This part of my series is a bit more broad, as there is a wide variety of eating disorders that people struggle with. For this reason, my list of Do's and Don'ts will be a bit shorter because different tips apply to each type of eating disorder. Again, I am not a licensed medical professional, but these tips have been helpful to myself and others, and I hope they can serve you as well!
Do's:
-Educate yourself. Taking it upon yourself to learn about eating disorders can help feel more validated in your struggles, and also help you better understand what you're going through. However, there is a lot of misinformation spread on eating disorders, especially on social media, so I encourage you to use credible resources such as medical books, articles, and videos.
-Take your time. Eating disorders, like every other mental illness, involve a mindset that can be difficult to change. Be patient with yourself and allow yourself a healthy pace in recovery that you know will benefit you.
-Be honest with yourself and others. The toxic, competitive mindset of eating disorders can manipulate one into telling themselves they aren't struggling "enough" to have a problem so they can allow themselves to sink into more unhealthy habits. Admitting your struggles to yourself and the ones you trust opens the doors to communication and eventually recovery.
Don'ts:
-Put others before you. When you are struggling, it's important to prioritize your mental health over everything else. You can be a supportive friend without allowing others to drain your energy! This especially applies if you have a loved one who is struggling with an eating disorder too. Listening to others' struggles can strike a sense of competitiveness or trigger you in other ways. You can help yourself and those who are struggling if you put your own recovery first so you are in the best mindset possible to help.
-Be self critical. No one plans to struggle with an eating disorder, and being too hard on yourself will only put you in a more unhealthy mindset and make it harder to recover. Be compassionate with yourself, and understand your struggles the same way you would someone else who is struggling.
-Panic. I understand that this is much easier said than done, as struggling with an eating disorder can put someone constantly obsessive and on edge. But know that eating disorders are fully treatable, and it's worth it to begin recovery. If you ever need to talk to a professional, visit this website's home page for the Eating Disorder Hotline.
If there are specific eating disorders you would like me to add to this series, please let me know, and share your own recovery tips down below!
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