Healthy You: Seeking Support during Eating Disorder Recovery

As we celebrate National Recovery Month, it is important to remember that there are sources available to help you understand what you need for a full recovery.

Assistance

Recovering from an eating disorder is not easy, and there are no quick fixes. When you choose to work with a treatment team, you will make daily progress. Sometimes residential treatment is the best choice. Residential treatment such as Magnolia Creek, allows a team of professionals to assist you in your recovery. Magnolia Creek works with clients to create an individualized treatment plan that meets your psychological, medical, nutritional, spiritual, and relational needs.

Tell Someone
One of the most difficult things to do when you have an eating disorder is to recognize you need help. Once you recognize you need help, it is important to find someone you trust and ask for help. Many people start by telling a close friend, family member or doctor. It can be scary to tell someone your secret because you do not know how they will react, but you may find that they are relieved because they have been worried about you.

Eating Disorder Support Groups
Support groups exist to give various types of help, such as relevant information about eating disorders, personal experiences, forming social networks, and listening to others experiences. Support groups are either self-help or therapist led, and can be a tangible way to share thoughts and feelings with others who understand eating disorders, and can be an invaluable part of a successful recovery.

Eating Disorder Recovery Self-Help
Recovery is a continuous process, and there are things you can do outside of your therapist office or treatment program to enhance your journey. An important part of supporting your recovery is to learn self-help skills that allow you to cope positively, and manage your emotions.

Inspirational Stories
At times during recovery, you may need some extra encouragement. Reading stories of others who have battled an eating disorder can inspire you and give you confidence for the road ahead. Mirror-Mirror is a great resource for inspirational videos to show you what an eating disorder really means.

Become Involved
There are many ways to stay connected as you celebrate recovery, such as volunteering for an eating disorder organization, taking part in a support group, or joining a mentoring program. Being involved allows you to practice ways of helping yourselves and others.
The phases of recovery may vary and change depending on where you are in your journey. Recovery is typically characterized by the full restoration of:

• Physical
• Nutritional
• Psychological
• Emotional health

For many, full restoration may happen gradually over a period of months, or even years. Recovering from an eating disorder is a life-long commitment and involves dedication to the process. Having resources available to you such as treatment, clinicians, and eating disorder support benefits you as you journey towards a fulfilling life.

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, Magnolia Creek is here to support you. For more information, please complete our contact form or call our admission team at 205-235-6989.