Reintegrating Extracurricular Activities After Eating Disorder Treatment

Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope

While it is rewarding to become well enough again to begin doing things that were once enjoyed, you may also feel unsure how to reintegrate extracurricular activities in your life that support your recovery.

Depending on the activity, many things can slowly be resumed again once stable in recovery from an eating disorder, and it is important to work closely with your treatment team to determine how this might occur for you.

Eating disorder treatment proceeds at various levels of care, ranging from acute for the most severe cases to less structured, such as outpatient care. As an individual proceeds through eating disorder treatment based on their individual needs, involvement in outside activities can be determined based on many factors.

For example, for a person who is at the intensive outpatient level of care and relatively stable, both medically and psychologically, it may be appropriate to resume a work and/or school schedule. Other types of activities at this level of care might also be encouraged and promoted, such as some form of movement therapy, art, music, and more.

Activities After Treatment

Deciding on involvement with outside activities should always be done under the guidance and support of a treatment team whenever possible. Eating disorder recovery is a journey that is ongoing, and it is important to not based decisions solely on how you feel at the time. Ensuring that you are medically stable is but one piece of the puzzle.

You should also be in practice with healthier coping mechanisms, have a strong support system, and more when transitioning out of treatment and into daily routines.

Considering how an extracurricular activity supports your recovery should also be discussed ahead of time. For example, if you worked out frequently before treatment for your eating disorder, will resuming this type of activity be helpful and/or appropriate for you now? This can be asked of any activity you might be considering.

There are a myriad of things and activities to become involved in following your eating disorder treatment, and it is important to pursue things that you are not only passionate about but that support the efforts you have made in recovery. If you are unsure what types of things to become involved in, consider small steps towards discovering your life again after eating disorder treatment.

Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!

What activities have allowed you to support your recovery in a positive way? What types of self-care have you enjoyed?

About the Author: Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves as the Special Projects Coordinator for Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope, where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.

As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH/AH and nutrition private practice.

The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.

We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on June 27, 2016
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com