Overcoming an Eating Disorder
- Dr Sara Parsi di Landrone
- Sep 24, 2024
- 3 min read
Eating Disorder Support
What Support and Recovery Can Look Like
Recovery from an eating disorder is rarely a single decision or a clear turning point. More often, it is a gradual process that involves understanding what the eating disorder is doing, developing safer ways to cope, and rebuilding trust in both the body and the mind.
This article explores how recovery is commonly supported, what tends to help over time, and how professional care fits into the process.
Recovery is not one approach
There is no single method that works for everyone. Eating disorders affect people differently, and recovery looks different depending on factors such as physical health, emotional needs, life circumstances, and neurodiversity.
What matters most is not following a fixed formula, but finding support that is:
Appropriate to the individual
Responsive to change
Focused on both physical safety and psychological wellbeing
The role of professional support
For most people, recovery is not something that can be managed alone. Professional input helps provide structure, safety, and clarity, particularly when eating behaviours are entrenched or distressing.
Specialist support often begins with careful assessment, which looks beyond symptoms to understand:
Physical health and risk
Eating patterns and nutrition
Emotional and psychological factors
What maintains the eating disorder
This understanding guides the type and pace of support offered.
Therapy as a space to understand, not force change
Therapy for eating disorders is not about persuasion or pressure. It is about creating space to explore:
Beliefs about food, weight, control, or safety
Emotional patterns linked to eating behaviours
Fears around change and recovery
Different therapeutic approaches may be used depending on the person and their needs. What they share is a focus on understanding behaviour before trying to change it.
The importance of nutritional support
Eating disorders affect the body as well as the mind. Dietetic support helps address the physical impact of restriction, bingeing, or compensatory behaviours.
Rather than focusing on rules or perfection, nutritional work often aims to:
Restore consistency and adequacy
Reduce fear around eating
Support physical recovery so psychological work is possible
This is usually done gradually and collaboratively.
Support beyond appointments
Recovery does not happen only in therapy sessions. Day-to-day life plays a significant role.
Many people find it helpful to:
Build routines that support regular eating and rest
Identify situations that increase vulnerability
Develop alternatives to eating disorder behaviours when distressed
Support from others can also be important, though this looks different for everyone.
For families and friends
Supporting someone with an eating disorder can feel confusing and emotionally demanding. It is common to want to help while not knowing how.
Helpful support often involves:
Focusing on connection rather than control
Avoiding comments about weight or appearance
Encouraging professional input without pressure
Families and carers may also benefit from guidance and support in their own right.
Recovery is not linear
Setbacks, pauses, or periods of uncertainty are a normal part of recovery. These do not mean failure.
Progress is often seen in:
Increased flexibility
Reduced distress around food
Greater engagement with life outside the eating disorder
Change tends to happen gradually rather than all at once.
When it may be helpful to reach out
If eating behaviours feel difficult to manage, are affecting health, or are taking up significant mental space, professional support can help clarify next steps.
You do not need to be certain about recovery goals or diagnoses before asking for help.
How we can help
At The Eating Disorders Clinic, we offer assessment-led, multidisciplinary support for people experiencing eating disorders and disordered eating. Our approach is calm, collaborative, and tailored to the individual.
Support is guided by clinical governance and focused on long-term wellbeing rather than quick solutions.
A gentle next step
If you would like to explore whether support may be appropriate, you are welcome to book a free initial call with our team.
You can also review our website to understand how our service works before making any decisions.
Author: Sara Landrone – Clinical Director, Lead Psychologist at the Eating Disorders Clinic
References:
Fairburn, C. G. (2008). Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Eating Disorders. Guilford Press.
National Health Service (NHS). (2020). Eating disorders – recovery and support. Available at:NHS Website
