Are you starting recovery in 2024? Here’s some advice from myself and others who have been there.
Lose weight, exercise more, drink more water, travel, etc. These are only a few of the standard New Year’s resolutions that you’ll now that we’re over the hill. But for me, it’s all about recovery, self-love, and continuing to improve. It’s not about being perfect or making more money. It’s just about continuing down the road I’ve set myself.
“What I thought would be a quick fix of a few months has turned into almost a year of difficult self-discovery and perseverance.” (Quote from Jan 2020)
Anorexia Nervosa has raged within me for almost seventeen years now, so to think that it would only take a month or two to recover was a wild understatement. Yet, I still encounter those in my life that think just that; Including myself.
But don’t be discouraged. The road might be long but there is freedom at the end of it. We just need to work hard to get through the hard times in order to experience and fully appreciate the good.
The Do’s & Don’ts of Starting Recovery.
Don’t start placing blame.
Our parents aren’t entirely to blame. The bullies aren’t entirely to blame. That kid down the street who made a rude comment isn’t to blame.
You are not to blame.
In regards to families, it’s been historically believed that parents were the leading cause of eating disordered behaviour. Although that’s not entirely misleading, it’s also not entirely true. No one is perfect, least of all our families. Often we find that our parents may not be as supportive as we want, and as a teenager or a child, this can be difficult. But as an adult, you have the power to parent yourself.
Talk it out with your therapist, and discover what needs to change in your life in order to better accommodate recovery. If it’s re-parenting or additional therapy that you need, then get started!
Placing blame will only allow hatred and anger to grow. It’s hard to accept that we may need to forgive or adjust in order to move on, but it’s essential.
Do believe in yourself!
We all do it, especially those of us with mental illness. We tend to believe the lies telling us that we’re unworthy, we can’t do it and that it’s impossible! It’s so easy to give up and spend all day in bed without a drop to drink or a bite to eat. That’s what Anorexia Nervosa wants from you: Complete submission.
Spoiler alert: Anorexia lies. You CAN do it!
Many have managed it before, so why would you be any different? What’s stopping you? Figure it out and take control of it!
Yes, Anorexia Nervosa can be fatal. Yes, you may have those disordered thoughts forevermore, but you don’t have to be governed by them.
“Recovery is possible and you are 100% worthy of it!”
Don’t be hard on yourself.
Being critical of ourselves is just another in the long list of symptoms associated with an eating disorder. Doing so only increases our feelings of shame and lowers our self-esteem.
It’s important to work on our confidence and sense of self-worth during recovery. It can be a long and delicate process, one which I am still undergoing and will do for a long time.
Daily affirmations and gratitude can help us immensely, especially in the early stages of recovery. That’s why I created my own gratitude journal and recovery prompt journal. I not only use them for myself but I’ve also left them open for others to use.
Don’t put your needs below everyone else’s.
Chances are you’re here because you’re used to putting the needs of others above your own. The word ‘NO’ is dirty and rarely leaves your lips. Helping others is a lovely gesture, but when it puts your health and needs at risk, then it’s a very one-sided thing.
You are your number one priority.
It’s not ‘selfish‘, ‘bratty‘, ‘self-centred‘, or anything that others might tell you it is. Self-care is about ensuring we charge our own battery before trying to charge someone else’s.
Don’t be afraid to set boundaries. If you find yourself triggered by conversations, politely ask for the subject to be changed or remove yourself from the situation. Especially in the early stages. It won’t be like this forever, and in fact, exposure to triggers is paramount in later months. But in the beginning, it can be very challenging to hear your co-workers talk about the latest slimming world diet.
Do talk about it!
No matter what the eating disorder or mental illness is telling you: Speak up! If your mum is telling you to stop talking about it: Speak up. If you’re in any way pressured or guilt-tripped into shutting up: SPEAK UP!
Talk to the friends and family you have on your side. Open up to your treatment team. Have a chat with HR or your manager. If you’re struggling in any way reach out before it becomes too much. Asking for help can be a daily process, so practice and take control back into your own hands.
Keeping secrets about the difficult things in our lives can be a double-edged sword. Although you think you’re maintaining dignity and ‘not bothering anyone’, it often leaves you with feelings of shame, which further prevents you from asking for help. Does that sound about right?
Create a support network for yourself full of people, professional and otherwise, who you feel comfortable confiding in when you need to. Letting them in on your secret makes it easier for them to help.
Need help asking for help? Check out this article.
Do be patient.
Here’s the T: Full recovery can take years. It doesn’t happen overnight, a day or even a month. Even after a decade of anorexia nervosa, and two previous relapses, I was still convinced I would be back to work by the end of the month. It’s been a full year and I’m only now regaining my BMI, and my mind is still miles behind.
- Expect relapses but don’t let them haunt you.
- Expect challenges, but don’t let them beat you.
- Expect people to be rude about it, and shake it off.
Have faith in the recovery process, your treatment team and your own ability. Do your own reading on the side, dive deep into the world of recovery and you might find a whole new lease on life.
Do listen to your treatment team.
No explanation needed for this one. Listen to your treatment team, ask questions and learn as much as you can about how to help yourself.
Do spend time with supportive people.
If they aren’t a positive influence on you, then you don’t have time for them. When you’re knee-deep in recovery you don’t need that noise.
This may mean some hard decisions need to be made in order to protect yourself. But that’s okay. You’re allowed to make those decisions because it’s self-care!
Do find things to keep yourself occupied.
At the beginning of twenty-nineteen, I was climbing the walls. I had been signed off work and was finding it very hard to occupy myself. My family lived far away, my friends lived in the city and my partner worked. All I had known for years was going to work only to come home and sleep. Without work, I was left walking the halls at two in the morning wondering what was the point.
That’s when I made the decision to start writing again. I had loved it for years prior to starting university, so why hadn’t I been actively writing? I was stuck in a cycle of what I thought was normal, but in reality, it was far from it.
I started this blog and slowly began documenting my recovery. Although none of that content is available anymore (it was much too triggering), it still helped me find the courage to actually talk about my mental health out loud.
This blog saved my life, and that’s not being dramatic. It’s not just writing and publishing this blog, but also the countless wonderful people I’ve met through it.
I never thought I’d have people reading and actually enjoying my content. Yet, that’s exactly what happened. So, take a chance. Rediscover old hobbies, play the video games you’ve been meaning to play, spend time with loved ones, read a good book.
Last, but by no means least.
Don’t lose hope.
Thank you all for your continued support throughout the years. I’m eternally grateful to everyone who has stopped by to read my blogs, follow my socials, and basic care about my writing.
What a helpful post. I’m sure a lot of people who are on the road to recovery would find this article helpful.
These are some great tips! I especially love the ones where you shouldn’t place blame and that you believe in yourself! Thank you so much for sharing.
Such an inspiration post. Thank you. Great advice especially as we all begin the new year. Wishing you the very best for 2021
Wonderful post as always! I’m so inspired by your devotion to your recovery. It’s been a rough year huh? But I too am recommitted to continue my own addiction recovery in the coming year. It really does help to do all of the things you recommend. Blessings to you always.
Clarrisa | later-means-never.com
I was feeling a bit down today… And I kind of needed this post… It will heal… Now I have hope!
Talking to people is one way to ease what discomfort or what we feel will help up heal. It is not easy as one, two, three to be able to recover. Being positive is what will really help up overcome everything. Thank you for this inspiring post.
This is a post that we all need to read. Indeed a great post to ponder over the start of the year. Thank you! Hello to year of self-love.
What a great blog post to read. I learned a lot from you. Thanks for this!
love this topic!
Patience, love, and understanding as well as a strong support system can create a successful outcome!
Very inspiring and what a great way to go into 2021. I’m rooting for you!
‘ You are your number one priority’ – this is so important I can’t even. This is a great article, kudos!
This is such a great and beneficial blog! A lot will surely benefit from this. Recovery is quite hard but with the help of those around you, you can do it!
So true. If somebody can manage it,so do you. Nice, motivating post.
It’s so important to bring awareness to eating disorders. You are so strong to share your story.
Very nice post. Your article makes my day. So motivating.
Having support and being able to talk with someone really dos help. Also not beating yourself up if you slip up.
It’s a topic that I am interested a lot. Thanks for sharing all these details!
Such a great article that needs to be read by everybody on the difficult path of recovery. Everytime I read one of your posts I can’t help but admire how strong you are.
What a brave, supportive, and inspiring piece. Anorexia is very hard thing for most people to understand and scary thing for most to talk about. This will no doubt be a helpful–if not a lifesaving resource for people.
It is always a good time to start a process of recovery and self improvement. It is certainly not easy, but it is important and necessary.
You’ve got some great advice here. I’m sure this is going to be very helpful to some too.
I think this would be helpful to people who are also starting recovery. Wish you all the best.
This post gave me such a wonderful mindset and a positive outlook to life. I’d like to give you an appreciation as well for sharing this wonderful words. I started to appreciate things and be more positive by loving myself first. These points of yours are really helpful for everyone.
These are all good points and make sense when it comes to the recovery process. I hope you have a good 2021!
I truly value what you have here. and of all the things youve mentioned, i love most the “Don’t put your needs below everyone else’s.” Makes great sense.
I think that last year was so hard for everyone. No matter what people want to recover from, the recovery should always put self care first. When you feel good you have more strength to fight the battles you must go through towards a normal life.
Best wishes for the New Year! Each year starts with some hopes and wishes and it’s wonderful if we are motivated enough to follow our desires… and recovery should be on the top of our list. 🙂
I think it’s so important to look after yourself and to prioritise you! Wishing you the best in 2021!
Katie | katieemmabeauty.com
Some amazing tips my love. The new year is a great time for goals and starting afresh. Something like recovery is so important and it’s important to take one day at a time.
Great post to start the year. You got great motivating lines in here. Thanks.
I am also trying to get out of my comfort zone. In work and also in life. Praying and hoping for more and better opportunities this year.
Thank you for this post. It’s really informative! It’s so important to take it one day at a time.
Great advice! Remember one day at a time and you’ve got your social media community to lean on as well
I love your advice for recovery. So many people need to hear these words of encouragement.
I just discovered your blog and I really loved how inspiring and real this post is. Thank you for sharing this!
What a very inspiring post. I’m so sorry you dealt with an eating disorder, but so happy you found a way to help others because of it!
This is so for helpful for anyone starting recovery. I can’t imagine it’s an easy thing to do, but something that will ultimately help them.
Being good to yourself and taking care of your needs are great ideas to embrace in the New Year. No resolutions could be more imortant.
This is a very encouraging post.This new year is a challenge for most people with the pandemic we experienced.As you said it is also important to surround with supportive people.
So much of this is so relevant to so many situations and issues that so many of us face. I struggle with being overly critical and unkind to myself, which I’m pretty sure is a form of self-sabotaging. Not blaming myself for something is what I’m really going to work on this year. Thank you for sharing this — I needed it.
Such a great post and very informative. After this challenging year, taking care of ourselves needs to be a must! Wishing a Happy New Year full of joys and self love x
This is such a lovely post, no matter what kind of recovery you’re looking into.
Thank you so much for stopping in and reading. I glad it was able to be of some help. x
This is such a thoughtful post. It speaks from a place of past (and present) hardship. Much love.
Thank you so much for stopping in and reading. I really appreciate it. x
I love that you pointed out that “as an adult, you have the power to parent yourself”. That is so encouraging to those who had a difficult or painful childhood. Your article is so well thought out. I’m sure your words will help many people who are struggling.
Thank you so much for reading. I’m glad you found it helpful.
Thank you so much! xx
Thank you so much for reading. I’m so glad you found it helpful.
Thank you so much for stopping in and reading. And for your wonderful comment. x
Thank you. x
Thank you so much for your lovely comment!
Thank you so much for reading. I’m so glad you enjoyed it and found it helpful!
Thank you!
Thank you so much for reading. I’m so glad you found it helpful.
Thank you 😀
Thank you so much for stopping in and reading. I really appreciate it.
Thank you so much for reading.
It’s a wonderful time of year to reassess and take stock of what you’d like to change. Not being so hard on yourself as you’ve pointed out is definitely one I’m trying to embrace in 2020. Thanks for the very helpful post.
This is such a great post, full of awesome suggestions! It’s something that I think everyone can relate to for one reason or another & I plan to read this again if I’m feeling down & need a boost. Thanks so much for posting this!
This is great advice! Especially being patient and not putting your needs below the needs of others. That can be extremely difficult.
Your post is so refreshing and uplifting.
I am so freaking hard on myself that I can’t get past the stage I am right now.
But I believe I need to rediscover myself and work on it.
You’re so inspiring! To a happy 2020!
Happy new year and hope 2020 is a good year for your recovery!
Stay strong and keep on going 😉
Great article, thanks for sharing your story!
I feel one of the best ways to heel is to not keep these condiitions a secret. I am glad we as a society are starting to tell our stories because anyone dealing with mental issues usally feel we are the only one. It seems everyone has a story and getting our voices out into the universe sets some healing into motion. Your story should be told to not only help you but those those seeking help.
So many powerful statements in this post, but one that spoke to me was that it’s not about being perfect. That’s always a tough one for me, so the more reminders the better!
I always enjoy reading your posts. You are so positive and informative. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for sharing your recovery journey! This is such meaningful advice coming from you.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate you popping in and reading.
Thank you so much. A happy new year to you!
Recovery is ones of the toughest things to go through, it requires surrendering, strength and self-care. I’m wishing you a wonderful 2020.
You are amazing and inspiring!! Thank you for being so authentic and sharing so much. Cheers to making 2020 our healthiest years yet
I definitely agree that you need to love yourself and heal, but I also love setting goals for a new year. I like to hold myself accountable so it just works for me.
Love all this advice! I know it sounds a little cliche, but anything is possible with a strong mindset and a little bit of guidance. Thanks for the post, will definitely be re-visiting every now and then.
That’s great, I think it will. Thank you for sharing x
And to you too ????
Thank you so much, Charlotte. This is such a wonderful thing to say. If I can reach even one person, I’ve done my job 🙂 Wishing you a happy new year, pet. x
Thank you so much for stopping in and reading 🙂
Thank you so much. I’m still struggling with being kind to myself, but I like to think that I’m getting there.
Wishing you a happy new year!
Happy New Year to you! x
Thank you so much for stopping in and reading. x
Thank you so much, pet. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind of a year. I hope this post can help people who are maybe taking on their own journey this year, recovery or not!
Thank you so much for popping in and reading. I really appreciate it.
Thank you so, so much for your beautiful comment. Honestly, this has made my day (and it’s only 8am!).
This year will hopefully bring healing for a lot of us!
It certainly is! Thank you so much for stopping in and reading.
Thank you so much for commenting. I hope your recovery is going okay, I know it’s very hard but remember that you can do this! If you have the strength to keep up an eating disorder, you have the strength to recover!
It will be a recovering year for me. Being patient is really an important step of recovery you are so right.
Self love is such a journey. It requires so much patience and forgiveness… It’s constant work!
You are an amazing writer! Not only you create amazing content, but you actually help people and that’s the most rewarding thing that a person can do. You motivate with your posts and your topics are deep and thoughtful. I’m glad that you chased your dream!! Keep it up.
I agree. Last year was complicated for most of us. This year should be all about healing, loving and empowering ourselves.
Thinking of oneself and one’s well-being is very important. I always have problems with being patient, but I do talk about my problems more often than in the past. 🙂
What a helpful and supportive post for people to read. This will help so many people who are wanting to or staying recovery! Sorry to hear about your grandparents x
Happy new year. This is great advice, i hope its help others. It does get easier with time.
Yes, stay occupied with positive things and keep yourself surrounded with positive people. Happy Near Year!
It takes so much strength and bravery to pursue recovery. Please remember to be kind to yourself throughout the process- sharing your story and your advice will be beneficial to so many people dealing with the same struggles. Thank you for sharing and best wishes for a full recovery.
This is quite helpful. As most of us are dealing with something it’s good to have some encouragement that you can recover and you’re not defeated.
Your one of the best people to read advice from definitely, your so good at giving advice. Thankyou for writing this post there will be so many people going into 2020 struggling with recovery hopefully they will find your post and it will help them like your already helping loads of other people. Great post really enjoyed reading ????
Charlotte ????
This was such an amazing blog. Thank you for the amazing tips. I wish you continued success.
Thank you for sharing this great post to inspire others how to become a better version of themselves for 2020.
What a supportive and informative list. I can imagine how challenging it must be at times. I wish you all of the success in the years to come.
This is such a great and important post. Thank you for sharing and being so honest and authentic.
Thank you for sharing this, it was what I needed to hear to give me a boost for the new year. I had a fair few setbacks with my recovery in 2019 and my goal for 2020 is to regain some of that progress I made earlier on. Wishing you all the best for 2020 ❤️
What a great reminder to not put yourself last: it was one of my hardest lessons in 2018-2019.
Thank you so much for your kind words. Wishing you a very happy new years.
We certainly do judge ourselves too harshly. I find it’s especially hard within the mental health community because we all are much too hard on ourselves.
Thank you so much for stopping in and reading.
Thank you so much Jenny. I really appreciate you popping in and reading. Wishing you a peaceful and happy new year. x
Wishing you a happy new year. Thank you so much for stopping in and reading this post. x
Happy new year to you! Thank you so much for stopping by! 😀
Thank you so much for reading. Wishing you a happy new year.
Thank you so much for reading K. Wishing you a happy, peaceful and fulfilling new year! x
I am wishing you all the best in your recovery. Remember that you’re strong and you’ve got this! x
Thank you. Wishing you a lovely new year 🙂
Thank you so much! Wishing you a happy new year 🙂
Thank you so much for stopping in and reading. I really appreciate it. Wishing you a happy new year.
Thank you so much for stopping in and reading. Wishing you a happy new year.
Such a great article! Thank you for share!
Best,
Diane
Diane Coletta
http://www.petiteinparis.com
Wishing you the best with your recovery in this new decade! It’s so important to spread the word about the realities of recovery, and the fact that you really do need to prioritise yourself sometimes.
What a post to end the year on Chloe, i am so excited to see your recovery continue and to watch you grow and grow x x
This was such a great post! ???? And I love that you also included advice from some others too.
Yes, this will be a recovery year for me too. I start meetings this Sunday. And I am excited to be starting fresh and making things new. I loved this whole article!
I really think these two things can’t be said enough –
Don’t blame yourself
Don’t be hard on yourself
As humans, we tend to do exactly that and for some of us, it’s a very long road to the point where we can stop ourselves doing it.
It’s great that you’ve come so far and I look forward to reading more of your insightful articles in the new year :o)
Anyone going through a recovery program can definitely benefit from finding things to keep themselves occupied. Also, hope is one of the most powerful things to bring healing to the body and mind.
Your honesty helps others. Not only with the suggestions you give, but sharing your story with all who read your blog. Have a Happy New Year!
This is all such good advice. I wish you an amazing 2020 with everything you are hoping to find.
A really informative, supportive and helpful post for anyone starting recovery in 2020. I can imagine it’s a hugely daunting prospect so having advice from people who have been there would really help x
Great ideas! I think that we can be our worse enemy. Sometimes we judge ourselves and keep carrying the burden. It’s important to know our self worth and when we need to let go.
It does get easier. You are so right about not blaming yourself and not being hard on yourself
Thank you so much pet. Thank you for being here this year. I am so, so eternally grateful that I’ve met you! x
Just stopping by to say you are one of the bravest people I know. Hang in there! I’m always here if you want to talk.
Im so sorry about your grandparents! I lost my granda in March. Being patient is so important in recovery, I thought it would take a few months but its a very long journey!
Ash | thisdreamsalive.com
This is such great advice. I am sure it’ll help many people. Here’s to wonderful and healthy 2020!
Thank you, thank you, a thousand times, thank you for this post!!!! Everything you said in this post is exactly what I needed to hear as I prepare for a new year and my new goals! Best wishes to you in 2020!