{"id":11722,"date":"2019-08-27T20:07:00","date_gmt":"2019-08-27T20:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.orri-uk.com\/?p=11722"},"modified":"2023-03-27T16:28:09","modified_gmt":"2023-03-27T16:28:09","slug":"summer-recovery-eating-disorder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orri-uk.com\/summer-recovery-eating-disorder\/","title":{"rendered":"5 things to keep in mind when in recovery from an eating disorder"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The summer months can be a challenging time for people suffering with eating disorders. Calendars can get busier as people take advantage of the sun, and body image concerns may increase as we require a different wardrobe or feel pressured to join in with summer trends.
Here are 5 things to keep in mind as we soak up the last few weeks of summer\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your recovery comes first\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your recovery comes first, meaning, when social invitations (from family and\/or friends) become too much and you feel your recovery being challenged, you can say no<\/strong>. Your loved ones should support your decision in the knowledge that it\u2019s helping you in the long-run. Give yourself permission to focus on yourself<\/strong> and do what\u2019s right for your journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep an eye on the critical voice<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s sometimes helpful to distinguish between the two \u2018voices\u2019 in recovery: the critical voice (the eating disorder voice) and the well voice (your recovery voice).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summertime \u2018norms\u2019 can often awaken moments of self-criticism, particularly when it comes to body image or pressures to socialise. It\u2019s important to be mindful of how an eating disorder may translate our experiences<\/strong> and provide us with a different \u2013 and possibly unhelpful \u2013 interpretation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recognise when your critical voice is getting louder and remember that it is not your<\/em> voice, it is the voice of the eating disorder, and it\u2019s up to you how you respond and listen to it. Rather than dismiss the voice, be curious about what\u2019s going on for you and remember that it will pass.<\/strong> By being curious, we\u2019re accepting our current situation and working \u2018with\u2019 ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may wish to do an exercise where you write down what the critical voice is saying in your head on one page, and on the other page write loving and kind responses from your \u2018well\u2019 voice to each so-called criticism. This helps to nurture and strengthen a \u2018well\u2019 voice that turns down the volume of the eating disorder voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check in with yourself\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Similar to above, throughout your recovery it\u2019s important to check in with yourself. This means taking a moment to reflect on how you are feeling \u2013 in your body and mind<\/strong> \u2013 in the present, and respond to any needs or feelings that you identify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By doing so, we develop a resilient and accepting mindset that encourages working \u2018with yourself\u2019 in your recovery \u2013 as opposed to against yourself. The best thing you can do is to be kind to yourself<\/strong> whilst battling an eating disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a recovery community you can reach out to<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You are not alone with your eating disorder. There are many people on a similar journey to you who are willing to offer their support as well as many professionals who are available to help. If and when things get challenging, know that it\u2019s okay to reach out<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recovery is all about developing self-care practices that reflect your sense of self-worth and self-love. Part of looking after yourself is by knowing that it\u2019s okay to lean on others when times get tough<\/strong>. Eating disorders thrive of shame and isolation \u2013 don\u2019t let them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember that you\u2019re on your journey, even when things get challenging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Recovery isn\u2019t a linear path \u2013 there are good days and bad days, just as there would be for someone not<\/em> suffering with an eating disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having a tough day does not mean that you\u2019re going backwards \u2013 rather, the mere fact that you can recognise it as a tough day means that you\u2019re still fighting and on your journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be honest with yourself about your needs. Give yourself permission to communicate and reach out<\/strong> to those who feel safe and know that every day that you choose recovery is a triumph and you should be proud of that.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The summer months can be a challenging time for people suffering with eating disorders. Calendars can get busier as people take advantage of the sun, and body image concerns may increase as we require a different wardrobe or feel pressured to join in with summer trends.Here are 5 things to keep in mind as we […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11723,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[78,7],"tags":[],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t