Eating disorder recovery describes the complex process an individual must go through on the road to overcoming its many challenges. Anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders are 
grossly underreported, making their prevalence difficult to quantify. However, as many as 57 percent of teenage girls admit to engaging in fasting, purging and taking diet pills or laxatives.* The process differs for each person, but true recovery cannot occur until a young woman is ready to create that change in her life. In fact, the statistics show that fewer than one-third of teen girls successfully recover from eating disorders. The risk for relapse is directly related to the methods and approach used for recovery and healing.
The Process of Recovery
The term recovery is often used in contexts related to addiction and substance abuse. It is more accurately used to describe the process of change an individual goes through once they confront the faulty thoughts and feelings that caused the problem in the first place. With an eating disorder, recovery involves gaining control of and changing behavioral responses to the emotions that underlie the disorder. The components or characteristics of a successful recovery include restoring self-respect, taking personal responsibility for one’s own recovery and reinstating empowerment and hope. Successful recovery also requires an individualized approach of intervention and treatment as well as peer support gained from sharing knowledge and experiences with others facing the same challenges.
The Importance of Readiness to Change
Eating disorder recovery requires family and peer support as well as professional and personalized interventions, but it also involves a willingness and readiness to change. The process requires a commitment to making the necessary behavior modifications and confronting potentially painful thoughts and emotions. Unless a young woman is truly committed to making positive changes, she may not succeed in her struggle. Ambivalence or feelings of being stuck are common themes in failed attempts at recovering.
Strategies for Avoiding Relapse
Long-term success in recovering from eating disorders requires a strong treatment team and personal support system. A common reason for relapse is re-entry into the environment where the original problem developed. It’s not usually possible or even desirable to remove a young woman permanently from her natural environment, however, so a strong plan and extensive preparation is required to help her make it through recovery. Residential treatment programs have shown great promise in helping to break the eating disorder cycle, and for helping adolescent and teenage girls develop strategies that will greatly improve their chances of a successful recovery.
Havenwood Academy specializes in residential treatment programs for girls and young women, with interventions designed especially for teens who struggle with anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. Contact Havenwood today for more information about their eating disorder recovery programs.
Think Havenwood Might Be For You?
We encourage any visitors considering placing their daughter in treatment to fill out our online assessment as soon as possible. This two minute form will give our admissions team all the information needed to determine if your daughter is a good fit for our program.
Eric Allred was born and raised in Rigby, Idaho. He grew up on a family farm where he learned the value of work. He graduated from Rigby High School and attended Rick’s College, now known as BYU-Idaho. He received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Utah State University, received a master’s degree in organizational behavior and human relations from the University of Phoenix and a second master’s degree in marital and family therapy from Phillips Graduate Institute. Eric has been involved in Rotary and was president of a local Rotary Club. He enjoys being with his family and doing outdoor activities such as fly fishing.
Chase was very fortunate to start in this industry as a struggling 17 year old kid looking for a mentor and something to be passionate about. Wilderness therapy was Chase’s first stop in this industry and was truly a transcendental experience for him. Chase has an enormous love for this line of work and the power that it has in creating change in everyone involved. Chase’s biggest belief is the power a mentor, strong, healthy relationships, and accountability can have on anyone, especially youth. Taking a very relational approach to his work, Chase has always been very relatable to the students he works with. Being able to understand and relate to a vast variety of the same struggles as a lot of the students he works with has been able to help him continue to grow, learn, and teach. Chase believes that with great rapport and trust, he can use his experience to continue to coach and train new staff, and has the ability to find those staff with the passion for this industry, and help them grow. His love and passion can be felt the moment you talk with Chase about this industry and he passes that on to others he works with. In his spare time you will find Chase cheering for the Eagles, Yankees, and Mavericks, hanging out with his brother, learning more about Eastern Psychology, and continuing to grow and learn.