What is recovery?
(According to ANRED Treatment and Recovery)
Recovery is much more than the abandonment of starving and stuffing. At minimum it includes the following:
•• Maintenance of normal or near-normal weight
•• In women, regular menstrual periods (not triggered by medication)
•• A varied diet of normal foods (not just low-cal, non-fat, non-sugar items)
•• Elimination or major reduction of irrational food fears
•• Age-appropriate relationships with family members
•• Awareness of cultural demands for unrealistic thinness
•• One or more mutually satisfying friendships with healthy, normal people. Such friendships involve mutual give-and-take and a minimum of caretaking and “parenting” behavior.
•• Age-appropriate interest and participation in romantic relationships
•• Strong repertoire of problem-solving skills
•• Fun activities that have nothing to do with food, weight, or appearance
•• Understanding of the process of choices and consequences
•• Person has a sense of self, plus goals and a realistic plan for achieving them. Is moving towards building a meaningful, fulfilling, and satisfying life.
•• Person has also learned to be kind to self and others, forsaking perfectionism and confronting flaws and disorder with grace and understanding. Person refuses to drive her/himself with criticism and demands for unrealistic performance.
ANRED: Treatment and Recovery. <http://www.anred.com/tx.html>.Used with permission.
