There seems to be an epidemic of eating disorders hitting our young (and not so young at times)

Recently at our local school there was an anorexia awareness project, and because of this five girls began seeking help.

One was an advanced case, mixed with bulimia, and her recovery program will be lengthy. We hope the others will take less time.

It is good to know that their chances for a full recovery are very high, which might easily have not been the case.

If you are suffering from anorexia or bulimia, or if your child or a loved one has this illness, unless and until you recognize and accept this and that it is an illness, it is virtually impossible to take the first step towards recovery.

One further thing here, accept the fact that you and/or your child needs help.

Look ahead and find out all you can – there are many sources of information, on-line, in bookstores or with different treatment centers.

One further thing here, accept the fact that you and/or your child needs help.

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I have been told and have read countless times that anyone who suffers from anorexia cannot achieve a full recovery. The treatment process will be long and costly. The probability of success will vary from 60% to 90% of cases. But, there is the risk of a relapse, as a complete recovery is not possible.

I take issue with part of the above. Before explaining why, let me clarify that I am not a doctor, or professional medical person. I just try to apply common sense and have the use of personal experience.

The thing I dislike the most is that I am convinced that the language we use creates our reality. If anyone suffering from an eating disorder is told that there is no complete recovery, only partial, or a remission, or whatever words they use, but with the same meaning, then that person will be convinced she won’t recover fully. The non-recovery category will become a reality.

I have unfortunately seen cases where the beginning stages of anorexia have become full blown illnesses in a very short period of time. This happened to my family member – the whole environment in the treatment center was such that anyone would have become critically anorexic. The environment, the language and every moment was charged with eating disorders.

(By the way we moved very quickly, started a different treatment based on systemic psychology, with the results we wanted and in a very short period of time. I have to stress that this worked for us, but I am not an authority, I am just giving testimony of what worked for us.)

Taking it from there, if the full recovery option is present, then that gives birth to reality. Another simple point, if I break my leg, have it put in a cast and the bones knit again, my leg recovers. Even if it ends up twisted, it is no longer broken.

Mine is not medical advice, nor can I present statistics to prove anything I say. And yes there are people who have remissions (although I still think the recovery process wasn’t complete for those cases).

But my experience has shown there can be a full recovery. So there.

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