What Recovery Really Looks Like: Insights from Someone Who’s Battled Eating Disorders for 9 Years
Recovery from an eating disorder isn’t a straight path—it’s full of ups and downs, but one thing is for sure: consistency is key.
When I first started recovery, it felt really hard to make the right choices every day. There were days when I struggled with impulsive exercise, pushing myself to work out even when I was exhausted. Or I’d catch myself restricting food, thinking I could skip meals or limit what I ate. But the more I practiced recovery-focused actions, the easier they became. It’s like learning anything new—you keep doing it, and eventually, it becomes second nature. If you skip a meal one day, it makes it harder to eat regularly the next. That’s why consistency is so important in recovery. Every small action builds on the next.
Don’t Beat a Dead Horse: Practice Self-Compassion
It’s easy to get caught up in guilt or self-blame when things don’t go perfectly. But here’s the truth: You’ve already learned the lesson. Now it’s time to move forward and practice grace instead of getting stuck in shame. Recovery isn’t about being perfect; it’s about progress. Every day is a new chance to choose recovery again.
Mindfulness Can Help
One of the tools that helped me the most in recovery was a mindfulness technique from DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy). It’s a skill called observing your thoughts without judging them. When you find yourself stuck in negative thoughts about food or your body, try this: pause and say, “Isn’t that interesting, I’m thinking about…” This practice helps take the power away from those thoughts and gives you the space to move forward.
Mindfulness in recovery is like putting your eating disorder thoughts in the sideview mirror and focusing on where you’re going instead of getting stuck in the past or the noise of your inner critic. It gives you the freedom to move forward, even when your mind tries to pull you back into old habits.
Remember How Far You’ve Come
On the tough days, remind yourself how much you’ve already overcome. You’ve faced challenges and kept going, even when it felt impossible. Celebrating how far you’ve come can make a big difference in staying motivated. Recovery isn’t easy, but every step counts, even if it feels small.
Final Thoughts
Recovery is not about getting it right every time—it’s about showing up consistently. You’ll have good days and bad days, but the most important thing is to keep going. You have the strength to overcome the challenges ahead, and each day is another opportunity to choose recovery.
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