7 Important Anorexia Recovery Tips for Working Professionals
Anorexia recovery for working professionals is more common than you might assume. Why? In today's fast-paced and demanding work environments, individuals often seek ways to enhance their productivity and performance.
This pursuit of success takes a dangerous turn when coupled with the grip of anorexia nervosa. In the shadows of boardrooms and cubicles, there exists a silent struggle, where individuals believe that their extreme thinness and food control equate to heightened efficiency and professional prowess. This belief perpetuates anorexia, driving the individual to maintain restrictive eating habits and prioritize weight loss over well-being.
There are many subtle ways that anorexia can intertwine with career aspirations while at the same time, having a detrimental impact on both personal health and professional success in the long term. If you’re a working professional who’s struggling with anorexia, or simply want to know more about how this eating disorder can have an impact, keep reading.
The Anorexic Quest for Perfection
Anorexia is like a never-ending battle with food and your body, where every calorie feels like a battleground and every ounce on the scale seems like a victory or defeat. You're constantly chasing an elusive idea of perfection, convinced that if you just lose a bit more weight, you'll finally be happy or accepted.
The reality is that it's like chasing a mirage in the desert – no matter how much you restrict or control, you never quite reach that satisfaction. That said, when someone is deep in the grips of anorexia, there are moments when it feels like they're winning at something, even if that "something" is incredibly harmful.
For them, there's a sense of accomplishment and control that comes with seeing the numbers on the scale drop or feeling their clothes loosen. It's like they're playing a dangerous game with themselves, and every skipped meal or pound lost feels like a victory in this personal competition.
Additionally, there can be a rush of adrenaline or euphoria that accompanies the feeling of hunger or the sense of discipline from denying oneself food. It's almost like a high, albeit a fleeting one, amidst the constant struggle and turmoil.
Anorexia and Work Performance
To complicate matters as far as pursuing recovery is concerned, some people with anorexia, believe that their condition doesn’t interfere at all with their performance at work. Some feel that the food restriction, emptiness, and sense of control actually makes them sharper and more productive.
What’s more, our society messages the idea that being thin equates to success, control, or attractiveness. This means individuals pursuing extreme weight control may feel empowered, accepted, and sometimes even superior to others because of their perceived control over their food intake.
There can be a feeling of pride in discipline and accomplishment in getting to extremes in weight loss. Some people even with severe anorexia, report no compromise in their work performance despite their illness.
Some even note an increase in their work performance and attribute this to being in the zone with their anorexia.
The Dangers of Anorexia
Despite how “good” anorexia can make people feel (or think they feel), it’s also incredibly dangerous. Anorexia nervosa can lead to a wide range of serious consequences affecting both physical and mental health.
Physical Consequences
Individuals with anorexia may experience malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies, which can result in:
Weakened bones (osteoporosis)
Low body weight
Muscle wasting
Organ damage (especially to the heart, kidneys, and brain)
Gastrointestinal issues
Menstrual irregularities
Loss of menstruation (amenorrhea)
Weakened immune systems (and thus more susceptible to infections)
Additionally, severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and cardiac complications can arise, potentially leading to heart failure or even death.
Mental Consequences
On the mental health front, the starvation of anorexia profoundly impacts both the structure and function of the brain. This can lead in many cases to depression, anxiety, social withdrawal, and suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
The disorder can also strain relationships with family and friends and lead to serious limitations in how one moves through the world; anorexia depends on isolation to flourish.
Working Professionals and the Challenge of Getting Treatment
Working professionals can face challenges when they decide to seek eating disorder treatment without stopping their lives. While outpatient anorexia recovery is a great choice for most who are struggling, some challenges come with this option, including:
Time constraints and financial barriers can be significant.
Balancing demanding work schedules with the need for therapy, medical appointments, or support groups can be particularly daunting.
Concerns about the potential negative consequences of any kind of “distraction” on career advancement or job security may deter individuals from seeking help.
In our treatment setting at Columbus Park, we often see individuals desperate to avoid residential or Partial Hospital Treatment which would require a leave from work. For many professionals, a medical leave is not an option for fear of losing health insurance or their job altogether.
At a minimum, there’s understandable concern that taking a leave could interrupt the momentum of one’s career path and advancement.
Benefits of Anorexia Recovery in Real Life
Even professionals with acute eating disorders, like anorexia or binge eating disorder, can get care from home. With medical stability confirmed by a trusted MD, most people can benefit from the gold standard evidence-based outpatient treatments, like Enhanced CBT or DBT for Eating Disorders.
Of course, staying in your job while getting treatment has the obvious benefit of avoiding disruption that could jeopardize career advancement—but there are other benefits as well.
Apply New Coping Skills
Receiving anorexia treatment while engaged in real-life activities provides an opportunity to apply newly learned coping skills and strategies in real-world situations. This helps individuals develop practical skills for managing triggers, navigating social situations involving food, and coping with stressors outside the treatment environment.
Maintain a Sense of Normalcy
Continuing with real-life activities during treatment can help maintain a sense of normalcy and routine, which is important for overall stability and mental health. It also allows individuals to stay connected to their support networks, whether it's family, friends, or colleagues, who can provide valuable encouragement and assistance throughout the recovery process.
Integrate Recovery into Daily Life
Overall, seeking treatment for anorexia while engaged in real-life activities enables individuals to address the disorder comprehensively, integrating therapeutic interventions into their daily lives and promoting long-term recovery and well-being.
7 Steps to Anorexia Recovery While Working at the Same Time
If you wish to address your disordered eating behavior while maintaining your work life, know that this is possible. Here are some important steps for you to take when you’re ready for recovery from anorexia.
1. Seek Professional Help
Anorexia is treatable. Full recovery is possible and residential treatment is not necessary for the vast majority of people with anorexia. When seeking treatment there are a few important things to consider, especially as a busy professional:
Engage in a change-oriented, evidence-based treatment. The treatments are time-limited (they don’t go on indefinitely) and efficient. Even severe eating disorders can be treated with 1-2 sessions per week.
Work with a specialist, meaning a provider trained in these well-researched, behaviorally-oriented treatments. As a busy professional, you need to nail it the first time around.
Consider virtual sessions. The ease of access can make all the difference. You can even schedule sessions during the workday, as long as you can carve out a private space for the session duration.
2: Create a Support Network
Building a support network with anorexia involves opening up to trusted individuals, seeking professional help, and participating in support groups or online communities. It also means educating your support network about the disorder and setting clear boundaries can help ensure that their assistance aligns with your needs.
This can be hard to do with friends and family. Remember that consistent communication and prioritizing self-care activities are essential for fostering that strong support system so you can recover.
Support at Work
You may need to ask for accommodations at work. This is not always necessary but in some cases, it can be helpful. Remember that you don’t have to share any details if you prefer not to; you can simply share that you have a personal issue or health-related issue that requires [fill in the blank] accommodation.
Requesting to work remotely for part of the week, could also be a way to get a bit more flexibility for self-care time. If communicating with your workplace reduces some of the stress around treatment, then it really may be the way to go.
3: Set Realistic Goals
Collaborate with your treatment team to establish achievable objectives tailored to your needs. You want to set goals that you know you can achieve. For this reason, it’s best to break down your recovery journey into small, manageable pieces.
These could include goals related to nutrition, physical activity, self-care, and social interactions. For example, a goal might be to begin integrating breakfast on work days or to engage in a pleasurable activity each week. As you set goals, keep these tips and reminders in mind:
Progress in recovery is rarely linear. There will be ups and downs, and it's important to be flexible and adjust your goals as needed. Celebrate successes, no matter how small, and don't be too hard on yourself during setbacks.
Instead of focusing solely on weight or body shape, set goals related to behaviors that support recovery. This might include challenging negative thoughts about food and body image, practicing self-care activities, or developing healthier coping mechanisms for stress and emotions.
Reflect on your values and aspirations beyond the eating disorder. What do you want your life to look like? Setting goals that align with your values can provide motivation and a sense of purpose in recovery.
4: Plan and Prepare Meals
Preparing meals in recovery isn't about “healthy eating." One of the core foundational principles of eating disorder recovery is regular eating. This means eating every few hours like clockwork, which can be tough at work. To achieve a consistent pattern, it will be important to plan ahead or each day and have the meals and snacks you’ll need available to you. This includes quick things you can eat on the run if you simply have no time.
If eating mindfully, with full attention is a goal of yours (Note: it’s not for everyone! Some people are better off distracting while eating to reduce anxiety.), be sure to be aware of this at work. It’s easy to get lost in work while you’re eating, which means you can also miss hunger cues. Remember that eating doesn’t take long. Can you give yourself 5, 10, 15 minutes of calm to eat mindfully?
Tip 5: Establish a Routine
Routines are incredibly helpful for recovery. The less you have to think in the moment, the better. Plus, they create a sense of security and predictability. It’s helpful to see how you can build routine into your work life. Here are a few areas where a routine can be helpful during anorexia recovery:
Sleep: Reduce our vulnerability to stress and negative emotions by being rested. This is central to your mental and physical health, helping you cope with the many ups and downs of recovery.
Exercise: For those who are in a place to exercise in a healthy and supportive way (not struggling with exercise addiction, as is common in eating disorders), see how you can fit it into your day as a stress reliever and opportunity to move and stretch your body.
Screen time: Set a regular time to get off screens for the day so you can decompress. Plus, reduced screen time is continually tied to improved mental health.
6: Practice Stress Management
Managing stress is a personal—but essential—task and what works for one person, may not work for another. Here are a few ways to better manage stress in your life:
Explore activities like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga. Engaging in enjoyable activities like art, sports, journaling, or knitting are great ways to decompress.
Prioritize setting limits, prioritizing tasks, and seeking support from others.
Be intentional about how device time contributes to your stress levels and what can soothe vs activate. Consider evenings as a time for the soothing material versus social media where you can easily come across pro-ana content that could trigger your disorder.
7: Prioritize Self-Care
Self-care is vital for anorexia recovery as it supports physical health and emotional regulation. Intentional self-care promotes overall well-being, fosters resilience against triggers, and enhances quality of life.
Set aside dedicated time for activities that rejuvenate you, such as exercise, hobbies, or relaxation techniques.
Establish boundaries to protect your time and energy, learn to say no to excessive commitments, and delegate tasks when possible.
Practice self-compassion by treating yourself with kindness and understanding, and don't neglect your physical and emotional needs.
Remember: Recovery Means More Time, Space, and Energy for Life
Maintaining anorexia takes a tremendous amount of attention and energy. Imagine what you could do with the time, focus, and energy you’d get back if your anorexia ceased to exist. You’ve shown perseverance and commitment in your anorexia. Now let’s see you devote those amazing energies to health, peace of mind, and forward movement in your life.
In the pursuit of balancing anorexia recovery with career aspirations, remember that self-compassion, resilience, and the courage to prioritize your well-being are the keys to fostering a fulfilling and sustainable path forward.
