Grief for the Eating Disorder Is Real

You can want recovery AND feel grief for the eating disorder. Yes, it's true: grief is an essential part of the healing process, and your grief -- however it shows up and for however long it lasts -- is valid.

I experienced grief off and on during my healing journey, especially in the beginning when I started to consistently make choices that aligned with recovery and not the eating disorder. This was an intense and very uncomfortable time. I struggled to reconcile that I had to grieve the identity of sickness in order to become a self-accepting woman.

If you are experiencing grief in your healing process, I support you in being gentle with yourself. Identify places and people that can hold your precious emotions so that you feel safe during the tidal waves, the ripples, and everything in between.