When in eating disorder recovery there are many steps you have to take to heal. However, one of the biggest things you have to regain is your confidence. Regaining confidence is difficult, but in the end will be so rewarding. You may think your eating disorder causes your lack of confidence; however many people experience low self-esteem long before they engage in disordered eating habits. With this being said, you have to remember to be patient with yourself.
Changing how you view your body includes changing how you think, and certain habits and it may take a long time and a lot of emotional unpacking to figure out where the lack of confidence stems from and what to do about it.
Here are a few tips to help you:
Talk to someone who believes in you: One of the best ways to regain your confidence is to talk to someone who genuinely believes in you and knows your best traits. This could be a friend, family member, or even a professional. They'll be able to give you the support and encouragement you need to help you believe in yourself again.
Take baby steps: Don't try to do too much too soon. It's important to take things slow and steady. Start with small goals and build up from there. With each accomplishment, you'll start to feel more confident in yourself.
Be kind to yourself: It's easy to be your own worst critic, but it's important to be kind to yourself. We all have days where we feel like we can't do anything right. Maybe we mess up at work, or we get into a fight with a friend. On days like these, it's easy to be hard on ourselves.
We might say things like, "I'm such a screw up," or "I can't believe I did that." It's important to remember that we all make mistakes. We're human, and it's part of our nature. So instead of being too hard on yourself, forgive yourself for your mistakes, and try to learn from them. Remember that you are worthy of love and compassion, just like everyone else. Cut yourself some slack and give yourself credit when it's due.
Visualize yourself succeeding: Visualization is a powerful tool that can help you achieve your goals. See yourself succeeding in whatever it is you're trying to do and believe that you can make it happen. When you visualize yourself succeeding, you are planting the seeds of success in your mind. These seeds will grow and blossom into your reality if you water them with hard work and dedication. So go ahead and visualize yourself succeeding today. See yourself achieving your goals and reaching new levels of success. Let your mind run wild with all the possibilities that are available to you. And then take action…
Take action: Confidence comes from taking action. The more you do to improve your health and well-being, the more confident you'll become. So don't be afraid to get started; the sooner you do, the sooner you'll start to feel better about yourself.
Some self-reflection will help jumpstart your confidence-building journey so you can take on each step. Ask yourself: What makes me feel good about myself? What are my favorite things about myself? Getting to know yourself at a deep level – what makes you happy and confident – will help you know what to do next.
You should also strive to create a safe and body positive environment. You could write body positive affirmations on your mirror or leave positive notes on the fridge to remind yourself how beautiful you truly are. However, creating a positive space doesn’t just stop at your home.
Your phone can also include apps that bring you happiness and confidence. You can download apps that will send you positive reminders or delete social media to get away from the toxicity. If you are in the beginning of recovery, deleting social media for a while may be the best decision. There are always going to be people on social media that you can potentially compare yourself to, so by not having that access it takes one of the most triggering habits out of the picture.
By assuring you don’t have constant access or reminders about other people’s bodies and lives it will help you focus on your own. The people you surround yourself with will also have a large impact on your recovery. If you have friends/family that are constantly talking about dieting or bashing their own bodies, chances are it is going to be incredibly difficult for you to remain positive when you are around constant negativity. While you may not want to get rid of certain people in your life entirely to create a more positive environment, it could be beneficial to simply take a step back from these people until you have a stronger hold on your recovery and self-esteem.
These tips may seem overwhelming at first but remember to take small steps, one day at a time, and acknowledge your accomplishments along the way. Regaining your confidence is no easy task, but with some small life changes and allowing yourself the kindness and patience you deserve, you will get there!
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