Everything in life has a cost to it. Whatever we choose to do, be or think there is a cost. Sometimes we don’t mind what the cost is. Raising our children, though hard or painful at times, is worth every cost involved. Time spent on good, healthy things is also worth the cost. Giving time to our spiritual beliefs, despite others not understanding, is also worth the cost.
But what about the negative things. All the time, health, opportunities wasted or lost. The times we spend on our addictions that take us away from the good things in our lives. The addictions or problems that increase our health risks and in some cases ruin our health.
Whilst no one chooses to have an eating disorder, the time spent (sometimes years) before recovery is begun has such a high cost. Sometimes the sufferer can see the cost involved and it crushes them into thinking there is no point even starting to climb the mountain out of this. Others can’t see it or deny it. But there is a heavy cost involved.
- Loss of family or friendships
- Loss of education or work
- Loss of healthy or rewarding relationships
- Loss of yourself and your own abilities and gifts
- Loss of self-esteem
- Loss of choices
- Loss of health – the longer an eating disorder continues the higher the health cost. In some areas it is irreversible.
- Loss of youth and all it’s normal peer group stages
- Loss of life – eating disorders kill
The eating disorder in its early stages appears to offer benefits. Control, power, protection etc. But in the end these ‘benefits’ are only illusions. They turn against you and work in the opposite way. You only become chained and gagged by the eating disorder.
Despite the size of the recovery road, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Take it in small steps, don’t look at the whole mess around you in one go. Tackle little bits at a time. The bottom line though is this, delaying recovery because you feel overwhelmed is not an option. It only prolongs the eating disorder and raises the costs even higher. The ultimate cost is your life - far too many have already given the highest price. The cost that falls back onto their families is heartbreaking. Giving up is not an option and it is not the easy choice. It backfires into making it harder to break free.
