Bulimia nervosa and other eating disorders are dangerous but completely treatable.
Both day treatment and residential programs have helped millions of people recover from their disordered eating behavior, but recovery is not a linear process.
Many people in recovery will relapse, and the maintenance of that recovery needs to be aware of stressors and other triggers that can cause the relapse.
Every person is different, of course, but there are some general signs that a relapse is coming.
Here’s we’ll look at some of the ways a person in recovery can tell they’re at risk for a relapse.
Signs It is Time to Reach Out for Help
Although people are usually the best judges of their own stress levels, people in recovery may not be able to see when they are dangerously close to relapsing.
There are several different common signs and symptoms of a pending relapse when it comes to eating disorders, though.
Here’s a rundown of the most common ones to arise in individuals who are recovering from bulimia nervosa.
Coping Skills Aren’t as Effective as They Used to Be
Most eating disorder treatment programs feature the teaching of skills to deal with stress and other triggers.
When healthy coping skills taught at treatment programs for bulimia nervosa fail to work, that is a clear sign that additional help is needed.
When these techniques no longer work or are abandoned, it often leads to a reliance on unhealthy coping behaviors related to their eating disorder.
One type of skill being less effective doesn’t necessarily mean a relapse is on the way – people need to try many different skills in their toolbox before concluding nothing is helping.
Not all skills apply to all situations, so it is often trial and error trying to find what works.
If they have tried all of their tools without success, it might be time to check in with an eating disorder counselor or even try a step-down say treatment program.
Decrease in Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence
Rising stress levels can leave people in recovery less confident about their self-esteem and their ability to handle daily stressors.
Confidence that the program is working, or confidence in their ability to eschew disordered eating behaviors, is vital to continued recovery.
Low confidence levels also trigger the return of disordered thought patterns that can put a negative light on all efforts.
There are post-treatment activities designed to restore their self-confidence, often part of an included aftercare program.
They can receive help with this from their care team at the residential treatment center.
If reaching out to them is too difficult at the moment, they can also tell their social support system or a private therapist.
Return of Disordered Thought Patterns
Disordered thought patterns almost always return before past eating disorder behaviors make their reappearance.
Like any mental health disorder, an eating disorder is never fully gone- the thoughts and feelings associated with the disorder can come back at any time.
But when they will not stop, the thoughts could make it hard to remain recovered from bulimia nervosa and other eating disorders.
However, if they are consistently recurring, disordered thought patterns are a sign that a relapse could be imminent.
It can be hard to objectively perceive these feelings, so people in recovery are often encouraged to write in a journal, then revisit it later.
The time may impart some objectivity to the situation and allow them to notice that disordered thoughts are returning.
Friends and Family Mention It
In many cases, people can wear blinders to their problems, ignoring the signs that are right in front of them.
This often leads to the worsening of their distressing thoughts and behaviors, resulting in relapse.
Friends and family, however, can help by providing feedback by compassionately and non-judgmentally raising the issue.
Heeding their warnings and seeking help at that time can greatly assist in preventing them from relapsing.
Just feeling out of sorts is another way for college students to gauge their wellbeing and see if they are doing okay in remaining recovered.
Any time emotions or behaviors swing out of control, it is a good idea to seek help from skilled eating disorder treatment professionals.
How Treatment Programs for Bulimia Can Assist
Bulimia nervosa treatment centers tend to have alumnae services available to people who have become recovered from eating disorders.
These services may include:
- Online group therapy sessions
- Family resource libraries with educational materials
- Online resources that lead to local support services
When people in recovery need additional support, all they have to do is reach out to their therapists or other members of their care team at the treatment programs for bulimia nervosa.
They can then select from the many different resources available to them.
A relapse is not the end of the world, but it can be prevented.