Eating Disorder Lies

It is common in eating disorder treatment to learn to separate yourself from the eating disorder.  As you practice doing this, you become better at recognizing what is the eating disorder and what is your authentic self.  The eating disorder is a professional at telling you lies and trying to convince you that they are true.  

For those with eating disorders:
As you read the list of common eating disorder lies below, notice how they make you feel.  Which lies does your eating disorder tell you?  Are there any messages on the list that you believe to be true?  Are there any messages that you used to believe were true but now recognize as false?  How did you come to realize that those messages were lies?  Consider writing about the messages you still struggle with, or bring them to your therapist or trusted support person.

For support people:
Imagine what your life would be like if the following messages played in your head over and over again.  How would these messages impact your life?  What would it feel like if you believed some of the messages to be true?  How can you help your loved ones separate themselves from their eating disorders?  Remember, it is NOT your job to convince your loved ones that their thoughts are lies, or to criticize them for having crazy/stupid/selfish/weird/silly/irrational thoughts.  Your job is to provide unconditional support to your loved ones, and to show them that they are still lovable and worthy, regardless of what they think.

1. I am either fat or I am skinny.
2. Having an eating disorder makes me special.
3. I am more disciplined than other people because I have an eating disorder.
4. I don't deserve to get help.
5. Treatment for an eating disorder just makes people fat.

Embracing our Strength

Eating disorders are full of lies.  They tell us that we are unworthy, unlovable, undesirable, fat, ugly, stupid, and so on.  It is painful to meet so many amazing, intelligent, creative, compassionate people who believe the lies their eating disorders tell them.  If only they (we) could see what others see in us. 

A common lie for eating disorders to tell us is that we are weak.  The eating disorder tells us that the only time we are being strong is when we are using symptoms and numbing our pain.  This lie can have devastating effects on the recovery process.  It can get in the way of our motivation if we believe that the only time we are strong is when we are in the eating disorder.  Even more importantly, it can stop us from even trying to recover, believing that we are too weak to do the necessary work.

The lies the eating disorder tells us could not be further from the truth!  People with eating disorders have an immense amount of strength.  However, we have been using our strength in unhealthy (and often ineffective) ways.  If we can begin to recognize our strength and power, then we can harness it towards recovery.

The following article from Eating Disorders Review.com is a wonderful illustration of this concept...

Our RIGHTS as Humans

  Many people with eating disorders struggle with low self-worth.  Often, people express that they don't feel like they "deserve" help.  It is important to remember that we are ALL worthy simply because we are human. 

I have the right to...

1. Experience all of my emotions including joy, fear, sadness, confusion, hope, pride, happiness, shame, guilt, loneliness, excitement, and so on.
2. Give and receive unconditional love.
3. Decide what I like and do not like.   
4. Develop and grow at my own pace. 
5. Give others the responsibility for their own beliefs, decisions, feelings and thoughts.