9 Things to Remember Before Starting an Eating Disorder Treatment Program

Written by CCTC Staff Writer

The days or weeks leading up to beginning an eating disorder treatment program may be filled with a multitude of mixed emotions. There may be anxiety, anger and sadness. You may worry you made the wrong choice. At other times there may be a sense of relief that you may finally be getting out of the eating disorder cycle you have been stuck in. Whether it is your first time beginning treatment, or you have gone through the process before, there are a few things to keep in mind before you begin. Here are 9 things to remember as you begin this courageous journey:

1) Your motivation and willingness may waver.

Change is intimidating and difficult for anyone with an eating disorder. It can be normal to feel ambivalent about getting better, even if you are the one who decided to seek help. The best thing you can do in the moments you begin to question why you are doing this, remind yourself it is normal for your motivation and willingness to waver. Your eating disorder is going to give you a lot of reasons to give up, try to hold onto the reasons you initially decided to seek help or agree to get help.

2) Being honest is the best way to make use of your time in treatment.

Being honest in treatment is scary, because it means being vulnerable. But it is also the best way to make use of your time in treatment. The more honest you are, the more likely you are to gain insight and make progress. This is true no matter the topic, but especially when it comes to the eating disorder thoughts and behaviors you are struggling with. If your treatment team doesn't know what is going on with you, they cannot help you as well as they could. There is nothing you could say they likely have not heard before, you are in a safe space.

3) Recovery is not linear.

Recovering from an eating disorder is not a linear process, there are going to be ups and downs along the way. There may be times when you feel like you are making great progress and other times when you feel like you are regressing. The most important thing is to keep moving forward, even if it is just a baby step. Setbacks are normal, they happen to everyone in recovery. There is no right way to recover, and there is no race to get to a perceived finish line.

4) Trust your treatment team.

There may be times your eating disorder is making you feel like your treatment team is not on your side. It is important to remember your treatment team is there to help you, not judge you or make you do things they don't think are necessary. They have seen and helped people with similar eating disorders to yours before and want to help you. Trust them to guide you through this process. If there are moments you feel angry, upset or frustrated with your team, let them know! They want to hear from you and want to understand what you are thinking. This is extremely important to build a strong therapeutic relationship.

5) Be open to connecting with others in program with you.

The people in treatment with you can become great supports for you throughout this time. It can be scary to open up and be vulnerable with them, but it is worth it. These people understand what you are going through in a way that no one else does. They can offer support, encouragement and hope when you need it most.

6) When thoughts get louder, you are getting stronger.

While in treatment, you may find that your eating disorder thoughts get louder. It may feel overwhelming to have so many thoughts and urges. While it may not feel great, this is actually a good sign! It means you are getting stronger and your eating disorder is losing its grip on you. These thoughts may try to convince you to give up or that treatment isn't worth it, but don't listen to them. You are strong enough to beat this.

7) Celebrate your wins.

It may not always feel great to make the changes you are in treatment, but in the moments you can, make sure you celebrate your wins. Each victory, no matter how seemingly small, is something to be proud of. Whether it is eating a fear food, sharing something difficult in group, or conquering a meal exposure at a restaurant, you deserve to celebrate yourself and your hard work.

8) Do not compare yourself.

It is not uncommon for people in treatment to admit they have anxiety about starting treatment because they worry about not being sick enough or thin enough. It is likely that every single person in treatment with you had this same thought. The fact is, you deserve treatment. Period. No matter your weight, size, diagnosis or how long you have been struggling. Everyone's experience is different and comparing yourself or your body to others will do nothing but keep you stuck. There is no such thing as being 'sick enough' for treatment.

9) You are not alone.

You are not alone in this journey. There are people who want to help you and support you. You may feel like no one understands what you are going through at times, but there are people who do or who want to understand. Don't be afraid to reach out for help when you need it. The truth is, no one can recover alone and it is more than alright to accept the help you need.

Recovery from an eating disorder is far from easy, but you can do it. While it may seem difficult to imagine from where you are standing now, a life free from your eating disorder is possible.

If you are looking to learn more about eating disorder treatment programs, our team at Central Coast Treatment Center would be glad to answer any questions you have about recovery. Contact us today.