It is said that Henry V offered encouragement to his men before battle as a way to inspire and boost morale.   Eating disorder recovery takes an army.  You will need support along the way.  Support may include any combination of the following:

 

Therapist

Dietitian

Medical doctor

Psychiatrist

Family therapist

Group therapist

Parents

Siblings

Aunts and uncles

Grandparents

Cousins

Kids

Friends

Neighbors

Coworkers

Teammates

Classmates

Pastor

Coach

Chef

 

The list could go on and on.  The point is, nobody does it entirely alone.  Support will look different depending on who you’re talking about.  Some of your support persons might not even know specifically about the eating disorder, but they can still support you.  For example, you might eat lunch with your classmates or coworkers without them necessarily knowing the personal details.  Or your siblings might not know that you are hanging out with them for 1 hour after dinner to resist the urge to purge, but they are still supporting your goals during that time. 

 

Be creative about how you get the support you need, and don’t be ashamed to ask for it.  People tend to be very willing to help out if you guide them on what they can do.  And for those people in your life who can’t/won’t support you, set boundaries to protect your recovery process.  If it is too triggering to go clothes shopping with your friend who always bashes her body, then find other things to do with her instead – go to a musical, check out the museum, have a marathon of your favorite Netflix show – just because she’s not supportive in one setting doesn’t mean she can’t be in another. 

 

Support and connection are huge catalysts for recovery.