Recovery: A Process
Recovery. We hear about it a lot in an eating disorder setting. But what is it?
Recovery is…
A choice
Difficult
Freeing
Not just about weight
Different for everyone
Fun (sometimes)
Recovery isnt…
Selfish
Linear
By yourself
Hopeless
According to NEDA (National Eating Disorder Association), there are 5 stages of recovery!
Precontemplation Stage:
This is the stage where someone doesnt think they have a problem. Family members & friends may be seeing some of the behaviors, but not necessarily!
Contemplation Stage:
This is the stage where an individual can see that they have a problem, but may not be ready to change yet.
Preparation Stage:
This is the stage where an individual is ready for a change! Yay! They still may be indecisive about how to change and not know what forms of treatment are necessary for them.
Action Stage:
This is the stage where an individual tackles their eating disorder head-on! This can be the longest stage in some peoples recovery. This is the recovery process that a lot of us think of!
Maintenance/Relapse:
Once you get through the action stage, there are two possible paths! You either maintain these healthy behaviors or you relapse and must restart the process. However, when you relapse you may not necessarily go back to the Precontemplation Stage!
Feel free to answer any or all of the following questions:
1. Do you have anything to add to what recovery is and isnt? Do you disagree with anything I said?
2. What stage are you currently in? Or are you a loved one of someone with an eating disorder?
3. What steps can you take to further yourself through your current stage or move to the next stage?
4. Feel free to add anything else!
@24Help1
1. Do you have anything to add to what recovery is and isn
@LittleLotte
I agree! Maintenance is the stage that we could potentially be in for life! And that's okay because it does get easier as we go! I'm so glad that you've reached that stage 
Cooking can definitely be hard, especially with the thoughts of food insecurity that can happen during this lockdown. Problem-solving to come up with solutions for how to prepare food sounds like a fabulous way to make sure you maintain the maintenance stage! Thank you for checking in, keep fighting!
@24Help1
1. I don't really need to add something to the "process" part. I just need to say that it's also important to have a will to recover. Unless we WANT to recover, it doesn't matter how good our recovery process is. We're NOT gonna win through a forced recovery.
2. I am really into recovery right now. I am currently in the "Preparation" stage. Having gone through anorexia for a year now, a sudden change in my parents' perspective, and the support of my ED listener and friend Serena, has helped me through it. If I can do it, you can too!
3. I think I can try harder to delete the weight tracker, calorie count apps on my phone, and also minimise checking up on my weight secretly, and trust that it'll all be okay.
Thanks for the question! Best of luck everyone! <3
@CriesFromSmiles123
I completely agree that having a reason to recover is going to be the only way we can do it. Other people can't force us to recover. I'm so glad you're in the preparation stage, it sounds like you're ready to begin the action stage of recovery with deleting apps that are negatively affecting you! I'm sending you good vibes and strength!
@24Help1
Thank you Help! I have been a great fan of your work, and they inspire me a lot. Thank you for being there for us, and thank you for the kind and encouraging words!
@CriesFromSmiles123
I agree with the wanting to recover part <3 I feel like it works best when we want to do it ourselves. I'm so glad you're getting better, love you <3
@24Help1
i loved this! thank you for it <3 especially the "freeing" part, it feels good to be in control of your own thoughts for once.
1. Do you have anything to add to what recovery is and isnt? Do you disagree with anything I said?
i would add that recovery isn't someone else's choice. i feel like recovery is truly accomplished when you come to your own conclusion and truly want to get better for your own health, not because others want you to. i've been forced into recovery and it didn't work, no amount of therapists or friends could convince me otherwise. now, because i wanted it for myself, i did it without anyone else (other than my lovely friends on 7cups).
2. What stage are you currently in? Or are you a loved one of someone with an eating disorder?
i'm in the maintenance stage. i had some ed thoughts come back but i thankfully didn't relapse. my parents bought a new scale with a body fat %, and it was really tempting to step on it, but i knew the number would make me relapse. i didn't check, because now i know my weight doesn't define me. i'm so much happier and so grateful i'm kicking ed butt.
3. What steps can you take to further yourself through your current stage or move to the next stage?
i think i can work on not feeling "guilty" if i don't work out to the point where i'm sore, since i'm used to working out every day, i should give myself rest days if i'm feeling tired or sick
4. Feel free to add anything else!
we all recover at a different pace. don't be scared if it happens too quickly or too slowly, we all grow and learn at different times. best of luck to anyone reading this <3 , i hope you're all doing well! feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions about recovery, i know it can seem scary.
@sereneoceanscene
I completely agree recovery is a choice that you have to make. Sometimes in underage people recovery can work when pushed on by someone else because they realize it's good, it's all a personal journey. That's so fantastic that you were actively able to not step on the scale! It really does sound like ED is getting a butt-kicking! Learning to exercise out of body-love rather than body-hate is such a key step, I hope you can work through that. And thank you for your final message about how recovery is different for everyone So true!
