Returning to school after recovering from an eating disorder can be challenging. Potentially triggering situations like this one can be hard, especially after working to break disordered cycles and forge a new path in recovery.
Below are some tips that can help ease you back into your school routine with recovery at the forefront of your mind.
Make A Plan
When preparing to return to school, it helps to have a plan. For example, set your class schedule in a way that will work with your ongoing treatment needs. Keep up with therapists, doctors, and other treatment professionals to help you maintain recovery. Establishing a routine for time spent in class, with your treatment team, and beyond can help you develop the consistency and predictability that support lasting recovery. This stability can help you get back into the groove of school.
Use Your Support System
A support system consisting of friends, family, and a treatment team can help navigate recovery and going to school. You can also inform your teachers or school counselors about your recovery so that they can support you. Additionally, check to see if your school offers eating disorder recovery support groups or if such groups exist locally. If not, check out BALANCE’s free support groups, available virtually every month.
Set Boundaries
Remember, setting boundaries to prioritize your mental health and recovery is okay. If you feel comfortable, be transparent about your struggles with your friends to help them understand why you may need to take a step back sometimes. Setting boundaries with yourself can also be important in eating disorder recovery. Regularly take stock of how your workload and social engagements leave you feeling. You have power over your recovery, and reducing, when necessary, your commitments is a great way to prioritize yourself.
The transition from summer to fall brings a lot of pressure, so for a limited time, BALANCE is offering a 12-day Back To School Intensive so that you can head back to school or work with the peace of mind and support you deserve. This program will allow you to access the skills you need to begin healing before stepping into a new fall routine. Get flexible, individualized care to help you feel confident navigating your day-to-day life. Jumpstart your recovery and click here to learn more about our 12-Day Back to School Intensive.
You can also join BALANCE Intuitive Eating/HAES Content Creator Korie Born (she/her) on Friday, August 25th at 12 PM EDT for our free webinar, Back to School and Eating Disorders: Tips for Individuals, Loved Ones, and School Staff created with your needs in mind. Click here to RSVP and be part of our effort to create a supportive school environment for everyone.
Our admissions team would be happy to answer any questions you may have about our programs and services. Book a free consultation call with our admissions team below, or read more about our philosophy here.
References
A. (2021, August 23). Back to School During Eating Disorder Recovery | Toledo Center. Toledo Center | Eating Disorders Treatment Center. Retrieved August 8, 2022, from https://toledocenter.com/adolescents/back-to-school-during-eating-disorder-recovery/
Pono, A. (2021, October 12). Going Back to School with an Eating Disorder: How to Maintain Recovery. Central Coast Treatment Center. Retrieved August 8, 2022, from https://www.centralcoasttreatmentcenter.com/blog-1/back-to-school-with-an-eating-disorder
This post was written by BALANCE Blog Contributor, Regina Colie (she/her).
Regina Colie is currently pursuing her Masters in General Psychology at The New School For Social Research. She is interested in working with women who have eating disorders and postpartum depression. Upon her graduation from Marymount Manhattan College, she had the opportunity to be published in Dr. Nava Silton’s book, The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Child, Adolescent, and Adult Development. Her previous work has been featured in Project HEAL, BALANCE, Olive Branch Nutrition, and Nourishing NY.
