How To Set Goals To Recover From Anorexia

Recovering from anorexia can be a lifelong process that requires many adjustments along the way.

Goal-setting is an important component of long-term success, but knowing how to set these goals is just as important as achieving them.

Here are some ways to ensure that your recovery goals will lead you to the outcomes you desire.

1. Focus on self-care

Recovering from anorexia requires a commitment to self-care, not strict or punishment-based improvement. Your goals should revolve around how to best support your total body health and wellness, as well as your emotional state. If one of your goals is to gain weight, for example, then establish ways to do this in a way that feels safe and nurturing for you – like adding more muscle mass through healthy exercise or enjoying more of the foods you used to deny yourself in moderation and with awareness.

2. Know your triggers

Goal-setting with any eating disorder must be done with awareness of your triggers. Being aware of what may be challenging for you is the best way to plan for success. Be unfailingly honest about your triggers, and develop strategies and action steps for dealing with them appropriately.

3. Get support

Setting goals to recover from anorexia will also be most effective if you work with a professional or have like-minded peers to support you in this process. Getting outside help or a second opinion from another person in recovery can help you create a realistic plan for success.

4. Plan for setbacks

Recovering from an eating disorder isn’t a fool-proof process. You’re almost guaranteed to relapse or have setbacks along the way. So set goals that account for this reality and allow your aspirations to leave room for mistakes. These slip-ups don’t have to completely derail your progress, but planning for them will help you bounce back faster when they do occur.

Source: National Eating Disorder Association
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