The beginning of the year is a popular time for eating disorder rehabs to get an overwhelming amount of new clients. Whether it’s the client or the family that has decided this year is going to be different, the goal is the same: RECOVERY. A new year is a shiny new toy that makes us all excited. It’s like a newborn baby, it gives us hope for the future and the possibility of change.
I looked up the Top 10 most common New Years Resolutions. They are:
- Spend more time with family and friends
- Fit in fitness
- Lose weight
- Quit smoking
- Enjoy life more
- Quit drinking
- Get out of debt
- Learn something new
- Help others
- Get organized
But for someone with an eating disorder goals and lists are part of the everyday regime. Those of us with eating disorders tend to be incredibly driven, intelligent and accomplished individuals. If we make a list of something to do, we’ll probably do it faster and more successfully than most. So what’s the New Years Resolution for those of us in eating disorder Recovery? It’s: GIVE UP.
The hardest thing for someone with an eating disorder is giving up; which might be why eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any other psychological disorder. Giving up an eating disorder takes more bravery, humility and courage than anyone can imagine. The tricky thing about an eating disorder is the vice of fear that it keeps ones brain while it operates. Taking that vice off takes a ton of strength. Believing you’ll be okay without it takes an avalanche of blind faith.
As a woman in recovery myself I won’t lie, giving up is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I spent so many years convincing myself that being thin was the answer to all of life’s problems. Admitting to myself that I was wrong and just the thought of attempting another route erupted tears and fear that raced through my blood. But, here’s the thing, giving up not only saved my life, it GAVE me a life. I had no idea how amazing life could actually be until I gave up my eating disorder. My prayer for you is that you would GIVE UP this New Year. I promise that if you make that your only goal for the year, 365 days from now you’ll be smiling and not dying.