What Helped Me Recover From An Eating Disorder

This does not replace professional help, but these are some things that helped me.

Everyone's journey is unique and recovery is a difficult journey, but it is such a beautiful thing.

The driving force for me was that I simply wanted to feel like ME again. A friend once told me that, "the light I once had when I entered a room was no longer there" and I wanted to find that light again. Feeding my mind, body, and spirit is what makes me feel whole. I was so lost and tied up in my eating disorder and in my mind, it became my identity, but I knew I was worth so much more than that.

Bad days are part of the journey. Not every day will be perfect and that is OK. As long as you’re doing a little better than before. Even if that “better” is not giving up or reverting to your previous coping mechanisms. That to me, is a major sign of recovery.

My ED was the only friend I let myself have. I lost friends when I was in the thick of my ED and that was hard. Once I was recovering I pushed myself to get out and be social again. I believe that you are who you surround yourself with (positive or negative). I wanted to feel alive again and allowing myself to be open to being happy was a big step.

Whether you've struggled with an ED or not, happiness is not a certain weight. I remember thinking, “once I’m at X weight, I’ll be happy.” However, once I reached that weight I was never satisfied and I only became sicker and more miserable. Realizing that was a powerful driving force.

Ultimately, I decided I was once again worthy of being happy and took the steps to put my recovery into motion.

If you or someone you know is struggling, I urge you to seek help