Recovery From an Eating Disorder is Possible

By Lexi Matthesen, Graduate Student Intern

Eating disorders have the second highest mortality rate of any mental illness, just behind Opioid Use Disorder (Micali & Herle, 2023). Most people are unaware of the fatal risks of eating disorders. Thankfully, fatalities from eating disorders can be prevented with support and individualized care and recovery is possible. Some of the most common eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa (AN), Bulimia Nervosa (BN), Binge Eating Disorder (BED), Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED).

Eating disorders do not discriminate. They impact people of all ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, body types, genders, races, ethnicities and weights (Gaudiani, 2019). Despite the stereotypes in our culture, only a small percentage of people struggling with an eating disorder are underweight (Brennan et al., 2022). Therefore, you most likely will have no idea that someone is suffering from an eating disorder.

Most people are suffering in silence and an unfortunate aspect of having an eating disorder can be a lack of motivation or desire to seek help. While checking in with a friend, family member or loved one when they are struggling can be helpful, making food, body, weight or appearance related comments can be harmful or enabling. Involving a person’s loved ones and/or friends in their recovery can be essential. Eating disorders are not a choice and the behaviors can serve as a way to cope with problems such as trauma, pain, perfectionism, low self-worth, family conflict, textures and sensory difficulties, grief etc. and are individual to each person. However, eating disorders are treatable and recovery is attainable with the right support.

Due to the individuality of each and every human, there is not one way or a right way to recover. Some people that are struggling with eating disorders attend higher levels of care such as Inpatient (IP), Residential (RES), Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) or Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). Other people may attend outpatient therapy and work with a registered dietitian. People are referred to the level of care that is suited for their current medical and mental health related needs. While treatment and/or a full team with an eating disorder informed therapist, registered dietitian, primary care physician and potentially a psychiatrist and recovery coach is recommended, not everyone is able to access these resources. The counseling field continues to work towards accessibility to treatment, as well as lower cost resources and free support groups.

            Eating disorders are extremely common and can feel scary, overwhelming, lonely and difficult to recover from. Healing can begin when you take the first step by reaching out for help. You do not have to do this journey alone. While recovery can seem unlikely at times, it is possible to recover and achieve your goals. Even on your darkest day there is still hope. Many people with eating disorders can feel like it is not bad enough or they are not sick enough. If you are struggling at all, it is enough and you deserve support, so that you can live your life to the fullest. You do not even have to want to recover, but you do have to do something different. This is your sign to take that brave step today.

References

Brennan, L., Byrne, S., Caldwell, B., Farmer, J., Hart, L. M., Hay, P., Heruc, G. A., Maguire, S., Piya, M. K., Quin, J., Ralph, A. F., Trobe, S. K., Wallis, A., & Willioams-Tchen, A. (2022). Management of eating disorders for people with higher weight: clinical practice guideline. Journal of Eating Disorders, 10(1), 1–42. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-022-00622-w

Gaudiani, J. L. (2019). Sick Enough: A guide to the medical complications of eating disorders.  Routledge.

Micali, N., & Herle, M. (2023). Gone too soon: Studying mortality in eating disorders. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 147(2), 119–121. https://doi.org/10.1111/acps.13527