RECOVERY: WHERE EATING DISORDERS MEET THEIR MATCH

By JL Keez

The plight of eating disorders across the planet grows more intense every day, with currently 9% of the global population impacted by this brutal diagnosis. My question, "Why does this number continue to rise?" Surely, with medical research realising endless growth in understanding how our bodies work, answers should be finding their way to us. However, the cloak of mystery persists. Where, in the endeavour of progress, are we missing the mark for this important collection of people?

With my own lived experience, and in working with those enduring the impact, I have come to understand that indeed the word 'understanding' is the vital missing link. Within the corridors of medical professionals, the consensus for treatment remains heavily divided; the lack of understanding perhaps is the reason why. For understanding to prevail I discovered the ultimate goal was to identify individual ‘why’s’, explore their content and contribution, and to design an individual pathway for healing.

Therefore, through adopting ‘understanding’ I also acknowledged another important aspect for the recovery process to be understood - ‘one size does not fit all’. There needed to be a way where individuality was considered.

Before I continue to outline what appears to be a doom and gloom article, let me encourage you to continue reading because out of the darkness, empowerment can emerge, taking the once frail rendition of a sufferer to the heights of strength. So, let's see how this transformation has the opportunity to occur, starting with that missing link and the idea of individuality!

Understanding is where empowerment begins. It unfolds when a client explores their story to date. Life events that disrupt when recalled are the clues for identifying the vital ‘why's' behind the development, which leads to greater knowledge. Contributing life events not only demonstrate clues, but in consultation, form the basis for designing solutions, allowing recovery to be achieved. As stories are different in their content, individuality is the necessity.

Exploring the messages taught regarding how life apparently works is key to understanding. Messages, undisputed and adopted as truth, hold immense power over a person and can take them down a road of misconception where the only way out is for the body to scream loudly in response. One of those screaming responses is an eating disorder!

Through the process of true understanding, a client will eventually connect the dots between their life events and the eating disorder. This form of education gives the client valuable learnings, or as I refer to them, pearls of wisdom; little gems that enlighten, inform and free the soul. However, do know, once ‘why’s’ present themselves I caution, we do need to hold tight! Healing can be challenging … hold the vision of recovery as motivation.

Through enduring many failures in attempting to recover, a textbook approach simply does not work. Individuals need, and deserve, individual applications.

And now, with a little bit of contradiction, I reference my good fortune - or universal intervention - in stumbling across a lady who practised 'Reality Therapy' underpinned by 'Choice Theory’. This is of course outlined in a text book! What then is the difference?

inquiry asks, "Why you are?" not "Who you are?"

Eating disorders take a person to a place where knowing "who you are" is lost to the damning messages influencing the disorder, adding massive confusion.

Hence, with understanding, and individuality, the "why you are" will add to the guidance for a person searching for answers. The most enlightening of discoveries arrives when a client realises the systems available in support of recovery were patiently waiting in the wings to inform them all along.

The systems I refer to include our:

- Thoughts

- Behaviours

- Emotions

- Physical symptoms dominant forces, which is where 'Choice Theory' comes in. Every step a client takes in identifying ‘why’s’ will result in a choice; to continue as is, or design a new choice, one supportive of 'who they are’ not ‘why they are’. Choices are considered, decided upon and undertaken. Revisiting may mean fine tuning. Eventually a choice in line with ‘who they are’ emerges, healing occurs and recovery is moving toward the finish line!

'Reality Therapy' encourages the client to explore each of these areas, acknowledging that they are intertwined. By changing one, the others will fall into line, encouraging and supporting the desire for freedom. Additionally, this therapy aims to explore a person's wants and needs, and examine their beliefs and values with the view of defining their truths, which may be quite different to the truths currently lived by.

Kindness forms the foundation for this therapy and its theory. Each of the suggested areas come together to form a framework that designs the pathway for recovery. I have found this approach not only works but provides a tool for any future challenges a person may face.

One of my story elements, connected to having experienced sexual abuse as a child, was the thought that if I told the truth, I would not be liked. Without the opportunity to turn this thought around, I wore its truth like a glove. As I grew I took this belief with me into every situation. I truly believed I was not liked - hence I created the outcome. Recovery found me examining this for its origin, and it’s truth. I made the connection to my eating disorder. Understanding joined me. Gradually I developed a new thought. I freed myself from the fear delivered while being abused and the words designed to silence me.

The message I wish to convey is that healing is available. Eating disorders are brutal, but with a focus on understanding, individuality, ‘why you are’ and a willingness to explore life's messages, change can happen. There are no guarantees in life, but the knowledge that healing is available provides a beacon of hope.

I believe the missing link in the treatment of eating disorders is understanding joined by individuality. In exploring individual stories to date, contributing life events, and messages taught regarding how life works, valuable learnings inform and guide. ’Reality Therapy' underpinned by 'Choice Theory' provides the framework leading to empowerment through recovery. In this space eating disorders meet their match, release their hold and find themselves a new home - the bin!

SMART COAST CONVEYANCING