Although there can be significant stigma surrounding eating disorders, they are much more common than people would think. Due to the nature of an eating disorder, anyone can be affected, as eating disorders occur in many ways and to different severities. Many people, though, tend to struggle in silence, worrying about careers, age, or family and questioning whether they even need help at all.
But ultimately, no matter how an eating disorder affects your life, seeking help is always beneficial. Making the difficult decision to reach out for care is not failure or a weakness but setting yourself on a journey to achieve a brighter, more fulfilling life.
Overcoming Obstacles and Reaching Out
Sometimes, life with an eating disorder can look “normal” on the outside, but internally you are struggling and trying to hide. There are myriad reasons people feel as though they need to hide an eating disorder. Oftentimes, worries about disrupting the routine of family or a career cause people to feel like recovery is somehow unavailable to them. Additionally, many feel like they need to struggle in silence due to age, saying it is too late to seek help. But recovery works to meet you right where you are, and it will always be available to you.
The first step of recovery is the hardest. Making that first decision to reach out and seek help can be immensely difficult. Taking the initiative to begin recovery, though, will not only improve the quality of your own life but the lives of family and loved ones. They want to see you heal and live candidly. Choosing recovery gives you the skills to achieve this. At any stage in your life, treatment is there to revitalize you and set you on a path towards a more rewarding life.
Recovery Works with You, Not Against You
Between concerns over family or careers, it can feel like admitting to needing help will end all sense of autonomy in your life-that starting treatment will prevent living “normally.” But it is entirely possible to stay active in your day-to-day life while undergoing treatment.
Outpatient care is a common level of treatment that establishes recovery goals in patients’ daily lives, for example, implementing structure and routine around meals or developing healthy coping skills for everyday use. Depending on each patient’s needs, treatment goals are implemented into everyday life, meaning that you can still invest yourself in your career, hobbies, family, etc., all while learning the skills you need to heal.
Furthermore, recovery isn't meant to be undergone alone, so a support network of family, healthcare professionals, and other patients is built around you. The implementation of dedicated and intentional treatment methods into your life will bring about positive change, meaning the weeks you spend in recovery will make years of your life more fulfilling.
Ultimately, the joy of living a life without suffering makes the hard initial decisions of reaching out entirely worth it. Once you ask, no one will shame you back into silence; instead, a group of professionals and peers will fight for you and your recovery journey. No matter what stage of life you are in, support for your recovery will always be there. Asking for help will make you a stronger individual and allow you to reclaim your life as your own.
At Focus Treatment Centers in Chattanooga, Tennessee, we provide residential eating disorder treatment and partial hospitalization (PHP) for adults. Our team works with each patient to develop an individualized treatment plan that supports long-term recovery. You can have a career, a family, and a fulfilling life during and after eating disorder treatment. Recovery may require making some difficult decisions today, but those decisions can help create a healthier tomorrow.
If you or someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder, contact Focus Treatment Centers at 423-308-2560 to learn more about our treatment options.
