Maintaining Wellness After Eating Disorder Recovery
Whether you're returning to life after treatment or have been in fully recovered for years, maintaining a healthy relationship with food and your body is a continual, conscious effort.
This is not just a guide for eating disorder survivors; it is also for loved ones and mental health professionals who seek a deeper understanding of the ongoing support that's necessary for long-term freedom and recovery.
The Unseen Challenges Returning to Life After an Eating Disorder
The transition from the structured support of treatment to the relative autonomy of daily life can often trigger heightened anxiety and a fear of relapse. Rest assured, you are strong enough to overcome any set back you may face before, during, and after achieving full recovery.
Here is an affirmation for fear to add to your coping toolbox:
“I will not allow fear to be the only thing that prevents me from moving forward in life”.
Create a Coping Toolbox
Just as you learned coping mechanisms in treatment and during recovery, you now need to develop what I like to call 'a coping toolbox for wellness.' This toolbox should contain self-soothing techniques, emergency contact lists, resources for nutrition and meal planning, reminders of your accomplishments, and anything else you find helpful in maintaining your wellness.
Self-Care
For those in recovery, this might mean setting boundaries, seeking out supportive friendships, and maintaining a self-care routine that includes regular eating habits. Self-care is individual, so it’s important to take your time curating a self-care practice that works for you and your lifestyle.
Establishing Boundaries
Learning to say 'no' and setting boundaries is an indispensable part of self-care. It's okay to decline invitations that you feel may compromise your recovery.
Supportive Friendships
Let go of friends who cause you turmoil, drama, or toxicity and surround yourself with those that bring you laughter and comfort.
Healthy Movement
here is absolutely NO RUSH to get back to movement. Approaching movement from a place of self-love and wanting to feel strong and flexible from the inside out will ensure that movement is not abused or a trigger for relapse.
Finding Your New Normal
In many ways, life after recovery is about rediscovery—finding new interests, setting new goals, and exploring the wide range of experiences that your eating disorder may have once prevented. Sign up for a new dance class, a new sport, or a local club focused on a topic that interests you. The possibilities are endless!
Setting Goals
Achieving personal goals brings confidence of your capability to create the future of your dreams. And yes, it’s possible.
Continuing Professional Support
Therapy and professional support should continue well into the post-recovery phase. Whether through ongoing therapy, occasional check-ins with a nutritionist, or support groups, maintaining these connections is crucial.
Staying Informed
The field of mental health is dynamic, and new research is constantly emerging. Staying informed about the latest developments in eating disorder recovery can help you adapt your strategies to be as effective as possible. Be a part of the change!
Celebrate Milestones
Take time to recognize and celebrate the milestones of your recovery. Whether it's a year, five years, or a week without engaging in disordered behavior, these are worth celebration and acknowledgment!
