Why should I recover?

By: Meghan G.

Dear friend, 

The eating disorder wants to keep you trapped in thinking that it can give you happiness, success, the perfect life, etc. The eating disorder wants you to think that life would not be complete without it. But friend, when you take a step back and realize all the reasons why you should recover, I hope you know that there are so many benefits to letting it go. You do not deserve to be trapped in your eating disorder any longer. Here are 25 reasons why recovery is worth it…what would you add?

1. To have the energy to play my sport
2. To build more muscle strength
3. To stop having injuries 
4. To enjoy exercise/movement again
5. To have a worry-free vacation at the beach 
6. To live on your own/independently
7. To travel to a different country/state and not worry about my body or food
8. To be free 
9. To socialize with friends and family again
10. To enjoy work/school
11. To enjoy restaurants without stress
12. To have my true identity back 
13. To try new foods
14. To take care of my body 
15. To help someone else who struggles
16. To stop holding in my feelings and be vulnerable 
17. To experience life outside of exercise 
18. To start a family someday
19. To be spontaneous 
20. To be free of Ed’s control on my life 
21. To wear clothes that I want to wear 
22. To eat my favorite foods again
23. To be confident in myself
24. To release stress from my friends/family when they worry about me
25. To tell my story of how God saved me and used my struggles to get closer to him

Meghan is a recent occupational therapy graduate and lives on the East coast. Meghan currently works as a recovery coach at a residential eating disorder treatment facility. Meghan’s passion for raising eating disorder awareness stems from her own personal struggles, in addition to having friends/family members that have struggled with eating disorders as well. While Meghan hopes to start her occupational therapy career soon, she wants to continue to be involved in the eating disorder field and advocate for the role of OT in ED treatment settings. When Meghan is not working, you will find her planning her next Walt Disney World trip.