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By The Looking Glass Foundation

What is recovery?

If you’ve ever suffered from an eating disorder, or supported someone who has, chances are you’ve asked yourself this question – many times.

The question was the focus of lively conversation among a diverse mix of attendees at the first of our three-event Summer Dialogue Series on June 24th. With such a range of experiences and perspectives around eating disorders, there was a lot of debate about what recovery is and looks like, and just how achievable it is.

We began with nailing whatever “absolutes” we could agree on – the things that could be said, unequivocally, about recovering from an eating disorder:

Of course, the conversation generated lots of other questions and issues. Many who were early on in recovery wondered who they would be once they reached the other side. Others who were further along in their journey questioned whether one really ever gets to a point of being fully recovered. Still others expressed frustration with how long it takes and how much effort is involved. And those in the room who were years past their eating disorder were shocked to learn that although research and treatment methods have progressed, the fight against this disease still has a long way to go. Eating disorders are on the rise, more than ever before.

Together, we sifted through all that came up and settled on three questions to help us drill down a little deeper:

  1. What contributes to recovery?
  2. What is going to happen to me (and my body) after recovery?
  3. What is my voice (and my rights) during recovery?

[dt_quote type="pullquote" layout="right" font_size="big" animation="none" size="2.0em"]It isn’t enough to want to be recovered. We have to be willing to put ourselves through the process of recovering.[/dt_quote]

In small groups, we explored these questions in depth, unfurling threads and themes that were sometimes personal, uncomfortable, dark even. The light of it was that we were able to challenge one another’s perspectives and assumptions in a cohesive, supportive way. We gave each other a safe space to be.

A few more reflections from the afternoon:

We endured the pain of our suffering; we can endure the discomfort of our recovery.

So, you tell us – what does recovery mean to you? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.


Upcoming events in our Summer Dialogue Series are: What is a Healthy Body? on July 22nd and What is a Meaningful Life? on August 26th. For more information visit https://www.lookingglassbc.com/dialogue-series/

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