Have you ever found yourself asking, “Is my recovery even worth it?” 

If you answered yes - you are not alone and this post is for you. As you progress through your recovery process it is normal to have feelings of doubt or burnout around the treatment process and even start questioning if it is something worth taking time to continue. Although this is a very common thought, we’re here to tell you that recovery is absolutely worth it and you deserve to take time for you.

We have so many clients who come in from all walks of life: high school, college, mother, father - eating disorders do not discriminate. With so many important life moments happening with our clients we sometimes hear that they just “don’t have time” to commit to the treatment process. And look, we get it. We’re humans too and it sometimes feels that there is not enough time in the day to get done all the things we feel that we need to. At the same time, your treatment is so important and taking the time will mean being able to have the energy, mental clarity and fuel to fully participate in your meaningful life. 

We’re listing below some things that you can do to help take time for your recovery process and why we’re sure that it’s worth it. 

 

Taking Time For Recovery: 

 

Set boundaries

Setting boundaries with your other priorities is critical to help you devote time to treatment. We understand that you have other important things going on in your life that we want you to be able to participate in, however, we also recognize that we cannot devote 100% attention to all of our priorities at all times (as much as we may want to). This is where boundaries come in. Being clear about where you are going to devote your time and energy can be helpful in prioritizing your other responsibilities. Setting time limits around work, school or social commitments can allow you to still participate in these activities while avoiding burnout by trying to do everything all at once.

Use your support system

We all need support - in recovery and, well, in life! Having a support system allows you to not only express emotions you may be experiencing during treatment but also help relieve you of daily tasks to help you get through more difficult times. As a parent - maybe this looks like having a spouse that could take over the shopping responsibilities for the week so that you could attend appointments or take some time to focus on your own recovery process. Your treatment team is also your support system and can help you navigate your challenges - aka, we’ve got your back!

Schedule time for you

With so many things going on in life, it is important to pencil in time for yourself. This could look like your favorite hobbies, a phone call with friends, necessary appointments, or some time to just sit with a cup of coffee, journal and be still. We recognize that days get busy but we encourage you to remember that you cannot pour from an empty cup - it can be helpful to start by scheduling in a few times a week just for you. 

Remember your “why”

Trust us, we understand that recovery is hard work. And simultaneously, it is work that you are engaging in for a reason. Remember that why. Remember what you are fighting for and hold it close, maybe even write it down and stare at it every single day. Whatever your “why” is, remember that you are worth it and deserving of a life without your eating disorder. 

 

What Recovery Could Mean For You

We get that recovery can take up a lot of your time and there are points where it feels like too much. At the same time, we want to provide a gentle reminder you of what continuing in treatment could mean for you: 

• Finding peace with your relationship with food.
• Feeling fueled, energized and focused at work or school.
• Eating a variety of foods, consistently throughout the day.
• Finding peace in your current body.
• Enjoying the connection at family or social gatherings.
• Spontaneous trips with your friends you haven’t seen in forever to go grab a bite to eat.
• Build your own pizza nights with your family with no added stress or guilt. 
• Moving your body out of love and respect in a way that feels good.

No matter where you are in your recovery process, we encourage you to keep going. You are deserving of the treatment you need. We’re here to support you in any way we can! 

 

We understand that taking time for recovery, well, means taking time! Your recovery process is important to us and we want to make sure that you are fit with the best individualized services possible. Whether that mean meeting with our dietitians, support coaches or community groups - check out how we can best support you today.