Recovery has many ups and downs along its way, with many temptations to return back to your eating disorder. If you are someone who has recently sought treatment in an inpatient or partial hospitalization program, or has been on your path of recovery, it is so very critical to stay connected for others for support. As you experience all parts of yourself re-awaken, it may at times be very overwhelming. It as at these times you need strength inside and support outside to help continue down the mindful path of recovery. Being alone was exactly where you were in your eating disorder, so it surely will not work in your recovery. Support is key from family, “healthy” peers, and professionals. You should a least have an outpatient therapist and a nutritionist for guidance and accountability. In addition, if on medication, a psychiatrist and any other medical professionals should continue to be part of your treatment team.

It is so important to have as much awareness as you can about your triggers that initially led you to you eating disorder because life will always keep knocking on your door. Remember, triggers can be much more than times of high risk, which can include holidays, exams, divorce, death, stress, as well as relationships, marriage, having a child, and aging. Triggers include emotions, events, and our interpretations and responses to these events. By staying mindful of self on all levels you will be more easily able to examine the events and reactions to the events, before choosing the self-destructive behavior. If you do engage in a “slip” during your recovery process, it can be used as an opportunity to take positive steps to understand what can be different in the future to change the outcome. Find your strength to not let that be a reason to go back, but instead to pick yourself up and move forward. By exploring what happened step by step, making a new plan for the future, you may not need to rely on your eating disorder, or other self-destructive behavior, the next time you are faced with that same situation, thoughts, and/or feelings.

Relapse prevention work is also an opportunity to stay focused on your strengths, what have you been doing in your recovery that has worked so far. Remember, you are not alone in your recovery and there is no perfect recovery, only your recovery. The more you experience the joys of recovery, see that you can walk through the tough times of recovery, reconnect to your healthy self, and experience gratifying and authentic relationships, the more you truly begin to live again.

Relapse Prevention and the family, significant others, and peers:

Well, this has all taken its toll on all of you I’m sure. Not only does the sufferer of the eating disorder need support but also, so do YOU. Not only does the individual in recovery from the eating disorder deserve support, so do YOU. You have been affected in so many ways and on so many different levels by this disorder. The resource page on this website lists many resources which will be extremely helpful for your continued physical, emotional, spiritual growth and well-being. Please make sure that you are getting all that you need, take care of yourself too.