How Long Does it Take to Get Better from an Eating Disorder?

When first contacting me for treatment, people often ask how long it will take to get better. I hesitate before answering the question. There is never an easy answer because this question involves several layers of meaning.

First is the underlying fear that no one gets better from an eating disorder. This is a lay myth that reveals an ignorance of these illnesses and is patently untrue. Some people do remain chronically ill but many people do get better, and it’s essential that everyone entering treatment knows that full recovery is a realistic goal.

The second implication is the antithesis of the first: the desire to magically rid themselves of the eating disorder quickly, once and for all. Sadly, this is not how people get better. The eating disorder is comprised of ingrained eating patterns and well-worn thoughts about food and weight. It takes time to tease apart, analyze and change these elements of the eating disorder. Recovery is hard work that takes time, but well worth it.

Third is the fear of fully engaging in recovery. Whether conscious or not, the person is aware that fundamental aspects of their life needs to change in order to get better. This means embarking on an intense therapeutic relationship and significant changes in their life in order to escape the eating disorder. No matter how miserable an eating disorder can be, this level of change is daunting.

Last, this question infers a significant cost. Adequate treatment is a commitment of time, energy and money. Attempting true recovery means diverting a large portion of these crucial elements of life to a difficult process, one that can work but is not guaranteed to work. It takes courage to truly take the step towards getting well and give so much of oneself to the task.

So the answer to this simple question is fraught. I can’t say five or ten sessions. I can’t say it’s necessary to meet weekly, biweekly or monthly. I can’t say six months or a year. The answer is that I never know and can only tell once the treatment starts. The answer is rarely satisfactory, and the goal is just to get started with treatment.