Dr. Andrew Allen

Recovering from an eating disorder can be long and complex.

Treatment typically focuses on reducing the unhelpful behaviours and thoughts that characterise these disorders. These include extreme dieting, binge eating, purging, negative body image, and – in some (but not all) cases – having a very low body weight.

But when recovery focuses on a clinical checklist of symptoms, such as reaching a healthy weight, it may ignore other important aspects of getting better.

Eating disorders are not just physical. They are complex mental health conditions that severely disrupt people’s relationship with themselves, their bodies and other people. So the psychological aspects of recovery, and the way people feel about it, also plays an important role.

Our new research shows when people’s broader wellbeing improves – such as developing a sense of self-acceptance or hope – they are more likely to report a “personal” recovery from an eating disorder, even if they still have some clinical symptoms.

If you ever find yourself stuck in repeated cycles of negative emotion, you’re not alone.

More than 40% of Australians will experience a mental health issue in their lifetime. Many are linked to deep-rooted feelings that develop from childhood experiences.

Changing these lifelong patterns takes time, energy and support. For some people, schema therapy can help.