Diet recovery is not easy, but it is possible. It takes serious guts, for it can seem much safer to stay with what is familiar, rather than stepping into the unknown. Perhaps trusting your body to make the right choices feels impossible! How will you know? What if you can't stop eating dreaded foods, etc.?
In this post, I hope to inspire you to think of what a life of freedom could be, and to give you a picture of what happens in real diet recovery. While recovery is unique and looks different for each individual, there are some aspects of healing that are almost universally present. Here are a few of the most common signs of healing that I see as an licensed psychotherapist.
4 Clues of Diet Recovery
1. You see past the diet mentality.
Dieting is harmful to your health. An interesting finding by the Psychosomatic Medicine Journal found that reducing calories increases the stress on the body and in return raises cortisol levels – causing weight gain in the long run. Not only that, but excess cortisol can lower your immune system, thus making you more susceptible to illness and disease. Diets are a quick fix, but ultimately aren’t worth it. They override our natural hunger and fullness signals. People who diet set themselves up for a destructive never-ending cycle.
2. Instead of hiding your body, you celebrate your health and size.
Negative self-talk, put-downs and shaming keep old habits alive and keep you in hiding. It is well known that our brains are more malleable than once believed. In other words, we can teach an old brain new tricks. This is called neuroplasticity. What great news! So, even if you don't believe that you are a beautiful human being, start telling yourself that anyway. In time, your brain will build new pathways and you will begin to see yourself in a more positive light.
3. You value yourself for who you are – not what you do.
Our society sends us messages that in order to have self-confidence, we need to be successful and to achieve more and more. However, we might find that the drive to be perfect leaves us feeling separated from ourselves and from others. What would it be like to slow down and have gratitude for what is going well in your life and for the simple pleasures that are your birthright? Maybe even try finding self-compassion, which means to bringing kindness and understanding towards yourself in the midst of pain and perceived failure. Try this instead of being self-critical of your mistakes and imperfections.
4. You learn to find more effective ways to express yourself and communicate.
This is one of the most important clues that you have reached diet recovery. Dieting can be a way of stuffing feelings and emotions, which often leaves us feeling depressed and anxious. As a result, this passive cycle leads to more stuffing and more symptoms. You know you are on the road to recovery when you stop apologizing for being alive, and start naming the elephant in the room.
Know that you are allowed to assert your options and needs. You are allowed to have needs and ask for help fulfilling them. Remember that diet recovery can be messy. You don't always get it right and that is the beauty of a continuous practice of self-awareness and self-acceptance.You too can experience the benefits of diet recovery.
Reach out to a therapist to help you stay on track. If you would like some extra support and are looking for a psychotherapist, please contact us for a free 30-minute consultation to learn about how I can be of service.
To find out more about my services click here: Eating Disorder Treatment. Serving Boulder, Longmont, Denver...
