Is There Anything Good?

Stay positive!

Can anything good come from suffering from eating disorders? Believe it or not, the answer is yes. I know what you're thinking, "Andrea must be delusional to say that!" But I assure you, I am not. The thinking patterns of those with EDs is maddening. The behaviors are confusing and sometimes plain gross! But as in anything in life, events can take you down or be used to grow you.

One thing I have noticed about anorexics and bulimics, is the fact that they possess incredible willpower. Sure, this willpower is literally killing them slowly, but can you imagine what can be accomplished if that same power was used for something positive? The same will that allowed the anorexic to refrain from eating food is that same will that can allow this person to recover and become healthy again.

Another positive attribute that may arise during this illness is discipline. While sick, an EDer may use this mindset to damage their bodies and relationships, but once healthy, this attribute can be utilized to advance in study, fitness, creativity, you name it!

Diligence doesn't seem like it could be apparent in the life of a sufferer, however, the methodical ways in which we partake in behaviors can be repatterned into wonderful goal setting and attaining! That "I won't quite attitude" is an asset when it comes to project completion, or tedious tasks that take concentration and lots of effort.

Running on empty is never good for the mind or body, but when a person is trained to function with little, how much more could be accomplished when given a lot? The ability to accept the bare minimum is an outcome of toxic groomed endurance, but when the spirit of a bulimic/anorexic finally comes to the resolve that they deserve better, the gratefulness they display is unparalleled.

It is difficult to find the silver lining after recovering from an eating disorder. You may feel like nothing good can come out of it, but it can! Please don't think you have wasted your life engaging in harmful behaviors for no purpose. The lessons you learn during, through and after an eating disorder can give you a completely new outlook on the value of your precious life.

I was obsessed with calorie counting, how to take weight off quickest, and how to stay on track with the little mind games I gave myself. When I recovered, the knowledge I gained through my unhealthy obsessive thinking actually helped me to construct meal and nutritional guides for people. I knew what damage diets could cause, so I taught others what behaviors to avoid. God literally took all my bad stuff, flipped the script, and turned it into something for good. I got to help others, share my experience, and even start a successful career.

If you are currently battling eating disorders, know that the lessons can be turned into blessings if you take that willpower, discipline, diligence, and gratefulness and allow God to use it for good instead of evil.