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Spirituality and Recovery from an Eating Disorder
Contributor: Marty Lerner, Ph.D., CEO and Executive Director, Milestones In Recovery, Inc.
“It’s been said Religion is for people who want to avoid going to Hell while spirituality is for people who have been there.” – Anonymous
First, a quick disclaimer, I am no expert, guru, or spiritual authority when it comes to a subject such as spirituality.
Having said this, I would suggest spirituality can and does play an important part in the ongoing recovery of many people with eating disorders.
To be sure, there are those who do recover without adopting or cultivating any spiritual or religious beliefs. The purpose of this article is to address the possible role of spirituality in the recovery process.
For those who opt to go another route, there are support groups and treatment modalities that omit any and all references to a “higher power” and steer clear of a spiritual component. SMART recovery, various ED support groups and other related programs and groups are available for those adamantly opposed to this concept.
Defining Spirituality
Defining spirituality is, at best, ambiguous and confusing, perhaps that is because there are no set rules or religious dogma attached to its practice. It affords anyone and everyone an opportunity to participate. Let’s consider a few concepts that appear to go hand in hand with spirituality.
These are the more prominent ones associated with programs and groups approaching an ED from an addictions perspective. Such is the case with our program at Milestones.
The Concepts of “Powerless and “Higher Power”
In my experience the concepts of “powerless” and “higher power” are both the most often cited and misunderstood. Quite simply, powerless refers to an individual being unable to stop and remain stopped from an addictive pattern of behavior – in this case their eating disorder behaviors.
Let me run this by again. Being powerless means, despite endless attempts to control your eating disorder [aka addiction] on your own has repeatedly resulted in, at best, short-term periods of remission followed by relapse. It does not mean you are weak, inadequate, or unmotivated to recover.
A “Power” Greater than Yourself
It does mean you’re in need of a “power” or “means” greater than yourself. For all intents and purposes, that can mean anything from a group of people, a treatment program, or a God of your own understanding. Given the track record of countless attempts to control your ED on your own, this might be worth considering.
This leads us to a discussion and conceptual understanding of spirituality.
Spirituality Begins with Humility
So, what’s this “higher power” thing all about? The ambiguous answer is whatever you deem it to be as long as it is a power source greater than yourself. Regardless of ones’ prior experiences with religious organizations, spirituality begins with a sense of humility.
In my experience, I understand humility to mean an ability to remain teachable and acknowledge ones’ limitations. Admitting we need help is an act of humility [and spirituality] in and of itself.
That help may be in the form of a support group, treatment center, or professional and later evolve into a reliance on a non- human entity such as your own version of a “higher power” or God of your understanding. It may or may not involve any religious beliefs. What’s important here is that it is your version of a higher power.
S.E.R.F.
I have found it helpful to use an acronym to incorporate the primary pieces of the recovery puzzle; S.E.R.F. These letters represent Spirituality-Exercise-Rest-Food Plan.
To be certain, cultivating and incorporating a spiritual component into ones’ day to day recovery can be as important a piece of the solution as any medication, professional program, or group out there. Excuse the pun, but “food for thought.”
Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!
What role has spirituality played in your recovery?
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.
Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on February 21st, 2015
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com
