For many people, the pandemic can be a reason to delay starting treatment for an eating disorder. Virtual treatment is not a valid justification to allow an eating disorder to continue to dominate your life.
Eating disorders rule one’s life and make it so difficult to forge a path. The eating disorder thoughts and behaviors can take up more and more time each day. The lack of structure for many people during this time allows the eating disorder even more footing, especially if that person is not in treatment.
As I described in the last post, virtual therapy is very effective and may even have some benefits for people starting eating disorder treatment. The main positive aspect is around body image thoughts. Not being in a room with a new therapist is easier than feeling physically exposed by being face to face.
The time and lack of structure actually give recovery a lot more room to try to make a dent in the disorder. Logging food is more possible. Connecting in between sessions, writing about emotional reactions to food and changing meal plans all can happen now without distraction.
In addition, it’s easier to meet with a few people in order to find the right therapist, another critical part of determining the best path to move forward.
Last virtual therapy can allow for a true bond to form to fight the eating disorder just as much as in person therapy. Any step into recovery matters. In times like these, the illness can take over more or it can galvanize a person to put their all into changing their life.
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