Is it possible to fully recover from an eating disorder?

Support was flourishing and vital at this week's group, as many members posed challenges and acknowledged successes from the past week.  It rings true that no matter where we are in our stage of recovery, there is always a new challenge to face and another step to take.  This can be hard work, but can also offer fresh opportunities for learning and growth.  A common theme this week was pushing through these steps towards recovery and, as no one's steps look quite the same, wondering how and when we will know if we are truly on the path to getting free of this eating disorder.  Some members threw the word "healthy" out there and talked about their struggles to accept this word as a compliment instead of a threat.  A new member offered encouragement and support to a returning member, who had not been to the group for months.  She extended her hand to build a bridge with other members, echoing her own experience in treatment and relaying the instance of when she reached a healthier weight, some of the negative thoughts and impulses were miraclously replaced by happy and self-affirming thoughts.

A question posed by one member to the group that echoed through the room was: is it possible to every truly recover from an eating disorder, or is it something that "you will have to live with for the rest of your life"?  Each member had a different opinion about this and a unique perspective about what the answer might mean for them.  A resounding agreement came at the conclusion that we cannot know for sure, as we each experience recovery in our own way, at our own pace.  And, recovery being the beautifully imperfect thing that it is, it will always take shapes that shift and go in different directions at will.  Some members agreed that you can certainly recovered from eating disordered behaviors and manage many of the negative thoughts, but that there are other associated issues such as anxiety, depression, control issues, perfectionism, and low self esteem that may be factors that we managed throughout our lives.  Until we can discover and heal the true pain that is under the eating disorder, these other ways of coping will continue to be present after the ED has waned.  What do you think?

Wishing you peace, harmony, and inner strength on your path to recovery,
Kate