Most people with eating disorders, especially in the beginning, resist treatment and behavior change. They cling to the illusion that if they just lose enough weight, they will feel good about themselves, improve their lives, and enjoy self-confidence and success.
After a while, however, they begin to understand that the supposed benefits of thinness are only an illusion that will never bring them happiness. Starving, stuffing, purging, and other self-destructive behaviors will never lead to peace and a meaningful life. When people get to this point ,and when they begin to look for better ways to build meaningful lives, recovery becomes a real possibility.
Is recovery possible?
Eating disorders are treatable, and lots of people recover from them. Recovery, however, is a difficult process that can take several months or even years. Some people do better than others. The folks who do best, work with physicians and counselors who help them resolve both the medical and psychological issues that contribute to, or result from, disordered eating.
What is recovery?
Recovery is much more than the abandonment of starving and stuffing. At minimum it includes the following:
-Maintenance of normal or near-normal weight
-In women, regular menstrual periods (not triggered by medication)
-A varied diet of normal foods (not just low-cal, non-fat, non-sugar items)
-Elimination or major reduction of irrational food fears
-Age appropriate relationships with family members
-Awareness of cultural demands for unrealistic thinness
-One or more mutually satisfying friendships with healthy, normal people. Such friendships involve mutual give-and-take and a minimum of caretaking and "parenting" behavior.
-Age-appropriate interest and participation in romantic relationships
-Strong repertoire of problem-solving skills
-Fun activities that have nothing to do with food, weight, or appearance
-Understanding of the process of choices and consequences
-Person has a sense of self, plus goals and a realistic plan for achieving them.
-Is moving towards building a meaningful, fulfilling, and satisfying life.
-Person has also learned to be kind to self and others, forsaking perfectionism and confronting flaws and disorder with grace and understanding. Person refuses to drive her/himself with criticism and demands for unrealistic performance.