David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
Recovering from Anorexia: 10 Activities
October 17th, 2006
by isabella mori
counselling in vancouver
What do people do when they start on their recovery from anorexia? Here is a list of ten things that those who deal with this eating disorder mention most frequently. These are activities that they themselves decide on. That?s important to keep in mind. If I were to say to one of my clients, ?Jo, why don?t you cook a nice meal for Anne and Bob? You could prepare something you like and then have some yourself!?, it would quite possibly backfire. However, I?m happy when a client comes in and tells the story of doing some of these things.
October 17th, 2006
by isabella mori
counselling in vancouver
What do people do when they start on their recovery from anorexia? Here is a list of ten things that those who deal with this eating disorder mention most frequently. These are activities that they themselves decide on. That?s important to keep in mind. If I were to say to one of my clients, ?Jo, why don?t you cook a nice meal for Anne and Bob? You could prepare something you like and then have some yourself!?, it would quite possibly backfire. However, I?m happy when a client comes in and tells the story of doing some of these things.
- positive eating, e.g.,
- meeting up with a friend for lunch, even though it?s scary to eat in public
- eating a healthy breakfast (not just a 1/2 cup of dry cereal)
- cooking for friends - and participating in the meal afterwards
- engaging in healthy relationships, e.g.,
- choosing to go to a movie with a friend rather than staying home surfing the internet
- setting boundaries with a sibling
- discussing the relationship with a partner or girl/boyfriend
- walking away from unhealthy eating behaviours, e.g.,
- no purging
- no declining to eat in public
- talking to a friend about something that makes you angry rather than starving over it
- gentle exercise and resting, e.g.,
- taking a half-hour walk rather than going for a one-hour run
- skipping gym for a day
- resting when tired, rather than drinking black coffee
- positive self-talk, e.g.,
- ?i am someone, and beautiful to boost!?
- ?the world is not a fearful place?
- ?it?s no big deal. each day is just a chance to try out new things.?
- honesty, e.g.,
- not saying ?fine!? with a fake smile every time someone asks ?how are you?
- being totally honest about food with at least one person
- not bottling up feelings of fear and ambivalence when having sex
- doing nice things for yourself, e.g.,
- getting a long overdue haircut
- going shopping for ?normal? clothes (not clothes that will hide the body)
- just spending a nice day ? maybe reading, going to a movie, sleeping in
- spending quiet time with your feelings, e.g.,
- journaling
- crying
- creative visualization
- professional help, e.g.,
- seeing a psychotherapist
- attending group
- making that long overdue appointment with the nutritionist
- positive body image, e.g.,
- going to the beach in a bathing suit
- spending time in front of the mirror
- having sex in broad daylight
