3 Things Your Eating Disorder Doesn’t Want You to Know

Your eating disorder (ED) might say you’re not sick enough. He might say you’re not even sick. But I think the whole point of recovery is to stop listening to your eating disorder.

It’s time to kick ED out of your life.

If you are reading this right now and are afraid of what your life would look like without your eating disorder, please know that I’ve felt that fear as well.

If you are reading this right now debating if you even want to try to recover, please know that I have debated that as well.

If you are reading this right now and are really worried about someone close to you that has an eating disorder… know that I have felt worry as well about people close to me that have an eating disorder.

There are three things that I believe ED doesn’t want you to know:

1. ED does not want you to realize that you are “sick enough” because once you realize that, ED will lose its power.

2. ED does not want you to realize that you are even sick because once you realize that, ED will lose its power.

3. ED does not want you to discover that the whole point of recovery is to stop listening to it because once you realize that, he will slowly die.

I get it — this is not an easy thing. Awareness of things can only take us so far. Sometimes we need extra help to put our awareness into action.

My life used to be consumed by ED. He was very very tricky. He had a way of manifesting in new and other ways.

One of my biggest supports has been a nutritionist who specializes in nutrition therapy for disordered eating and eating disorders. One way my eating disorder would manifest was by eating “really healthy.”

I know this probably sounds confusing to some people, but one very crucial thing about ED recovery for me was balance, not abstinence. I have learned that no food should be off limits, no hunger cue should be denied and all food is good food — no food is inherently bad.

Learning these things has helped me fight all of ED’s lies.

There are three specific things I want my ED to know:

1. I was sick enough when I would lie to my friends and tell them I couldn’t go out to eat with them because I wasn’t feeling well. I believed you when you told me that I was not allowed to have any food you did not want me to have. I no longer believe that lie.

2. I was very sick. I believed you when you would tell me that me and you were so powerful together and that I could not live without you. I no longer believe that lie.

3. I have stopped listening to you. I used to believe every single word you said. I no longer believe anything you have ever told me.

Remember this: It is never too late to kick ED out of your life! If you believe that it is, that’s probably ED’s voice, not yours.

What are three specific things you want your ED to know?

Follow this journey here.

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, you can call the National Eating Disorders Association Helpline at 1-800-931-2237.

We want to hear your story. Become a Mighty contributor here.

Getty image via Electa-K-Vasileiadou