Spring Cleaning: Eating Disorder Recovery Edition
Colleen Werner
Now that spring is upon us, it’s time for some spring cleaning — but not just any spring cleaning. It’s time for some spring cleaning, eating disorder recovery style.
1. Get rid of any clothing that no longer fits you
Let’s face it — size changes in recovery are HARD. Clothing is a huge trigger for many people, and it can be tempting to save old clothes for the sake of comparisons. However, saving clothing that you know no longer fits is really just self-sabotage and can be very detrimental to keeping a recovery mindset. Instead of holding onto clothing that no longer positively serves you, box it up and donate it to your local thrift shop.
2. Unfollow anyone who is triggering or makes you feel bad about yourself
Social media can be a beautiful place to make connections with people across the world. However, it can also be a dark place full of comparison and the elusive “fitspiration” which is really just “thinspo” wrapped up in a more socially acceptable package. Instead of allowing social media to dictate your mood and your recovery, go through your feed and unfollow anyone who is triggering you or making you feel unworthy — you’ll thank me later.
3. Refresh your thought patterns.
When we’ve had the same thought patterns for the majority of our lives, it can be tricky to learn new ones. It’s easy to revert to disordered patterns of thinking that aren’t constructive to our recovery. Instead of remaining stuck in these unhealthy patterns, challenge yourself to reframe them. For example, when you have a thought like “My body is awful and ugly today” change it to something like, “I am beautiful even when I’m struggling with body image, and my body does amazing things for me.”
Try out these spring cleaning tips to make your recovery even stronger, and you’ll see the benefits in your life as a whole!
Colleen Werner is a writer, dancer, and future therapist from Long Island, NY. She’s studying Psychology at SUNY Old Westbury and plans on going to graduate school for Mental Health Counseling. She aspires to start an eating disorder treatment program for dancers. Colleen’s experiences in recovery from an eating disorder and anxiety disorder have inspired her to share her story in an effort to help others, end the stigma, and create a sense of community. She is a National Ambassador for Project HEAL, a Campus Editor-at-Large for HuffPost, and a contributor for HerCampus and The Mighty. Colleen’s Instagram, @leenahlovesherself, inspires thousands every day with her posts about authenticity and mental health.
