“Recovery is a state, not a weight.” That was the first thought that came to mind when I began looking into the meaning of recovery for this month’s newsletter.
For many carers, the term recovery can feel unclear or even controversial, especially when so much of the focus in treatment can be on weight. At EDANZ, we see recovery as absolutely achievable and it means more than reaching a target on the scale. It means full freedom from the eating disorder: the rigid rules, the fear, the compulsions, and the constant mental noise around food and eating.
We understand how exhausting and frightening this journey can be. Supporting a loved one with an eating disorder is not easy. Recovery is not only possible, though, it is necessary. It is not enough for someone to appear physically “better” if the disordered thinking remains. Recovery means those thoughts and behaviours no longer have power.
Recovery is possible, at any stage, at any age, no matter how long the illness has been present. There is always a way forward.
I remember the moment my daughter came home one day and casually asked, “Mum, do we have any bacon?” It was such a simple question, but one she wouldn’t have asked before. In that moment, I knew we were getting there. Recovery is real.
Wishing you strength, clarity, and support as we head into this wet, wild, wintery season
Ngā manaakitanga
Megan
