Treatments of Eating Disorders - Expanding the Goals of Recovery

For many people, recovery from an eating dis­order is an ongoing process, even if research has shown that short-term therapy is highly effective. Still, short or long, recovery is a step-by-step process.

Some people who are in recovery from eating disorders find it helpful to maintain an awareness of their former condition to avoid relapse. Others who are sensitive to the onset of a disorder have a plan in place to contact a therapist or support group to nip an episode in the bud. Or, through treatment, some people become aware of the events or emotional sit­uations that are most likely to trigger old behaviors. Taking extra care to eat regularly and touch base with a counselor keeps others from overreacting to old but distinctly dangerous triggers.

A recovery-support network can be invaluable in preventing relapse, but even a surprisingly simple activity such as keeping a journal can increase a per­son's awareness of potentially dangerous patterns.

Both patients and therapists note that the wider and deeper the therapy—including family therapy, support group activity, and perhaps in-depth psy­chotherapy or even spiritual realignment—the greater the benefits. When both eating and emo­tional issues are addressed, the longer lasting and more effective the recovery, and the greater the pre­paredness to avoid relapse.

Expanding the goals of recovery

"Getting better" from an eating disorder means more than simply attaining a balanced weight or being free of such symptoms as purging or bingeing. Recovery means going on to a normal and comfort­able life.

Getting back to "normal"

For people who have eating disorders, part of get­ting better and being "normal" is learning how to be comfortable in social eating situations. In fact, one indication of recovery is being able to eat with peo­ple in a normal fashion. Typically, these individuals are most likely to have stayed away from social eating during their illness—or perhaps they may always have had profound social difficulties that were masked by an eating disorder of one kind or another.

Support groups and family counseling can help with this important aspect of ongoing recovery. Like most aspects of recovery from an eating disorder, socializing may take time and patience. However, it's a very important sign of health.

Exercise, too, is a "normal" part of life. But for people in treatment for eating disorders, adding exercise must be done carefully because overexer­cise may be part of their disorder. Of course, exer­cise can contribute a sense of well-being and bring body functions into balance, but it must be moni­tored. Family and friends also need to understand that even former patients shouldn't be urged to join in a bike-hike right away.

Likewise, people who are recovering from eating disorders are advised to move gradually back into normal work patterns and social activities— especially if they had had a previous tendency to do all things "perfectly."

In sum, learning to bring moderation into every aspect of life is an important factor in long-term recovery. To live consciously with this kind of bal­ance (something that many of us strive for) is one of the unexpected benefits of recovering from an eat­ing disorder.