Why Baby Steps? I want to be recovered NOW!

[Andrea Roe]

I always hated when someone told me that recovery means taking baby steps. I didn't want to take baby steps. I wanted to take big huge steps and be done with my eating disorder and get on with my life. But unfortunately, this is not how it works...we have to learn to be patient, we have to learn to be kind to ourselves. And these are all important lessons that recovery teaches us.

Recovery is a process. It takes time. Recovery does not happen overnight. Your eating disorder started years before you first binged, purged or starved yourself - and it will take time to overcome this disorder. And there is no rule for how long it takes for someone to recover. We all have different stories to tell, different reasons why we developed our eating disorders, and we are all at different points in our lives.

Sometimes it feels like we are not moving at all and are not getting anywhere with recovery. In those moments, it's important to look back, look at all these baby steps and see how far we have come already. It is important to celebrate these baby steps. Like when you didn't binge, or ate something you wouldn't normally eat and not feel guilty about it or when you were just about to buy laxatives but put them back onto the shelf and left the store without them. Be proud of yourself for moments like that! Yes, you can be proud of yourself. This is a huge achievement! Every baby step is a big victory.

It's one day at a time. One step at a time. One step at a time may seem too slow some days but these small steps add up to making a HUGE difference. Each of these baby steps brings us closer to recovery and a life free of ED (your eating disorder).

I’d like to share with you something that eating disorder therapist and best-selling author Carolyn Costin, who recovered herself from anorexia over thirty years ago, said to me a little while ago: “I’ve lived long enough to know that you can be absolutely recovered—where food and weight take a natural, normal perspective in your life. And you don’t deal with it one day at a time. It’s important to tell people you can recover. It’s crucial.” I agree with Carolyn. And it is in my hopes that you remember this message on your journey when you get frustrated with baby steps. Always remember, there is a way out and recovery really IS possible!

Andrea

PS. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. I always welcome your messages!

PPS. For more information about me and to find out more about my recovery, visit www.youarenotalonebook.com