There’s no denying that the pandemic has been tough on all of us. Being stuck in the house for what feels like an eternity and only being able to see our loved ones through a screen — it’s definitely been a challenge. But for people who are in recovery for eating disorders, this experience has been so much harder.
Even people who are far into their recovery have found these past few months difficult. The eating disorder charity Beat has seen a massive 73% rise in the use of their services throughout lockdown. So if you or someone you love have been seriously struggling with an eating disorder these past few months, you’re not alone.
Why Is Eating Disorder Recovery So Difficult During Lockdown?
For the people who have been doing well with their recovery, this setback may seem like a shock. But if we look a bit closer, we can see how lockdown has created the prime conditions for an eating disorder to thrive in. Firstly, many of us have gained weight during the lockdown. Whilst most of us don’t like gaining weight, for people with an eating disorder, it can feel like the worst thing in the world. And although weight restoration is a part of most eating disorder recovery process, it doesn’t make it any less difficult.
Not only do these individuals have to completely change their restrictive mentalities towards food, but they also have to cope with the physical effects of weight restoration, such as bloating, headaches and constipation. For those who are recovering during the lockdown, many may put on more weight than they were initially expecting to. If this has happened to you and you feel the need to restrict yourself again, remember that it’s okay for your body to change. Practice using healthy coping mechanisms to relieve this temptation and contact your GP if you need extra support.
Eating disorder recovery patients aren’t just struggling with their own weight gain. Since a lot of people have gained weight during lockdown, it seems to have become a discussion point for many of us. You might have read articles on how to avoid ‘the dreaded quarantine 15’. Or maybe you’ve joked that since your holiday has been cancelled, your summer body has been postponed for another year. Whilst some people might find these jokes entertaining and light-hearted, they’re not funny for eating disorder sufferers. In fact, they have been found to be extremely triggering for them.
On top of ill-humour, social media has been filled with people completing various lockdown workout challenges for the past few months. Working out, of course, isn’t a bad thing in itself. But people in their early stages of eating disorder recovery shouldn’t exercise until they are advised that it’s safe to do so by their doctor. If you’re in the midst of your recovery, you’ve probably found social media to be a toxic place over the last few months. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to use social media without feeling triggered. Firstly, unfollow and unfriend any accounts that post triggering content. If someone you’re close to is posting content that makes you feel worse, you can mute them instead. And on many social media sites, you can mute certain words and phrases which you may find triggering. But remember that you can always log off completely if it ever feels like too much.
Getting Back to ‘Normal’
When shops, restaurants and cinemas reopen throughout the UK, it finally feels like we’re returning to some sense of normality. But this doesn’t mean that recovery is becoming any easier. In fact, it might be even more difficult for some people. For the recovery patients who have put on weight over lockdown, the thought of returning back to normality with their new body could be enough to stop them leaving the house altogether — this is something I can definitely relate to.
Although I’ve never been diagnosed with an eating disorder, I’ve had a rocky relationship with food for some time. And this relationship has worsened over lockdown since I’ve gained some weight. Since restrictions have eased and I’ve been able to see more of my loved ones, I’ve been feeling more nervous than excited. What if they notice that I’ve gained weight? And the thought that terrifies me even more: what if they comment on it? Fortunately, no one seems to have noticed. Or if they have, they just don’t care.
So if you’re feeling nervous about coming out of lockdown with a changed body, try not to worry too much. The chances are that you see your weight gain far more than others do. And if you’re supporting someone with an eating disorder, who is concerned about how people will see them, please be patient. It’s not an easy process.
Fad Diets and the Media
Eating disorder recovery also hasn’t been helped by the nation’s current obsession with post-lockdown weight loss. Magazines, newspapers, TV, social media — the topic seems almost unavoidable. And the advice seems to be becoming increasingly dangerous.
For example, in the Channel 4 programme ‘Lose a Stone in 21 Days’, participants were put on a diet of just 800 calories a day. Not only is this unsustainable (seriously, this is less than the daily recommended calorie intake for a toddler), but it’s incredibly harmful for people in recovery, who may well have been eating this amount at the peak of their disorder. As a result of this programme, Beat had to extend their service hours on the night it was aired, and they received a 51% increase in contact during this time.
Trying to avoid the topic of weight loss can feel like an impossible task. If you’re struggling, try your best to avoid weight-loss related content by muting related words on social media and avoiding television programmes focussed on dieting. And you can always use Beat’s services to help you out, such as their online support groups, or their one to one webchats. You’ll also find support for carers too, through an online support group and on their message boards.
Don’t Be Afraid to Seek Help
Recovering from an eating disorder is hard. Recovering from an eating disorder in the midst of a pandemic is even harder. You probably already know that no form of recovery is simple. You’ll always hit some bumps along the way, and at times you might feel like you’re further back than you should be. But in a pandemic, these bumps along the way can feel like mountains.
If you’re reading this in the midst of your recovery, remember that you can seek help at any time. Whether you’re two weeks or two years into your journey, always seek support when you need to. Contact your GP to let them know that you’re struggling, and use Beat’s services for extra support. Here at WellBe, our coordinators can connect you to counsellors, life coaches or therapists — so please get in touch and don’t suffer in silence.
Written by Siobhan Kelly
WellBe is spearheading the way to a brighter future for corporate wellness. Our innovative portal is scientifically designed and tailored to each individual employee to improve their wellbeing. We specialise in a range of services from coaching and therapists, to meditation and reading materials. Our aim is to reduce workplace stress that costs UK businesses £42 billion per year. Get in touch with us by visiting our site wellbe.global for more information.
