Have you ever heard someone depict internal conflict as the devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other? The angel is said to represent your conscious or voice of reason while the devil is temptation or impulsive behavior. It can be helpful to treat your eating disorder (ED) and recovery in the same manner. Your ED wants full control over your thoughts and behaviors, so once you bring recovery into the equation your ED will fight to remove it. The good news? Each time you choose recovery your ED loses some of its power and over time the choice becomes easier. Because eating disorder thoughts can appear unprovoked, it’s important to keep combative statements in your back pocket. We’ve compiled a list of lies your ED might tell you and recovery truths you can use to fight back. Please note that this is not a comprehensive list as eating disorders are unique to each individual affected. If you think you need help but are unsure where to start, please click here to read about our practice or click here to schedule an appointment with one of our highly skilled dietitians.
ED Lie #1: I have to use eating disorder behaviors to cope with my emotions.
Recovery Truth #1: Eating disorder behaviors are unhealthy coping mechanisms that allow you to avoid or bury your emotions by hyper-focusing on food. Conversely, through recovery you learn how to tolerate negative emotions and work through the cognitive aspects of your disorder. This may be uncomfortable in the beginning but over time you will find the good days outnumbering the bad.
ED Lie #2: I’m not skinny enough to have an eating disorder.
Recovery Truth #2: It is a false claim that you must be emaciated to have an eating disorder. Not only do they come in all shapes and sizes, but the severity of one is not defined by weight. Furthermore, individuals with eating disorders also commonly suffer from body dysmorphia which can drastically distort body image.
ED Lie #3: I am nothing without my eating disorder.
Recovery Truth #3: You may have become enmeshed with your disorder but it will never define who you are. Personifying your ED can be a helpful strategy to separate yourself from your disorder.
ED Lie #4: I will be happy once I weigh XX.
Recovery Truth #4: Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that manifest as body image, weight, and food fears but typically stem from much deeper psychological concerns. Reaching a “goal weight” will never bring you happiness because there will always be a new goal.
ED Lie #5: I’m fine and anyone who says differently is just out to get me.
Recovery Truth #5: Eating disorders thrive by encouraging isolation and hiding in the shadows. Your ED will try to convince you that the concern your loved ones show for you is ill-intentioned so you will withdraw from the relationships. Recovery builds on open and honest communication about your struggles, so keeping an active support system you feel safe with can play a key role especially in the early stages of recovery.
ED Lie #6: One bite will make me gain weight.
Recovery Truth #6: The physiological functions of human body are extremely complex, but one bite of anything will never make you gain weight. Part of recovery is learning to trust that your body knows what it’s doing and is working to function optimally.
ED Lie #7: I’m not strong enough to sustain recovery.
Recovery Truth #7: While the road to recovery can be long with twists, turns, bumps, and slips along the way, anyone who has sustained an eating disorder can sustain recovery. It takes patience, practice, and self-compassion, but it is possible and you are capable. If feasible, having a treatment team with a psychiatrist, psychologist, and dietitian that specialize in eating disorders is an excellent way to help you stay on track.
Written by Shelby Armstrong - Dietetic Intern