Healing ~ Recovery: Hope & Healing for Eating Disorders

Eating disorders (ED) are complex disorders that require psychological, medical and nutritional treatment. They are best treated by a team of professionals well trained and experienced in treating these difficult problems. Many professionals will say treatment is long and arduous, and some say ED is not even curable. That is a true statement but doesn't have to hold for you. You do not have to live in bondage, trapped in your own personal nightmare.

Could This Be You?

Typically graced with intelligence and talent, many of us became so engaged with our eating disorder that we bypassed opportunities to take the necessary steps required to fulfill our dreams and succeed in life. Sometimes, our potential went unrealized as we became progressively more preoccupied with food. We suppressed feelings and denied needs. We lost touch with our authentic self, and found ourselves unable to recognize and identify our emotions. Depression often sets in; at times we're more isolated and hopeless than ever. Eating was a way to squelch our shame and disappointment in life. We used food in an unsuccessful attempt to meet deep emotional needs.

Sometimes the pain can become so great that you wonder how you can survive if something doesn't change immediately. It may not be apparent to you yet, but God is going to use all that you are learning week by week to effect your cure ... if your let Him. Be patient. Give God time. All that you are learning is essential for healing, so don't become weary and faint ... or quit.

"Truly I have seen our Father heal wounds that man thought could never be healed. But then, isn't that just like the God of the impossible -- the One who said, 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know' (Jeremiah 33:3") -- Kay Arthur.

The Pace of Recovery

As you walk towards full recovery in your life, please remember that it will come in stages. Don't quit in frustration because the pace of recovery doesn't match your expectation! Rather, adjust your expectations to match the reality of your circumstances. Now, for some of you, this may seem disheartening, given your circumstances. But, before you become disheartened, make sure you're taking into account all of your circumstances. Don't just look at your present circumstances and resources.

Remember that you have a God of the possible on your side! Luke 18:27 reminds us that, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." This is your true circumstance! Your addiction may have left lingering consequences but whatever - whatever! - those are, they are not bigger than the God who loves you. It is his desire that you recover from your addiction in all ways - emotionally, relationally, physically and spiritually. Your true identity is not your addiction: Your true status is as a child of God.

The Body Connection ~ It's important in life to operate from a platform of realistic expectations. This is especially true when it comes to our bodies. Let's face it - we are bombarded with a montage of unrealistic physical expectations wherever we look! So, as you're working through your recovery - on all levels - remember to have a realistic expectation on your physical recovery. Be realistic, also, about how long this journey to health will take. Don't give up early because you think - surely, it should be going faster or - surely, it should be going faster for you than everyone else! Be patient with yourself and with your circumstances. Rely on a loving God to empower you. Maintain your partnership with your doctor or healthcare professional.

We're the luckiest people alive because we don't have to do anything alone!

LOVE WORTH TRUSTING - I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you... the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. -- Psalm 32:8,10

Whether we have a new assignment to tackle, a new relationship to cultivate, a new boss to please, we'll never fail as long as we rely on the program, our sponsors, and God. That doesn't mean we won't have trying times and some failures. But the companionship we need for handling the difficult periods will never be denied us. Perhaps we think it will. Maybe that's why we try to do too much alone. You didn't end up at this website as the result of a living peaceful, productive life. We're here because we got scared. Our lives weren't working. And they won't work now if we insist on doing it alone. This is our second chance. Let's take it.

What's It Like To Have Christ Inside?

To have my voice but Him speaking?
My steps, but Christ leading.
My heart, but His love beating
in me, through me, with me.
What's it like to have Christ inside?
To tap His strength when mine expires
or feel the force of heaven's fires
raging, purging wrong desires.
Could Christ become my self entire?
So much him, so little me
that in my eyes it's Him I see.
What's it like to be a Mary be?
No longer I, but Christ in me.

We discovered that we could not stop until we found, and practiced, more satisfying ways to meet our emotional needs. We struggle with life�s hurts, hang-ups, and habits. But through God�s grace, truth and power, individuals, have worked a Christ-centered recovery program such as "I'm Beautiful? Why Can't I See It? God has set up a dependable system. If we do something, something happens; if we do nothing, nothing happens. If we want to be healthy, then we must eat properly. God intended for us to have this positive feeling of power over our lives, not the negative power that has caused bad things to happen. The Lord God is the great healer.

"Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out... Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." -- Romans 12:2.

The Bible says that God is able to do abundantly more than you can ask or imagine; all things are possible through Him! Praise the Lord, we know this is true! We also know the Lord has a divine purpose for each one of us, a plan for our lives that only He can foresee. As you pray in the authority of the name of Jesus Christ and call on the Spirit of God to empower you and help you to pray, boldly ask the Father for a miracle of healing. Keep praying and keep asking, praying always in the direction God's Spirit leads you. Stand in confidence on the promises He gives you as you read Scriptures. Be willing to receive and accept His answer as He reveals it to you, looking not to the circumstances for confirmation, but to the understanding the Lord Himself will bring to your heart.

A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. -- Gal. 6:7-8

Faith Based Programs

How effective are faith-based programs at helping people to deal with ED?

Quite effective, if they are based on sound Biblical counsel and psychological principles. The Bible is full of examples of people who made mistakes or were mistreated, but who found redemption or reconciliation. The Psalms are excellent reading for the depressed person because the whole range of emotions is represented there. It has been said that the psalmists knew how to find God in the sunshine and in the rain. It is important to note that faith-based counseling can be abused much the same as other types of therapy.

There is Christian quackery, too. All counselors, regardless of faith, must establish boundaries and an atmosphere of love and acceptance between them and their clients. Faith-based counseling must go hand-in-hand with psychological principles and acknowledge that depression may be biologically induced. More and more churches today have effective support or growth groups in place that are led by a trained and supervised layperson, usually someone who has recovered himself. Many have licensed counselors on staff.

It takes great effort to recover from an eating disorder - sometimes years. If you don't think of yourself as overly religious, at least acknowledge that you have a spiritual side. People with faith are able to utilize God's strength, in addition to their own, to recover. However you view God (some call Him "Higher Power"), just know He can help you through the Holy Spirit. He will lead you to caring and loving people who can help you explore your past and future recovery.

Resource: Ask Dr. Linda

Christian Counseling:

Five Keys to Healing ~ Biblical Solutions

#1: Make God your 24 X 7 partner. He is your hope. "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure" -- Hebrews 6:19

Rely on the Holy Spirit and The Holy Spirit empowers us to change and come out from the bondage of our old ways. Ask Him to free you from the death grip your ED has on you, and to give you the courage to take the first steps to reach out to others. You can't do it alone. Once you've come face to face with this reality, ask God to help you. Rely on Him to help you make changes that heal.

#2: Pray.This website has prayers you can read as often as you need to. "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." -- 1 Thess 5:16-18

#3: Read God's Word. This website is full of His Word which will supply you with the daily inspiration and nourishment you need to begin your healing journey. "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." -- Joshua 1:8

#4: Put on your armor! We are at war with an enemy who will do everything he can to get us to fail. "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." -- Ephesians 6:11

#5. Find help. "Ask, and ye shall receive." Allow people to help you. God knows about our emotional isolation, and He answers our prayers by offering opportunities for connection with others. Don't miss that divine appointment He has set up for you!

Check out the resource page, look into local support groups and Bible studies, try a 12-step program and/or a message board, and subscribe to a monthly newsletter. Allow God to lead you to the right resources. Ideally, face-to-face community support will enhance recovery. Proverbs 27:10 says, "Better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away."

We must acknowledge that we have an addiction. On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick". -- Matthew 9:12
We must desire to be free from the addiction. Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?-- Mark 10:51
We must be willing to turn from the addiction. Jesus said to them all "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?-- Luke 9:23-25
We must see that God is the Great Physician. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you. -- Matthew 6:33
We must be willing to give our addictions to God. Cast all your anxiety on hi, because he cares for you -- 1 Peter 5:7
We must come to depend upon God to fulfill our needs. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus -- Philippians 4:19
We must wait upon God to fulfill our needs. But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always -- Hosea 12:6

I suggest you get a modern 'readable' Bible, like the NIV, and begin to look at who God is. Allow Him to reveal Himself to you. You may have to break away from someone else's understanding of God and begin to develop your own.

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." -- Romans 12:2

Guidelines For Prayer ~ Who is God?