How to Recover Physically From an Eating Disorder

Eating Disorders are classified as serious psychiatric illnesses. The effects of eating disorders fall within the entire spectrum of the body-mind-spirit matrix, however. Physically, eating disorders can be fatal. They can also cause cancer, kidney and liver failure and a number of other complications. Psychologically, eating disorders can lead to mood swings, depression and suicide. Spiritually, eating disorders can derail the attainment of peace and equanimity. Recovering physically from bulimia or any eating disorder is challenging and requires determination, persistence, support, counseling and courage.

Instructions

See your Primary Care Physician

• 1

  Make an appointment with your primary care physician. This is the first and most critical step on your road to recovery. If you have or suspect that you have an eating disorder, you should immediately make an appointment with your primary care physician.

• 2

  Give your primary care physical all of the details of your eating disorder history and behavior. You cannot recover unless you seek treatment. Your primary care physician may need to run a few tests to determine the type and level of treatment that you need.

• 3

  Follow the instructions of your primary care physician to the best of your ability. Now that you have reached out for help; you must now begin to get help.

• 4

  See a nutritionist. They will be able to give you meal plans and lists of foods that can be restorative to your health and hurry along the recovery process. Eat what they tell you to eat whenever possible.

• 5

  Consider going to an in-patient facility. The support system can have a great impact of healing physically.

• 6

  Ask your family and friends for help in keeping you on track.

Reduce Your Activities and Commitments

• 7

  By now, you and your primary care physician have decided upon the type of treatment you will receive (inpatient, outpatient or a combination of both). Whichever form of treatment you opt for; you need to immediately reduce your activities and commitments as much as possible. You will need time to take care of yourself. Take a look at your activities and commitments and decide which ones can be dropped.

• 8

  Relieve yourself of at least one activity or commitment. Take this advice from someone who successfully recovered from an eating disorder: You will need time and space to physically recover and heal. You must reduce your workload, however possible. Drop at least one activity or commitment. Take time off work if you can. Drop a college course. Cancel your Wednesday night social engagement.

• 9

  Take some time off if possible from burdens. You must make time and space for your physical recovery. You will need it.

Secure Social Support

• 10

  Tell your friends and family about your eating disorder. You cannot recover from the physical effects of an eating disorder by simply tackling the problems of your body. Your health care providers (inpatient, outpatient or both) will likely put you on a diet plan. They may prescribe medications, vitamins and supplements. You need more than this, however. You need love.

• 11

  Determine specific actions that friends and family members could do to assist you recover from your eating disorder. You cannot do this alone. Ask a friend to take you to counseling. Ask your mother to pick up your vitamins or groceries for you. Ask your spouse or significant other to pick up some supportive books from the book store. Now that you have told people about your problem, they will want to help.

• 12

  Let people help you. Again, continue to follow the instructions of your healthcare providers. You should also know, however, that full physical recovery cannot take place unless you also heal psychologically and spiritually. Let people love you. Allow people to help. Ask people to do things for you; then let them assist. Begin to relax and open up.

Follow Your Prescribed Treatment Plan

• 13

  Clarify your treatment plan with your healthcare providers. If you sought inpatient care, how long will you be there? Make the necessary arrangements with work and/or school to accommodate your length of stay in an inpatient treatment program, if applicable.

• 14

  Tell your friends and family about your treatment plan. Ask them to help you stick to it. Tell them that when you feel down and want to quit, that you want them to intervene.

• 15

  Follow your prescribed treatment plan, even when you do not feel like it. When I recovered from bulimia, there were days I thought that I hated my psychologist so much that I did not want to go to therapy. I later found out, however, that the person I really hated was me; I was simply projecting my hate onto my therapist. Do not let your mood dictate your treatment. Follow the instructions of your health care providers.