Something tells you that you can’t go any further in this struggle with your eating disorder, but it’s just so hard to think of actually saying goodbye. If you now find yourself looking to start eating disorder therapy, it was probably no easy journey to get to this place.

Along the way, there was probably a period of denial (“no way, not me right?”). Perhaps there was even the phase where you questioned whether you could just continue to live with the eating disorder. Maybe that was followed by some sort of “aha” (or “oh shit”) moment.

Maybe that early recognition was followed by something going awry with reaching out for help. Maybe you were confronted by your partner, parent, or friend. Or maybe something even happened with your physical health to scare you.

Now you are considering help – even starting eating disorder therapy. You’ve looked online, perhaps you asked your doctor or a friend for a referral. But you are scared. Picking up that phone and actually connecting with a potential eating disorder therapist seems so daunting.

There are probably a million questions running through your mind: Are they going to just tell me to stop? What if I can’t do it? How long will recovery take? Is it even possible to recover?

The reality is that each and every person will have their own unique path to recovery and there are no clear-cut answers to many of these questions. However, there are some things that you should know about what to expect when you start eating disorder therapy. If you’re equipped with some basic knowledge about what’s in store, it can make all the difference in calming your nerves and keeping you motivated.

5 Things to Expect from Eating Disorder Therapy

#1 It’s so normal to feel scared

Beginning therapy for your eating disorder is an act of tremendous courage, and that’s because the process itself can be scary. Most people starting treatment would probably admit that fear is taking up a lot of space in their lives.

Remember that feeling scared is normal. Making any big change comes with a lot of unknown and unanswered questions.

In fact, facing the fears is an important part of recovery.

I work with my clients to gently introduce them to fears – both fear foods & scary situations alike. Slowly conquering fears builds the mastery and self-confidence that you will need for lasting recovery.

#2 Your eating disorder might have felt like your best friend

There’s a good reason why eating disorder therapists are always talking about healing your “relationship with food.” The truth is that eating disorders are really about our problems in relationships with other people. They detour our need for love and connection: the sustenance that comes from others.

Your eating disorder has probably been a pretty reliable companion: it was there for you when you had no other way of coping. Over time, the way you relate to food has become so close and so intimate, that your eating disorder might feel like your best friend. Because of this, saying goodbye might take time and be full of confusing and even troubling emotions.

#3 No one is expecting you to be perfect in recovery

A lot of the time perfectionism and eating disorders seem to go hand and hand, so it’s natural that many people expect their recovery process to go perfectly when you start eating disorder therapy. The reality is that the more you expect perfection, the more you may experience disappointment and feel discouraged.

There is no such thing as perfection in eating disorder recovery, and there will probably be a lot of ups and downs along the way.

It may sound cliché, but recover really requires a strong “progress over perfection” mindset.

And sometimes, even progress may seem hard to notice. The small victories – getting through a night without purging, phoning a friend when you feel triggered, or even just eating a meal – are all victories in recovery. Allow yourself a good dose of self-compassion and the freedom to be imperfect.

#4 It will probably get harder before it gets easier

So speaking of things not going perfectly, a pretty common theme in eating disorder recovery is that it often feels a whole lot harder and more uncomfortable, especially early on. This is because you have likely started to challenge the eating disorder thoughts and behaviors that might have been in place for a very long time.

It’s important to know about this aspect of recovery so that you can keep fighting, even when your eating disorder is yelling at you to give up. For a lot of people, this is the stage of recovery where you have stopped using many of your behaviors, however, the thoughts are still very loud. You have only just begun to recover, so you haven’t had time to strengthen the healthy thoughts and behaviors that can stand up to the eating disorder.

Others around you might even misperceive how are you are truly doing because how you appear outwardly may not match how you are truly feeling. It’s important to remember that this stage of recovery is only temporary. The longer that you continue to take actions in the service of your recovery, that the more time that the neural pathways in your brain will start to change and pave the way for lasting recovery.

#5 You don’t have to do this alone

Living with your eating disorder can be a very lonely place, but the process of recovery truly depends on connection with others. There is no way you would be expected to recover on your own. If you decided to reach out for professional help, this is a courageous and momentous step. But your therapist is only part of the equation.

This doesn’t mean that you need to tell everyone in your life all the details of what you are combating. On the contrary, you have the ability to truly determine the people who can best support you through this process and whom you really trust. You have the opportunity to let these people know how they can best support you when you start eating disorder therapy.

Starting therapy for your eating disorder can be an exciting and challenging time, especially if this is something you’ve been struggling with for a while. Checking your expectations about the process can help ease the transition and prepare you for all of the changes that are in store with recovery. Whether you are still considering reaching out to a therapist or you have already done so, you can and should be incredibly proud of yourself. As an eating disorder therapist, I’ve helped many people find their true lives in full recovery. You don’t need to struggle anymore. I work with clients at my office in Agoura Hills, CA and provide online therapy in California and New York. To find out how I can help you, give me a call now or click on the button below to get in touch to schedule your free phone consultation.