This article was written by Certified Eating Disorder Specialist & Therapist, Sarah Nonnenmacher.
If you are reading this post, you may be just beginning to consider seeking treatment to heal your relationship with food.
Or maybe you’ve already started, and you’re finding it more difficult than you bargained for. Or maybe you’re here seeking to understand and better support a loved one facing this decision.
Many barriers may exist to jumping in to seeking eating disorder treatment, but possibly the biggest of all is simply fear of the unknown. After all, if you’ve had your eating disorder for any length of time, you may even have difficulty imagining what life could be like without it. Knowing what to expect can give us the courage to persevere.
From an ED Therapist’s perspective, here are some top things you should expect from eating disorder treatment:
Expect that Recovery is Possible for YOU.
There are a lot of different numbers and statistics floating around out there about recovery rates. So many factors influence these findings, such as how “recovery” is defined, when success is measured, what level and modality of treatment was received, and what other mental health or physical factors were at play. Despite all the conflicting reports, here is what we KNOW:
Most people DO recover. Some estimate 80% of people seeking treatment from Bulimia or binge-eating, and 60-70% of people seeking treatment for Anorexia ultimately recover fully. The general consensus is that more than half of people who pursue treatment eventually recover, although full recovery will take time.
Recovery is more successful when treatment comes early. If this is the first time you are considering treatment, don’t delay! Your chances of a full recovery are much higher the sooner you start treatment. That said, if you’ve already lived with your eating disorder most of your life, there is no time like the present to begin a new chapter.
Full recovery may take years after treatment. One study found a significant increase in recovery rates 22 years post-treatment as opposed to 9 years post-treatment. If treatment seems to not be working, it may need more time, or another type of treatment, but doesn’t necessarily mean your ED is treatment-resistant.
Expect to feel conflicted.
You may feel fully ready at the beginning, only to have your motivation waiver once you dive in. That is normal. You may be unsure if you are ready to change at all, but you slowly move forward anyway, baby-step by baby-step. That is also normal. No two recovery journeys are the same, but there are some common experiences:
You may feel afraid of what life in recovery will be like.
You may feel undeserving of recovery or that your struggle isn’t valid for one reason or another.
You may feel guilty, despite everyone around you telling you not to feel that way.
These are all very normal experiences and are part of the recovery process. When they surface, don’t let them be reasons to quit. Others have moved through them and found freedom on the other side, and so can you.
Expect your team to be on your side.
We will be with you every step of the way, through every high and low and all the questions in between. It’s okay to show up with your uncertainty, regret, fear, even anger. We joined this field because we care. Expect to be listened to, and to have the space to figure things out at your pace. Along that vein, here are some other things to keep in mind regarding your team:
If you’re not already, we will recommend seeing a mental health therapist, a dietician, and a medical doctor. A full team will ensure we are attending to all aspects of recovery and that nothing is slipping through the cracks.
Depending on the severity of presenting symptoms, we may recommend a higher level of care. This is because we know that eating disorders, when left untreated or under-treated, have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness and can have significant medical complications. We understand that participating in a higher level of care is an enormous commitment, and ultimately you are the one who gets to make that choice. But if we do recommend it, it's because we know that more intensive treatment in the short-term could result in a faster recovery and lasting treatment long-term. And you deserve to get all the support you can.
There may be time your team recommends something you really aren’t sure about. Let us know how you feel about it. We will work with you to either explore what’s getting in the way, or work around the blocks.
Expect it to be worth it.
Don’t take my word for it! Read stories of people who have personally fought that battle and found freedom. You can find recovery stories here and here and here, just to name a few. Or go through the NEDA website to find a community of people who are fighting alongside you.
The journey may be long, but the view from the top is unbeatable. Are you ready to take the first step?
About Sarah Nonnenmacher, LPC, CEDS
Sarah has worked as a licensed professional counselor in the state of Missouri and Illinois. She began her work in eating disorder treatment at a treatment center in Chicago for all ages and all types of eating disorders. Family life brought Sarah to Columbia, MO where she began outpatient therapy for eating disorder clients at Bamboo Nutrition and Therapy.
Sarah brings warmth, empathy, compassion and a wealth of knowledge to her client sessions. She has worked with clients who want recovery and those who don’t. Sarah knows how to navigate these waters and hold space for the clients who are timid, unsure, or cannot imagine living without their eating disorder.
What Sarah knows for sure, after working with countless clients, is that recovery is always worth it.