So You Relapsed. Now What?

As hard as we fight in recovery every day, we’re bound to slip up from time to time. In fact, most people relapse at least once during the journey. It’s absolutely normal and not something to be ashamed of.

However, it’s important to recognize when you’ve relapsed and not let it become a frequent occurrence. You don’t want to accidentally fall into a pattern of disordered behaviors or thoughts again and potentially risk ruining the progress you’ve made. Fortunately, it’s never too late to jump back into recovery.

If you have recently relapsed, consider some of the following tips to guide you in the right direction, toward a life free from your eating disorder.

Don’t beat yourself up

First of all, show yourself some compassion. Everyone has slip-ups, that’s normal. Instead of wallowing or putting yourself down, forgive yourself and focus on what you can do now to move forward.

Remember every day is a new beginning

Just because you had a rough day or engaged in a behavior, doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It doesn’t mean you should give up. You can go to bed and wake up tomorrow morning with a clean slate, a new opportunity to give recovery your all.

Reach out to your support system

Let someone (whether it’s your treatment team, your mom, or your best friend) know about what happened. Having them hold you accountable in case you are tempted to relapse again will help, and knowing you aren’t alone in your struggle can be a huge weight off your shoulders.

Create a plan to get back on track

This could involve following a meal plan, checking in with your therapist daily, or blocking out time for self-care every day. You can also reflect on what triggered your relapse and come up with ideas to prevent that from happening again in the future.

Remind yourself why recovery is worth it

Making a list of all the reasons you chose to recover is helpful at any point during the process but particularly when you’re trying to get over a relapse. Then put your list somewhere you’ll see it every day, like on your mirror or your bedroom door, so you’re constantly reminded of your end goals.

Regardless of what caused your relapse or how long it lasted, it is completely possible to move on from it. You don’t (and shouldn’t) have to let it set you back. Pick yourself up, see it for what it was, leave it in the past, and continue being the brave recovery warrior you are.