Making Progress in Therapy

Question:

I am currently being treated for anorexia. My question is, how do I know if mentally I am getting better? I eat now only because my therapist and mom push me to. In other words I only eat for them. I know I have come a long way with what I eat, yet I have not gained any weight, which makes me happy, yet I know it shouldn't. Since I eat now why can't I just be left alone? Am I not all better or something? My anorexia came out because of many tragities that accured last year, yet my therapist and I have not really gotten into them yet. I wonder why? Do I need to be healthy first? I really like her but I wonder, how do I know if she is really helping me get over everything that happened?

Sorry I know this is more than one question but I guess I just was unsure of the progress.

Thank you for your time.

Answer:

First let me acknowledge you for expressing your uncertainties so directly. It is not easy to know what progress in the treatment of anorexia looks and feels like.

One of the reasons that eating disorders are so hard to deal with is that they involve both mind and body and their powerful interactions. Eating disorder symptoms and the health consequences that follow can interfere with the work of exploring and addressing emotional issues in psychotherapy. Sometimes it is necessary to work on getting healthy first. At the same time, it is hard to really change symptoms without addressing their causes. Recovery ultimately must include both physical and behavioral improvements in the area of health and eating AND healing of emotional issues.

It sounds as though you have been focusing on improving your eating habits and you have made significant progress in your behavior. You recognize that these changes are not yet based on your own desire to take good care of yourself, and that there are emotional issues that have not yet been explored in your therapy. I encourage you to raise both of these issues with your therapist. Expressing your thoughts and questions can contribute so much to progress in therapy!