Rock bottom, in the eating disorder population, seems to be less of a turning point, and more of a campground. Every time I see someone defend their eating disorder by finding reasons it must stay, rock bottom seems to look more like a pinterest living room than a place of demise. Sure, the fear seems to be there, but what they won’t do to protect their rock bottom is a short list. The world is full of opportunities to EITHER recover or protect what feels safe.
For instance:“The nurse told me my weight at the doctor’s office.”
We could take this either up Recovery Mountain, and explore what it means to know your weight verses not knowing your weight, what feelings come up, and what deeper issues those feelings might be attached to in order to put on the list for future healing…
Or we could use this experience to protect the eating disorder by engaging in eating disorder behaviors, thoughts, or use it as a reason to dig deeper into the hole of the eating disorder instead of climbing out. Rock bottom is wherever you stop digging.
Another example:“Someone wrote something triggering in my Facebook Support Group.”
So we can take this AGAIN, one of two ways. Explore through writing, drawing, talking, therapy, phone sessions etc. what the experience was like, get to the deeper feelings that might or might not be tied to an issue that needs to be healed. See my Trigger Tracker and Free Write Worksheets for this. Reframe the word, phrase, etc. to something that helped you move up the mountain toward your own healing, and recognize, that once reframed and explored that it was invaluable.
Or we could use this as a jumping off point to protect not only your eating disorders, but those of others in the Support Group. Arguing with the fact that something should not be posted due to making yourself or others feel triggered is defending the stuckness, and resistance to exploring further what this might mean. When we feel defensive, there is meaning in that, that could be explored, but when we defend the avoidance of anything triggering, we lose sight of the goal of recovery. We dig deeper, our hole, and snuggle deeper into the covers of the disorder.
Recovery happens when we let go of comfort WHILE being terrified of the unknown. Once we can let go of the shovel, and start at least looking up, we can start exploring what we used to keep us safe. The idea is to feel and explore the feelings that compel disordered eating thoughts and behaviors. Only YOU will know your own next step in recovery. The action you KNOW you personally need to take to move ahead. Attempt to immerse yourself into the next step WHILE you feel the feelings around the action and its meaning. Do the action AND feel the feelings. Eat the increased food AND explore the feelings it brings up. Look at that scale number AND be scared. Explore these opportunities to truly look at the painful steps that eventually lead to a full and healthy life.
I’d love your insights on this if you’re willing to share your stories.🌟If you need support NOW, feel free to reach out to me!🌟
Email Scarlett:
SRO@ScarlettRameyOfficial.com
Text Scarlett:
(206) 910-8690
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If you’re into it, feel free to share this with any other people in your support circle that you KNOW need to hear these words!
Yours in love and support,
Scarlett Ramey, MS, RDN, CD♥️
P.S. Hope to see you in the comments. Let’s rally together during this time and stay connected in supporting YOUR Recovery journey. The world deserves the BEST of you.♥️