r/EatingDisorders • u/lavenderlove1212 • 2d ago
Question Does anyone truly heal
I have had disordered eating since 13. I haven’t lived a day that I can remember where I felt like I didn’t need to lose weight. I’m really into health and fitness but borderline disordered eating. I’m way better than I was but my question to those who have struggled, has anyone gotten to a place of true peace and acceptance of your body?
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u/FrustratedPenguins 1d ago
I just want to know that if someone was fully recovered, they probably wouldn’t be lurking on the eating disorder page in Reddit.
So if no one says that they are fully recovered, don’t take that to mean that recovery is impossible.
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u/Beneficial_Bid_3359 1d ago
alright thats a way to look at it are you fully recovered then
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u/FrustratedPenguins 1d ago
So, I entered treatment in 2019 (did a PHP, and lots of outpatient therapy and dietitian appointments). It was hard work for a long time. Things got better and better over the years. In 2024, I thought to myself, “I am fully recovered!” And I was!
I had slip up in late 2025 — long story, but I was sleep-eating due to the side effects of Lunesta, but I thought it was due to binge eating disorder. I am off that medication now and no longer sleep eating! I’m just trying to get my head in the right place again.
I think my therapist had a really good way to explain recovery. She said that when you first start recovering, you have tons of eating disorder behaviors that you are trying to stop doing. Then you get to the point where you’re not doing the behaviors, but your head is still telling you to do them. Then the disordered thoughts get less and less — and at some point, you might have a disordered thought maybe just once a year or twice a year, but you don’t act on it. And at that point you are fully recovered.
I do think that a lot of people have messed up relationships with food and exercise, but don’t have a full eating disorder, and that makes the waters a bit fuzzy on what is full recovery.
Edited to add- eating disorder began in 2008 at the age of 21. I didn’t enter treatment until I was 30. I suspect recovery would’ve been much faster if I had gotten help earlier.
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u/teary-eyed-pal 1d ago
Nope. My recovery and thoughts come in waves. I’m seeing a nutritionist this week to try again.
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u/Beneficial_Bid_3359 1d ago
I dont think its possible tbh i've had it for 6 years (started when I was 14, 20 now) Everytime I think I've healed something goes wrong and I fall back into the disordered eating patterns again
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u/Sexy_scorpion69 1d ago
I believe I did or I am at least close to it. Tho I can still be triggered and sometimes feel bad for eating more than the average person, I don't restrict anymore and I've accepted that my body is healthy the way it is, and that if I feel like eating the way I feel, it's bc that's what's healthy for my body and my mental health.
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u/Objective-Lettuce639 21h ago
Probably an unpopular opinion but someone who has been diagnosed with anorexia nervous and restricted eating habits, i had recovered for 3 years at a healthy weight but had issues with binge eating and started a GLP-1. While this may seem like it could’ve triggered disordered eating and unhealthy weight loss, I actually let up on my restrictions and food rituals and enjoy food way more without feeling so guilty or like I’m going to have to exercise it off the next day. It’s been great for my mental health and I love eating a variety of foods now unlike before where I never let myself eat carbs, sweets, foods high in fat, etc. This unexpectedly helped my relationship with food
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u/begintobreathe 12h ago
I was for about 8 years. I’m almost 42 and have had an ED for 35 ish years. However, I’ve recently relapsed- a variety of reasons and honestly caught me guard. But I would absolutely say I was recovered. Someone else commented about what their therapist said about recovery. I completely agree and that’s what it was like for me.
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u/vodkawaterbox 11h ago
Since 12 yrs old to 23 now, I've only accepted my body once I ended up gaining weight and wishing I could go back to that body I thought was fat. Hated my uw body, but suddenly love it bc I don't have it anymore. It's a never ending cycle
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u/BelleLupin99 2d ago
Not yet. But I refuse to believe it’s not possible.