frustrated

[actingpassion123]

So, I have had an eating disorder for 7 years. I was anorexic, but became EDNOS. I spent this summer and part of last semester (I came home) in intensive outpatient treatment. Granted, I have gotten A LOT better, although I'm still definitely in recovery. The problem is, I've just gotten back to college, and I'm still meeting with my nutritionist over the phone once a week. But I really don't want to! I want to just "wing it" and be normal (I know that's probably a bad word choice). I don't want to think about my ED, I just want to take each day as it comes. I'd rather not talk to her at all anymore, and just do it on my own.

Does anyone else feel this way? Am I silly to think I can do it without help? I just need some guidance/advice about what I should do about my appointments

[Dr.Bobby]

I think the question is when to stop "Intervention", be it therapy or nutrition or medication, etc. The answer is when you feel confident that you've mastered the underlying issue, that you are in control. Note that is different than being weary of treatment, or wanting to be 'Normal'.

If you believe you are back in control and can demonstrate that to yourself, then it might be time to talk with the pros in your life about a plan to begin slowly weening you from treatment and see what happens. Nothing drastic, just lengthening the amount or frequency of the contact, with the mutual agreement that should the feelings or symptoms come back and prove unmanageable, you'll return to treatment.

But the decision has to be based on actual self awareness of real improvement, not just length of time and weariness.

[Revolution]

Hey Laura,

I would give yourself a little more time before not seeing your nutritionist. I completely understand how hard it can be to not feel "normal", but you've been doing so well with help, and you don't want to go back to your own ways. If it's only a phone call once a week, that is not too bad. Maybe talk to her about lowering it to every two weeks, and slowly tapering away. But you just got out of outpatient, and although I do not know you or your situation personally, I would highly recommend you not try to recover to fast.

It's okay to be in recovery, you can still be "normal". Everybody suffers from weaknesses, and for a little while, you may just have to continue your treatment until you are completely ready. I wish you well in your recovery! Message me if you ever need!

[Heartlines.]

Part of recovery is doing things that aren't easy, and doing things that we don't want to do. It's life. It's how we grow. Sure, it'd be nice if we could handle things like this all on our own, but fact is- we can't. Well, we can, but it's much harder. I don't think I would have recovered from my depression and all that came with it alone. It's a hard process. And you deserve to have as much support as you can get. Most people aren't fortunate enough to have a nutritionist. So I would utilize the one you have the most you can, because if it's being offered to you, then take it. Because let's say you stop contact with the nutritionist, and later down the road you decide you need one, it might be harder to actually get one.

I would say soak up all the help you can get. Recovery is hard, but you don't deserve to go through it alone. Like Traci said, think on it a bit before making any decisions.

Good luck!