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Can You Ever Fully Recover from an Eating Disorder?

Recovery Professional?

Recovery is something you have to work on every single day, and it’s something that doesn’t get a day off.

Is it possible to completely recover from an eating disorder like anorexia or bulimia?

The answer is not a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ It’s more complex than this.

You can heal from an eating disorder (ED), but you must still be mindful of the thoughts and behaviors associated with your ED. These negative feelings may never fully go away, and they can become more powerful when you’re feeling stressed or anxious.

Also, it’s important to know that recovering from an eating disorder is not just about getting to a healthy weight. It also requires you to develop a healthy mindset about food as a reward, as well as work through your underlying triggers. EDs are more about emotional pain than food.

‘Recovered’ vs’ In Recovery’: There’s a Difference

At Breathe Life Healing Centers, we encourage our clients to focus on healing their mental, emotional and physical health. As long as you are willing to take these steps, you can be successful in quieting your negative thoughts and taking back the power from your eating disorder.

However, we’re careful to use terms like “cured” or “recovered.” This can cause some people to have a false sense of security. Recovering from an eating disorder is an ongoing process. You can’t get complacent simply because you are feeling good.

Part of your treatment plan will be to understand the signs, symptoms and triggers associated with your ED. Do you notice that certain feelings and behaviors trigger you to have disordered eating habits? The other part is learning how to cope with these emotions so that you don’t relapse.

Life is full of ups and downs. Eating disorder treatment in Los Angeles does not eliminate them from your life. Ultimately, you will need to find ways to manage these ups and downs without reverting back to disordered eating habits. This is why we prefer the term “in recovery” because it shows you’re in an ongoing process of healing and growth.

Treatment Options for Eating Disorders

Because eating disorders are complex, they require comprehensive treatment. Your individual treatment plan will depend on the type of eating disorder you have, the severity of your symptoms and other factors. Treatment typically includes a combination of psychotherapy, nutrition education, medical monitoring and medication.

Breathe Life Healing Centers treats eating disorders of all types and complexities. Here are the various treatment options available.

Inpatient treatment

For clients with a severe eating disorder, we generally recommend starting with our inpatient program. Our medical professionals provide around-the-clock support, which is helpful if any issues arise.

Our eating disorder inpatient treatment program includes the following services:

  • Medical and nutritional stabilization
  • Trauma-informed clinical care
  • Evidence-based practices
  • Spiritual development
  • Psychodrama and experiential modalities
  • Culinary interventions
  • Enhanced breath work

Be sure to ask about our Signature Services that include cooking classes, supermarket outings and family workshops.

Partial hospitalization

Partial hospitalization is where you spend most of your day in treatment but return home at night. We recommend this program for those with mild-to-moderate eating disorders, or EDs that affect the way a person functions but does not pose a risk to their health.

Partial hospitalization can also be a “step down” from an inpatient program. Many clients need this transition to give them more time to heal.

Outpatient treatment

Eating disorder outpatient treatment is designed for those who have a mild eating disorder. This program is best for individuals who have completed an inpatient program or partial hospitalization program, as well as for someone who has an eating disorder but is mentally and physically stable.

Like partial hospitalization, outpatient programs send clients home at night. You can expect to spend several hours in treatment 3-5 days per week.

Ongoing Treatment for Eating Disorders

A treatment program is extremely helpful at getting you stable, helping you uncover the reasons for your eating disorder and teaching you new ways to deal with your triggers. You will learn a lot in treatment, but it is not the end-all-be-all to your eating disorder. Recovery is ongoing.

But don’t worry – Breathe Life Healing Centers will prepare you for this transition! We recommend a full continuum of care that includes:

  • Inpatient, outpatient and/or partial hospitalization
  • Treatment for mental health disorders
  • Participation in self-help or support groups
  • Ongoing individual, group and family therapy
  • Nutrition education
  • Daily exercise
  • Medications, if necessary

Start Recovering from an Eating Disorder Today

If you or a loved one is struggling with an eating disorder, contact Breathe Life Healing Centers today. We are experienced in treating these complex disorders and have various levels of care to meet our clients’ needs. Eating disorders can lead to severe problems, including death. Do not delay in getting treatment for yourself or a loved one.

Are You Ready to Take the First Step?