How to Explain Your Recovery Journey To Friends and Family

Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope

The process of dealing with and recovering from an eating disorder is a complex journey, one that often takes years to work through, depending on the severity of the disease. The reality is that an eating disorder does not only affect the individual suffering but those who are closest to them as well.

This can create painful and challenging experiences for all who are involved, but there is also joy and freedom found through the recovery journey.

There are times in which it may be difficult to share with or describe what you have been through or what you may be going through with distant friends or family members. This is perhaps most true during the holiday season, when you may be encountering individuals who have not seen you for some time.

There can be comments and questions that are well meaning but often misunderstood, and it is important to understand that the recovery journey from an eating disorder is one that will not be understood and accepted by everyone.

Sharing your Journey

Helping break the many stigmas and stereotypes about eating disorders is an important aspect in sharing your own journey with others. Many individuals may commonly misunderstand an eating disorder as a disease of “vanity”, but you did not choose to have an eating disorder any more than a person would choose to have cancer, diabetes, or heart disease.

You are not deliberately making yourself act out in eating disorder behaviors, as many of these choices are influenced by the combination of several factors, including genetics, neurobiology, environment, and more.

It is also important to help others see that professional help and treatment are necessary for intervention and recovery. Someone with an eating disorder cannot simply “get over” their behaviors or the things they are experiencing, and working with a collaborative treatment team is a necessary component of recovery.

The recovery journey itself involves varied stages of treatment, and this is why it may take longer to recover than may be expected.

Whatever you are hoping to share with your friends and family, remember that your life is valuable and precious and that you are incredibly strong for being where you are today and overcoming the obstacles you have encountered. This is something to be proud of.

Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!

If you have been in recovery from an eating disorder, what have you found to be the most difficult or challenging aspect about sharing with family and friends about your journey? What have you found to be helpful in sharing with others about your journey in recovery?

---

Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves as the Special Projects Coordinator for Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope, where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.

As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH/AH and nutrition private practice.

---

The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.

We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on November 26, 2015
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com