovery; sometimes, even if you do, their lack of understanding can be unhelpful at best and harmful at worst. Joining a support group and surrounding yourself with people who know what you’re going through can be super beneficial.
8. Seek professional help
If you or someone you love has begun (or has been for a while) exhibiting signs of disordered eating, send a message to our team today. Even if you aren’t ready to enroll in a recovery program, we’re here to help in whatever way we can.
Start treatment and recovery today
Seeds of Hope is a premier healthcare provider for men and women of all ages (teens included) who are struggling with an eating disorder. Anorexia, bulimia and binge-eating disorder are just a few of the different types of eating disorders we regularly support our clients in overcoming.
Some people find it difficult to believe that recovery is possible. They aren’t convinced that they’ll ever be able to heal their relationship with food and get to a point where they experience a truly joyful and healthy relationship with food. It can feel overwhelming, and discouraging.
We’re here to tell you it’s more than possible, and you’ve got a supportive team of professionals to guide you every step of the way, both in and out of the recovery program.
Send us a message or call us today at 610-644-6464 to speak with a qualified advisor and learn more about how you can begin healing from your eating disorder today.
