As a clinician, I try to take every opportunity possible to instill hope in my patients. So much in life is based on hope, dreams and believing in one's ability to effect change.
Eating disorders is a young field and the definition of recovery is not yet firmed. Medicine tends to operate on a disease model, not a wellness model. Perhaps rightly so, more effort is spent helping people out of illness, than studying what keeps people well. But what is well? What is recovered? If recovery happens how concerned must someone be about relapse? Is there full recovery?
We must keep our humanity in our interactions. To the patient with an eating disorder who feels trapped, hope is in fact a good thing. Hope plus action (nourishment, therapy, medical monitoring) is a fabulous thing. Hope also requires telling the hard truth sometimes. Hope can build alliances and allow family and partners to participate in care. Hope doesn't mean sitting back and "magically" thinking will someone eat or that their weight worries will dissipate. There are boundaries and limitations. Hope must be realistic; it doesn't cure cancer.
So why do I ask about hope? Because I have no guarantees. However, I am aware that people face a world that is difficult and don't need someone to clip their wings. I am also aware of the potential healing opportunity in the doctor-patient interaction.
Find clinicians that are supportive of your recovery goal. Recognize that recovery requires hard work. Relapse is a real phenomenon, but it doesn't mean that full recovery cannot happen. Create your own recovery.
Peace be with you.
I agree with this article. Like my husband is always going to be a recovering alcoholic, i will always be a recovering anorexic/bulimic. We have to take recovery one day at a time. it is an on going process
Posted by: Veronica kegel-Giglio | June 22, 2011 at 09:14 AM