Expert: Ryan Hale - 2/10/2009

Question
What are the steps to recovery for an anorexic? About how long should it take for the body to go back to its physically healthy appearance? Will the body ever fully recover?

Answer
Shardae- Thank you for the question.  The first step to recovery is to find help.  Often a school counselor, family doctor, nutritionist, psychologist, or even clergy can help you find resources to get the help that's needed.

The big step is what healthcare workers call "getting into the system."  It just means to get the ball rolling so that resources can be mobilized and you can get pointed in the right direction.

When it comes to working with a physician, nutritionist or counseling psychologist, the key is finding someone with experience working with anorexia and to find someone with whom you can connect.  I know many people who have gone for counseling, but when I ask them how it went they reply that they didn't feel like it really helped so they stopped going.  I tell people that they might need to go to 3 or 4 before they find the right person.  If you need to go to more than that you are probably just avoiding trying to get help and are undermining things.

The reasons for eating disorders often contain issues like abuse in all or one of its forms (sexual, emotional, physical), control or lack of it, and relationship issues, as well as the issue of disordered eating.  That's why it takes a team to help: physician for your overall health, a counselor for the psychology issues, and a nutritionist for the eating aspect.

Recovery is like other kinds of recovery (such as drug and alcohol recovery), there are often setbacks and it may take a few or many attempts.  And, it is likely something that will be dealt with for a long time.

The amount of time for the body to return to health, both outside and inside may depend on how long the situation has gone untreated and the age of the person.  Someone who is anorexic who started when they were in their formative years can do real and lasting damage.  The body is amazing at bouncing back from all sorts of demands placed on it, but some damage may be lasting, especially if the person was anorexic when the body was growing and maturing.

As always, I recommend working not only on your psychological health and physical health but your spiritual health as well.  Take the time to connect, re-connect, or look into something or someone to believe in and to help you realize your own divinity.  Whether it is God, Lord Buddha, Allah, science or nature, or whatever.  Find something that really speaks to you and you will realize your great worth to the world which will help you along your journey to health.  Good luck and please write back with any more questions.