Eating Disorders: What is the difference between treatment and recovery?
This week, I’m exploring an essential topic for understanding the journey of healing from an eating disorder: the difference between recovery and treatment. At first, I thought these terms were mostly interchangeable, but I’ve learned they are distinct, each playing a unique role on the path to healing.
Treatment: Addressing the Immediate Crisis
I’ve heard Eating Disorders described as complex mental illnesses with physical manifestations. For individuals facing severe or life-threatening symptoms, treatment is often a critical first step. This phase focuses on stabilizing physical health, addressing urgent medical needs, and ensuring safety. Treatment is often highly structured and involves a team of professionals—doctors, therapists, and dietitians. Levels of treatment vary, from outpatient programs to live-in recovery centres, depending on individual needs. Treatment is essential for stabilizing people with severe cases of Eating Disorders, but it’s only one part of the healing journey and may not be the pathway that people access - enter the grey…
The Grey Area between Treatment & Recovery
When we talk about treatment, we’re often referring to medical intervention for those with acute needs. However, many people with eating disorders don’t meet the criteria for hospitalization or intensive programs. They may hesitate to seek help, feeling they aren’t “sick enough.” or lack a clinical diagnosis. This can be discouraging, preventing people from accessing support when they need it most. While treatment has specific requirements for access and is important for intensive intervention, recovery is an open path available to anyone struggling.
Who is Treatment for? Those whose eating disorder has led to severe health consequences.
Who is Recovery for? Anyone ready to overcome their eating disorder.
Treatment is getting to the starting line, Recovery is the marathon
Recovery: Building a Life Beyond the Disorder
Anyone who has recovered from an injury or even a common cold can relate that there are several steps involved in healing. The same parallel is true for Eating Disorder Recovery, with some unique differences. Eating Disorder Recovery is an ongoing journey of healing and rebuilding—a long term process that often spans years. Most people are learning to “be” with themselves for the first time, having not known a version of themselves that wasn’t sick or a version of themselves that felt ok. Recovery, then, typically involves overhauling coping mechanisms, building resilience, and ultimately creating a life where the disorder no longer shapes choices or identity. Eating Disorder Recovery is making the decision and employing strategies again and again to form a new relationship with your body, food, and physicality. While treatment often focuses on physical stabilization and symptom management, recovery is about deeper emotional, social, and psychological healing.
Understanding the difference between treatment and recovery has given me immense respect for the resilience it takes to overcome an eating disorder, no matter where one begins on the journey. Recovery is a monumental feat, even with the right support and resources. But what happens when someone doesn’t have access to that support?
Next week, I’ll share what I’ve learned about the importance of accessible care and how community-based resources can be a turning point for so many.
Warmly,
Corinne