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Eating disorder recovery is a complex process that typically requires each client to progress through five stages. To have a diagnosis of an eating disorder implies that an individual’s life will experience significant, disruptive changes and a need for treatment over a period of time. Treatment for eating disorders usually improves and speeds recovery; however, someone who carries an eating disorder diagnosis should expect there to be a significant amount of time and several stages as they move toward recovery.

It is important to reiterate that these stages are general and each individual’s experience will be unique, but there are some common experiences and needs we see across individuals recovering from eating disorders. 

Stephanie Maiwurm, a former Emily Program client, shares her story of recovery and healing.

Stephanie attended the Emily Program in 2010 and 2011 and she is grateful she was exposed to ways of eating normally, working out normally, and having balance in her life. Today, Stephanie says she no longer associates her wellbeing, love, and care for herself based on what her body looks like. She chooses to honor herself, her physical body, and her spiritual and energetic body.

If you are struggling with an eating disorder, we hope Stephanie’s story finds you. By having the courage to reach out and get support, eating disorder recovery is possible. At The Emily Program, we create personalized treatment plans and walk alongside you during your recovery journey. If you are ready to make a change, you can call us at 1-888-364-5977 or complete our online form.

Watch Stephanie’s full recovery story below.

Eating disorders are biologically based mental illnesses that are influenced by an individual’s environment, society, and psychological makeup. An eating disorder is an illness that causes an individual to experience disturbances in their eating habits and negative food or body-related thoughts and feelings. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) recognizes five kinds of eating disorders:

Anorexia Nervosa. Anorexia is characterized by extended and extreme food restriction and malnourishment that causes dramatic and sustained weight loss. Anorexia often presents with a fear of gaining weight and other body image issues.

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). ARFID is a feeding or eating disorder typically driven by fear, a lack of interest in food, or an avoidance of certain foods, resulting in continued failure to meet an individual’s nutritional needs. ARFID often presents without a drive for thinness.

**This is one person’s story; everyone will have unique experiences on their own path to recovery and beyond. Some stories may mention eating disorder thoughts, behaviors, or symptom use. Please use your own discretion. And speak with your therapist when needed.

Heather Coulter is a full-time mother of two who works in her spare time to spread awareness and understanding around eating disorders and disordered eating habits.  Heather has a passion for advocacy and is part of several local grassroots advocacy groups and has served on local NAMI committees. Heather hopes her story will remind those who are struggling that it’s okay to ask for help and that the topic of vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness.   

Hi, my name is ED Hi, my name is Heather and my eating disorder no longer defines me thanks to The Emily Program. It took 26 years, 10 months, and 1 day for me to recognize that my life, body, and soul deserved more and that I matter. On April 14^th, 2015 I sat in the Anna Westin House parking lot staring at the doors in fear of the future. I was ashamed, scared, guilty, skeptical, and felt unworthy of the path ahead. The day I walked into that house changed my life forever and for that, I am eternally grateful.

For parents who are concerned that their child has an eating disorder, it can be hard to know when they’re ready for treatment or if they even need treatment. At The Emily Program, we have experience working with thousands of clients and families, all at different points in their recovery. From this work, we understand the importance of properly addressing your child if there is a concern about their eating and food behaviors.

How do I know if my child needs help?

Eating disorders are complex and insidious, so it’s often challenging for parents to know what is truly going on. In order to determine if your child is struggling with eating disorder behaviors, we suggest answering these questions.

When discussing the signs, symptoms, and roots of an eating disorder, it’s impossible to leave dieting out of the conversation. In recent years, research has uncovered the indisputable fact that dieting is a risk factor for the development of eating disorders. Those who engage in moderate dieting are 5x more likely to develop an eating disorder and those who engage in extreme dieting are 18x more likely to develop an eating disorder (Patton, Selzer, Coffey, et al., 1999).

What is dieting?

Dieting is defined as “the kind and amount of food prescribed for a person for a special reason (low-sodium diet to reduce high blood pressure)” or “a regimen of eating and drinking sparingly so as to reduce one’s weight” or alter body size, shape, or appearance.  

The Emily Program is a national leader in eating disorder treatment. We believe that individuals are unique and that effective eating disorder treatment requires an awareness of the genetic, biological, psychological, social, and cultural impacts on each person. With this integrative approach in mind, we help our clients recover from all types of eating disorders.

The Emily Program offers a full continuum of care. We offer residential treatment, day treatment, and outpatient treatment options in MN, OH, PA, and WA. If you are unsure if you are struggling with disordered eating, you can take our online quiz to learn more. If you have an eating disorder and are looking to speak with someone about treatment options, contact our admissions team at 1-888-364-5977.

At The Emily Program, we know that one of the greatest barriers to treatment is a lack of information. In order to eliminate one hurdle, we filmed virtual tours of our Emily Program locations. An example tour from our Cleveland location is below. We hope this video helps folks to feel at home with The Emily Program and more comfortable pursuing treatment.

What is Bulimia?

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by bingeing and purging. People diagnosed with bulimia frequently binge on food, eating thousands of calories in a single episode. Feelings of shame and disgust often accompany these binge eating episodes, leading to purging behaviors such as vomiting, laxative abuse, over-exercising, and/or fasting. This compensatory behavior is a tell-tale sign that an individual is suffering from bulimia. Despite attempts to lose weight by purging, those with bulimia generally maintain a body weight that is normal or slightly above average.

How Is Bulimia Diagnosed?

According to the DSM-5, the following criteria must be met for an individual to be diagnosed with bulimia (please note that if all of the following are not met, an individual may still have a serious eating disorder that requires treatment):

1. Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both of the following:

1. 1. Eating, within a two-hour window, an amount of food that is definitely larger than what most people would eat during a similar period of time and under similar circumstances.
   2. Lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that you cannot stop eating or control how much you are eating).
2. Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or other medications, fasting, or excessive exercise.
3. The binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors both occur, on average, at least once a week for three months.
4. Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight.
5. Binging or purging does not occur exclusively during episodes of behavior that would be common in those with anorexia nervosa.