Combating the "Not Sick Enough" Mentality
Out of all mental illnesses, eating disorders have the second-highest mortality rate. A large percentage of individuals who suffer from eating disorders will not seek treatment due to weight stigma, incorrect diagnoses, lack of access to treatment resources, or not feeling “sick enough” to necessitate treatment. Unfortunately, feeling as though your illness is “not that bad” is a common misconception in the eating disorder community that can cause detrimental consequences.
by: Megan Madsen
Eating disorders affect individuals regardless of their age, gender, race, and, most importantly, weight. One of the most dangerous aspects of an eating disorder is believing that you are “not sick enough” for help. You do not need to “look like” you have an eating disorder to be deserving of treatment. Not feeling like your body conforms to the stereotypical thinness that characterizes an eating disorder is often the reason why individuals don’t believe they are “sick enough” for recovery. The truth of the matter is, even those with an emaciated appearance don’t believe they are sick enough either. You are sick enough for treatment whether you are “underweight,” “overweight,” or at a seemingly “normal” weight.
If you are currently struggling with an eating disorder, you are likely familiar with the “eating disorder voice” - the voice that disrupts your thoughts and actions, encourages disordered behaviors, and exploits your deepest insecurities. You know that it’s there and you recognize that it’s wrong, but the voice continues to dictate your decisions. Perhaps you’ve considered seeking treatment to finally free yourself from the shackles of your eating disorder, but the ED voice tells you that you’re “not sick enough” or that there are others who are worse off than you. Perhaps the voice is telling you that you aren’t worthy of recovery. Take courage that you are not alone in having these thoughts.
It is important to acknowledge that it is, in fact, your eating disorder voice that is feeding you these harmful delusions and it is certainly not your fault for having them. When you recognize that you are having self-critical thoughts, it is essential that you challenge them right away. For example, if you are contemplating recovery and begin having intrusive thoughts of not being “sick enough” for treatment, ask yourself questions that oppose these irrational ideas. Ask yourself what it means to be sick enough, why you would want to continue in your current disordered state, what the purpose of waiting to receive treatment would be, etc. In order to combat these unwelcome thoughts, you need to understand that your ED voice is not trying to help you - it is a bully. Your eating disorder will never be satisfied with how sick you are.
Eating disorders are not a competition. Nobody is competing against you in a ‘battle of the sickest.’ You are worthy of recovery even if you’ve never been “underweight.” You are worthy of recovery even if you’ve never hit rock bottom in your eating disorder journey. You are worthy of recovery even if you don’t restrict foods or count calories. You are worthy of recovery even if you’ve never been hospitalized for your eating disorder. There is no such thing as not being “sick enough.” By convincing yourself that you are “not sick enough” for treatment, you remain in a constant state of getting more and more sick. If you never accept that you are, in fact, “sick enough” for help, how will you be able to recognize when you’re finally worthy of treatment?
“The truth is, not feeling ‘sick enough’ or ‘deserving enough’ of help is actually a classic symptom of a strong eating disorder.” -Josie Munroe, LMFT
Having these arbitrary thoughts is indicative that you are “sick enough” for treatment, as people without eating disorders typically do not wish to remain in a constant state of being ill, no matter the severity. You wouldn’t wait for a bodily injury to become life-threatening before seeking treatment; your eating disorder should be approached in the same manner. You are worthy and deserving of help no matter what the ED voice says. Do not wait to seek treatment until you’ve met your criteria for “sick enough.”
Looking for eating disorder treatment programs or services in the New York City area? Learn more about our options at BALANCE eating disorder treatment center here or contact us here.
This post was written by BALANCE Marketing Assistant, Megan Madsen.
Megan is currently working toward receiving her B.S. in Psychology. She is a Certified Nursing Assistant with a passion for eating disorder research and education. Megan has worked as a CNA on several units in a hospital setting and as a Psych Tech at an eating disorder treatment center. It was there that she discovered her passion for helping those afflicted with eating disorders and where her desire for educating patients and the community on eating disorders and mental illnesses began. In the future, she hopes to work as a Clinical Psychologist with a focus on eating disorder treatment.