I received a late night email from a client asking me, "Is full recovery possible? What is your definition of full recovery if such exists?" The following morning I pondered how to respond as I got in my car to drive to the office. I had no intentions of stopping at our local coffee shop on the way, yet the next thing I knew I was parking the car.
As I locked my car and stepped forward towards the cafe, I noticed an older woman walking past me. She was about my height (a little over 5 ft), short dark hair, and in brightly colored rain boots. Two simultaneous thoughts came to me just then. 1. Why am I here? I feel like I'm moving but by no action of my own accord. This is a little weird and surreal. 2. That lady is probably going to get coffee and she will be in front of me in line.
I was right, she was in front of me in a long line. By this point, I surrendered to the fact that "I'm here, might as well get my decaf rice milk latte." We smiled at one another and within moments of saying hello we were deep in an intimate conversation. She asked my profession. When I told her I'm a dietitian and work with eating disorders she gushed words of encouragement to me.
"What you do is SO SO important. You will never know how valuable you are to your clients." Not expecting such a gloating compliment at 7:30am I smiled sheepishly and gave her my thanks, with a hint of question in my tone. She explained to me that she has been fully recovered from a severe eating disorder for over 20 years. She also shared with me that she moved to Seattle about 15 years ago from New Orleans.
I felt immediately connected to this woman. A new neighbor friend from my home town (I am from Louisiana as well) & someone with her own history of eating problems. What a God moment this was for me. Now I understood why I felt compelled to turn into the coffee shop and strike up a conversation with this woman.
Hearing her story inspired the email response to my client.
The question "is recovery possible" is one almost every person asks themselves at some point in their recovery from an eating disorder. Here are few responses the to help shape your own definition:
As I locked my car and stepped forward towards the cafe, I noticed an older woman walking past me. She was about my height (a little over 5 ft), short dark hair, and in brightly colored rain boots. Two simultaneous thoughts came to me just then. 1. Why am I here? I feel like I'm moving but by no action of my own accord. This is a little weird and surreal. 2. That lady is probably going to get coffee and she will be in front of me in line.
I was right, she was in front of me in a long line. By this point, I surrendered to the fact that "I'm here, might as well get my decaf rice milk latte." We smiled at one another and within moments of saying hello we were deep in an intimate conversation. She asked my profession. When I told her I'm a dietitian and work with eating disorders she gushed words of encouragement to me.
"What you do is SO SO important. You will never know how valuable you are to your clients." Not expecting such a gloating compliment at 7:30am I smiled sheepishly and gave her my thanks, with a hint of question in my tone. She explained to me that she has been fully recovered from a severe eating disorder for over 20 years. She also shared with me that she moved to Seattle about 15 years ago from New Orleans.
I felt immediately connected to this woman. A new neighbor friend from my home town (I am from Louisiana as well) & someone with her own history of eating problems. What a God moment this was for me. Now I understood why I felt compelled to turn into the coffee shop and strike up a conversation with this woman.
Hearing her story inspired the email response to my client.
The question "is recovery possible" is one almost every person asks themselves at some point in their recovery from an eating disorder. Here are few responses the to help shape your own definition:
"I believe in the possibility of complete recovery though it may take a long time and require lots of resources and effort, but it is worth it. To protect recovery, one must not jeopardize it by dieting, over exercising, and criticizing one's body, but instead focus on developing and supporting a clear, unapologetic sense of self. I wouldn't be in this work if I didn't believe in complete recovery. My own recovery, solid now for 40 years, still inspires me." Marcia Herrin, Ed.D., M.P.H., R.D
"The recovery process takes time and can often feel like it is not working. It took time to become so disordered around food, and so the recovery and healing will also take time. But it IS possible with enough determination, support and patience with yourself." Nina V. (recovered for 3 years)
"The eating disorder, although powerful in this moment, does not have to stay powerful forever. The essence of treatment is to find a path where change will occur because it is not preordained that you wont get better. Getting better is one possible outcome and moving into full recovery is the outcome that we seek. For most people motivation, commitment, effective treatment, a solid support system, and extended support throughout your community can lead to changes much greater than you may imagine possible." Sarah Emerman Cleveland Center for Eating Disorders
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