9 Things To Consider Before Giving Up On Eating Disorder Recovery

Written by Emily Costa

Deciding to recover from an eating disorder is a huge decision. The journey comes with a lot of highs and lows, and moments where you may be tempted to give up and call it quits. But it's crucial to consider the implications and consequences before making any hasty decisions. In this blog post, we aim to provide insight into five key considerations that should be evaluated before deciding to quit your recovery process from an eating disorder. These are meant to guide you, offering you a clearer perspective and aiding you in making an informed decision about your recovery journey.

Here are 9 things to consider when making your decision:

1. Remember: Your Eating Disorder Lies and Gets Angry When You Let Go

Your eating disorder thrives on deception and distortion, often painting a false and degrading picture of yourself and your abilities. It convinces you that your worth is tied to your physical appearance and manipulates your perceptions of food and body image.

As you embark on your recovery journey and start to break free from this damaging mindset, your eating disorder may become 'angry', and this can cloud your judgment and decision-making abilities. It might create confusion and make the recovery process seem more difficult than it is, sowing seeds of doubt that might tempt you to quit. However, it's vital to remember that these are mere tactics of your eating disorder to retain its hold over you.

Recognizing these lies and distortions can be challenging but is a critical step in your recovery process. It's essential to consider not letting the 'anger' of your eating disorder deter you from your path towards health and happiness.

2. Evaluate the Extenuating Circumstances in Your Life

It's critical to assess the broader context of your life outside of your recovery process. There might be external factors or extenuating circumstances that are exacerbating the difficulty of the recovery journey, such as stress at work or school, personal relationships, or other health conditions. These additional challenges can make the recovery process seem overwhelming, and may contribute to feelings of wanting to quit.

It’s only natural to want to return to the comfort of your eating disorder when things feel out of control. It's important to separate these external stressors from the recovery process itself, acknowledging that they are temporary and can be managed independently, relying on coping skills.

3. Don’t Let Rose Colored Glasses Cloud Your Judgment

It’s not uncommon to begin remembering being sick as being easier or better than it really was. It's crucial to let yourself remember the reality of being in the depths of your eating disorder - the isolation, fear, and physical discomfort that came with the eating disorder. It was not a period of glamor or control as the disorder might make you believe, but rather a time of illness and distress.

The isolation might have stemmed from avoiding social scenarios involving food or from the shame and guilt that often accompany eating disorders. The fear was likely constant - fear of weight gain, of food, of people discovering the disorder, and of facing the reality of the situation. The physical illness was real too, the constant fatigue, the unexplained aches, and the general feeling of being unwell are all part of the reality.

It's crucial to remember these harsh truths about the period of illness, as they can serve as a strong deterrent to quitting the recovery process. Reflecting on these unpleasant experiences and feelings can remind you why you embarked on the recovery journey in the first place, and motivate you to keep going, strengthening your resolve to overcome the disorder, and live a healthier, happier life.

3. Revisit Your Goals for Recovery

What made you want to begin recovery in the first place? What led you to begin the journey? It is likely you had a few personal goals that extend beyond the realm of your eating disorder that inspired you to give it a go. These could include starting a new job, having a child, or graduating from school. Or maybe it is strengthening your relationships, your marriage or feeling less depressed and anxious.

These aspirations can serve as potent reminders of why you began your recovery process in the first place and the life you envision for yourself free from your eating disorder. It's important to bring your attention back to these goals and reflect on what they mean to you.

Think about the excitement of starting a new job and the opportunities it will bring. Consider the joy and fulfillment that comes with starting a family or the pride and accomplishment associated with academic success.

Recalling these goals can help counter the negative thoughts and feelings that might tempt you to quit, and instead, inspire you to keep going, reinforcing the idea that recovery is not just about overcoming an eating disorder, but about reclaiming your life and realizing your dreams.

4. Don't Allow Your Eating Disorder to Isolate You from Your Support System

Your eating disorder may try to convince you to shut out your treatment team or therapist, suggesting that they don't understand or are against you. This is yet another deceitful tactic to maintain its control. These professionals play a crucial role in your recovery process, offering insights, guidance, and strategies to combat the disorder.

It's important to lean into having the difficult discussions with them, even when it feels uncomfortable. They can help you navigate through the complexities of your emotions and thought processes, and dismantle the false narratives spun by your eating disorder.

By maintaining open communication and trust with your therapy team, you can effectively address and overcome challenges in your recovery journey. Shutting them out only isolates you further, making the journey more daunting. Remember, your therapy team is there to support and empower you in your fight against your eating disorder. Embrace their help and expertise, and use it as a catalyst to propel you forward in your recovery.

This open dialogue and collaboration can significantly enhance your resilience and determination to continue the process and achieve your recovery goals.

5. Remember How Far You've Come and The Challenges You've Overcome

It's vital to recognize and celebrate your progress in recovery, no matter how small the steps may seem. Reflecting on the challenges you've overcome can be a powerful motivator in pushing through moments of self-doubt or temptation to quit.

You may recall times when the thought of eating a certain food was terrifying, and now you can do so with less anxiety. Or perhaps you've made strides in expressing your feelings rather than suppressing them and resorting to disordered eating behaviors.

Each victory, no matter how small, signifies your strength and resilience and the progress you've made in your recovery journey. This process is not linear, and there will be times of regression, but remembering how far you've come can inspire hope and determination to keep going. Looking back at where you started can help you appreciate the magnitude of your efforts and the progress you've made, reminding you of your strength and capability to conquer the challenges of your eating disorder.

6. Embrace Your Emotions, Even The Uncomfortable Ones

Recovery is a process filled with a myriad of emotions, and it's important to allow yourself to experience even the negative ones. It's okay to feel angry about recovery or angry at your eating disorder for existing in the first place. These feelings are a natural part of the process and acknowledging them can lead to healing. These negative emotions of wanting to quit or give up don't signify failure but are part of the human experience.

7. Read About People’s Experiences Recovering

Immersing yourself in others' recovery stories can be profoundly comforting, offering a sense of shared struggle, perseverance, and ultimately, triumph. These narratives remind you that you're not alone in this journey - countless others have faced similar challenges, encountered setbacks, and overcome them step by step.

They demonstrate the potential of resilience and the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Reading these accounts can imbue you with a renewed sense of hope, determination, and the courage to keep moving forward in your own journey.

8. Join a Support Group

Engaging in a support group can be an invaluable part of your recovery journey. This platform provides a safe, judgment-free zone where individuals can share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs. It allows you to connect with others who can empathize with your struggles and understand your journey to recovery.

The group dynamic fosters a sense of community and solidarity, and it can be incredibly empowering to know that you're not alone in your battle against an eating disorder. The shared experiences can help reduce feelings of isolation, provide practical insights, and motivate you to persevere.

Moreover, witnessing others' progress can serve as a beacon of hope and resilience, enhancing your determination to carry on your own recovery journey. The National Alliance for Eating DIsorders offers several free pro-recovery groups each week, learn more here.

In the challenging journey of recovery, it's only natural to encounter moments where you feel like giving up. You may be overwhelmed by the enormity of the challenges ahead or daunted by setbacks and relapses. This is completely normal and is experienced by many navigating the path of recovery. These feelings of despair and temptation to quit don't signify weakness or failure. Rather, they reflect the reality of the arduous process of overcoming an eating disorder—a process filled with struggle, but also growth.

It's important to remember that these feelings are temporary. Just as storms eventually give way to sunshine, so too will these moments of doubt and despair pass with time. With time, patience, and perseverance, these feelings will diminish, and you'll find yourself back on the path towards recovery, stronger and more determined than before.

At Central Coast Treatment Center, we are devoted to providing comprehensive programming and unwavering support, regardless of where you are in your recovery process. Our team is committed to walking this journey with you, encouraging you each step of the way towards a healthier, happier life. Remember, you're stronger than you think, and every step forward counts. Reach out to learn more about our services today.

Emily Costa

Having struggled with an eating disorder herself, Emily is passionate about spreading awareness, education and the possibility of recovery with others. Emily previously volunteered as a Crisis Text Line counselor and with the eating disorder non-profit Project HEAL where she served as their blog manager, their NYC Chapter Leader & a recovery mentor in their Communities of HEALing pilot program completing training by the Carolyn Costin Institute. Emily now enjoys working with various treatment centers, clinicians and non-profits in the eating disorder community providing marketing and design services. In her free time she enjoys spending time with friends, hanging with her dogs, and reading a book at the beach.

Ai PonoSeptember 21, 2023