Considering Eating Disorder Treatment? Here Are Some Things To Be Mindful Of
A little voice inside your head convinces you that you're too big, fat, and needs to take up less space. So, you often find yourself listening to this voice and you restrict, count calories, obsessively exercise, and constantly weigh yourself–simply trying to find a way to quiet that not so little voice.
All you do is think and obsess about your body–its shape, weight, how clothes don’t or do fit, what you like or dislike about it–and it is really exhausting to always be criticizing your body.
But you're stuck, you don’t know where to turn, what to do, because this relationship that you have with your body and food has been normal for so long.
So, again, you continue to restrict, binge, purge, count-calories, and excessively exercise because it feels safe. And listen, you're not alone in this…at all actually because nearly 28 million other people in the United States alone currently have or had experienced eating disorder at some point in their lifetime.
28. Million. Individuals. Struggle. And yet it feels so normalized to engage in restriction, binging, or purging. Our society for so long has been convincing us that disordered eating habits are ‘normal’ or ‘okay’ because it helps us stick to the body shape & size that the world deems to be acceptable.
However, eating disorders are serious and complex mental health concerns that have a series of life-threatening consequences. And left untreated, individuals can experience long-term impacts including medical, social, psychiatric, and even behavioral consequences.
So, as normalized as it is to be in a smaller body, what if you could let that go? Is there a part of you that wants to become free from the scale, overexercising, and calorie counting? I imagine your disordered eating part has taken so much from your life already and the idea of freedom feels downright impossible. But, what if a part of you could dive into the uncomfortableness of therapy for your eating disorder? As uncomfortable and scary as it might be, can you think about for a moment what you could regain? Maybe it would be being more present with your kids and thinking less about what others think. Being able to eat without anxiety. Feeling neutral about your body or maybe even being able to celebrate what your body does.
During this #NEDA week especially, I want to provide you tips to be mindful of when considering stepping into eating disorder recovery because (1) you don’t have to do this alone, (2) you can quiet your inner critic, & (3) you deserve to heal and love your body.
If you are considering or pursuing eating disorder recovery, here are a few important things to be mindful of:
This is a BIG step forward in the path towards recovery! So, go you for taking intentional time to put yourself first because it can be scary and at times overwhelming.
When considering an eating disorder therapist, it is important to understand the therapist's treatment philosophy and practices. You have to find what works for you and what you will respond to because we are all different! Maybe you are looking for a skills based approach like CBT and DBT. Perhaps, you want space to understand your younger parts and how younger experiences have impacted present day you. Maybe you want a therapist that is also HAES informed and inclusive of all bodies. Whatever you feel you need, be sure to be mindful of that when searching for a therapist.
Location of the therapist is also important to consider when exploring recovery! Do you want in-person eating disorder treatment or virtual eating disorder treatment? You need to ask yourself what you feel most comfortable with or what you feel is most effective for you.
Ask questions on the phone prior to scheduling your first session, such as the therapist's approach to ED recovery or the space they create for clients, how long the session will be and even the cost per session. Whatever you feel you are curious about, write them down beforehand and have questions ready to ask the therapist!
Beginning the search for an eating disorder therapist can be daunting. There are many approaches, philosophies, treatment modalities and therapists that treat disordered eating habits and negative body image. However, as overwhelming as it can be, you are worthy of getting help for your eating disorder. You deserve to find freedom and let your eating disorder part release control. You deserve to live a life that is led by the authentic you, not your eating disorder.
