Motivation, Patience and Hope (Part 2) for Eating Disorder Recovery
In this series of blog posts, we continue to work our way through Carolyn Costin & Gwen Schubert Grabb's book 8 Keys to Recovery From an Eating Disorder Workbook.
This week, we finish our interview with Kristie from Key One: Motivation, Patience, and Hope.
What helped you to stay motivated, or get motivation back if you lost it?
People, people, people. Connecting with others. Talking with people and those who had recovered - jealousy can be a huge motivator!
How did you stay patient or deal with losing your patience during the process?
I cried about it a lot. My therapist also reminded me that I hadn't fully recovered yet.
How did you use others to help during your recovery?
I used email, Facebook, messages, phone calls, writing to connect with people - EDs thrive in isolation. I asked for advice, and hunted people down to get as much knowledge as possible. Even just a short response from someone can be enough to get through the next hour.
How long did it take for you to feel fully recovered?
About five years before I had zero qualms about food. The body image part of my recovery did take longer, but that was another piece that I worked on after I had recovered, as a separate diagnosis. It really is a time thing.
Is there anything you can share with me that will give me hope?
"Every choice you make takes you one step closer to your eating disorder or one step closer to recovery."
I get thousands of choices every single day - if just one time I am able to go against that, then that's a win.
Summary of what I learned from Kristie
Recovery, being fully recovered, is absolutely possible. It is a long, hard journey, but it is 100% possible.
Next week, we move onto Key Two: Your Healthy Self Will Heal Your Eating Disorder Self.
Part 2 of an assignment from 8 Keys to Recovery From An Eating Disorder Workbook: An interview with someone who is recovered.
