Support Network

It is vitally important to your recovery that you be able to form a support network - that is, a group of people who know and love you and are willing to support you in your recovery.

This group can be comprised of friends, family, coworkers, people you have met in treatment, treatment team members ... anyone that you feel comfortable going to in times of need. Some therapists or counselors will be unavailable at, for example, 2 in the morning when you are crying and feel the urge to do an eating disorder behaviour. But if you have a very good friend who you trust to help you, then you will not have to deal with the urges alone.

Keep a list of phone numbers and other contact information for these people, and keep it in a place where you can find it quickly and cannot ignore it when you feel urges. You may be afraid to call - you may not want to be "talked out of" what it is you want to do, or you may feel that you would be burdening the person by asking for help. It is important to address that you want to talk, not necessarily receive advice (or lectures) from the person. It is also very important for you to know and to trust that this person cares for you greatly, and wants to help you, and that losing a few hours of sleep or taking time out of their day is no sacrifice if the alternative is you harming yourself.