Tips on Dating in Eating Disorder Recovery
Dating can be difficult for anyone. However, some things may be uniquely challenging in dating for those in eating disorder recovery. Whether you are on a first date or the twentieth, it is essential to take steps to stay recovery-focused when connecting with a partner.
By: Taylor Riches
Below are some tips to help you as you date during your eating disorder recovery journey.
Dating comes with its own set of challenges and hurdles. It can feel even more tricky if you are struggling with or recovering from an eating disorder. Here are four tips on navigating the dating scene while in recovery.
Tell Your Partner about your Recovery When You Are Ready, but Remember There Is No Pressure.
There’s often some pressure to tell your partner all about your past. They want to get to know you better, and you want to let them into your world. These conversations are usually well-intentioned and can mean they are interested in you on a deeper level. However, when it comes to telling someone about your eating disorder recovery journey, you must do this at your own pace. Opening up and being vulnerable is difficult. So take your time and ensure your relationship is safe and supportive before you dive into deeper topics with your partner.
Remember, Rejection is Normal.
You will meet a lot of people in your lifetime, and only a handful of those people may be romantic partners. When someone rejects you, it may automatically feel like something is “wrong” with you. But rejection is normal. It does not mean you have something “wrong” or need to change for anyone else. Instead, it means you are one step closer to finding the person for you. Not everyone out there will be your perfect match, which is okay. Unfortunately, no matter what it means, it can be challenging to navigate feelings of rejection. So, take care of yourself and get support when you need it.
The Recovery Process Involves Evaluating Your Values, so Be Sure to Find Someone Who Aligns With Your Values.
Throughout recovery, it is crucial to focus on clarifying your values. Many therapy sessions explore aligning your values with your true self. When seeking a partner, you should continue that discussion to align your core values with theirs. Often, people compromise or alter their values at the beginning of relationships to meet the other person’s needs, but stay true to yourself and your values. You will find your person.
Dress Comfortably.
Making sure you dress comfortably is an important aspect of dating. How you feel in your clothes can alter your dating experience. Being comfortable allows you to focus on and engage with the other person instead of how your clothes fit. Make sure to wear something that makes you feel comfortable and confident so that you can focus on your experience instead of your appearance.
Dating can be overwhelming, especially when navigating an eating disorder or recovery. Above all, lean on your support system as you connect with new people to help you stay recovery-focused. At BALANCE eating disorder treatment center™, our compassionate, highly skilled team of clinicians is trained in diagnosing and treating the spectrum of eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating, and other disordered eating behaviors and body image issues. Click here to view our Instagram Live, ‘Eating Disorders and Relationships: Everything You Need to Know’ with BALANCE’s Program Therapist, Zoe Cohen, LMSW (she/her).
Our admissions team would be happy to answer any questions you may have about our programs and services. Book a free consultation call with our admissions team below, or read more about our philosophy here.
This post was written by BALANCE Social Work Intern, Taylor Riches (she/her).
Taylor is a Program Assistant and Social Work Intern here at BALANCE. She graduated from Adelphi University with her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology while minoring in Business and taking courses that focus on child and family studies in 2020. She now attends Hunter College's Silberman School of Social Work where she is intended to receive her Masters in Social Work in 2023. Taylor has been working in the eating disorder field since 2020. Throughout this time she has worked in admissions helping people take that next step in recovery. She has volunteered her time for organizations like the National Eating Disorder Association and the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders.