There has been a lot of talk about remission in eating disorders lately, and I couldn’t be happier to hear about it. I have long believed that EDs are chronic and that even though it’s probably possible to reach a point of 98% recovery, there’s no hitting 100%. There is no recoverED.
While this probably sounds depressing, I actually think that the idea of remission is very validating. It gives you another shade of gray in the sick to healthy spectrum. Plus, I think there’s a fear (and hence a danger) that comes with the idea of being completely recovered. While recovery suggests, “You’re done! It’s over! You are cured, have a nice life!,” remission leaves the door open. To me it says “You’re doing great right now, but come back [to treatment] if you need to in the future.”
When you have been declared recoverED, do I think that you are less likely to go back and get treatment if things start to go south in the future? Absolutely. I mean heck, you recovered! The eating disorder is over. With remission, there’s more of a “okay, this is acting up again, I should do something about it” feeling. The relapse could be just as significant in either case, but it feels more reasonable to ask for help in the second case.
Tags: Anorexia, bulimia, eating disorder, eating disorder recovery, eating disorder spectrum, eating disorder treatment, kartini clinic, mental health, mental illness, remission in eating disorders
September 18, 2008 at 2:55 pm
I clearly remember a time where, for 4 amazing years, I did not engage in any type of behaviors, I ate what I wanted, if there were any ed voices at all, they weren’t loud or I shut them up pretty quickly.
I am actually shocked to be in the midst of a relapse – I didn’t know it was possible to go that far down again. So I think the choice on words (remission vs. recovered) is quite appropriate. Interesting observation.
September 18, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Although now that I think about it more, recovery is like the immediate process following a relapse. When you make it to safe ground again, then you are in remission. Just a thought.
September 18, 2008 at 7:04 pm
I was in remission for seven years, during which time I had three healthy pregnancies and children. The past decade, however, have been a repeat X much-worse of childhood-through-college anorexia. I also believe the idea is validating and more authentic, since data doesn’t yet show that even a majority of diagnosed patients achieve what is considered “recovery.” I found Laura Collins link to the Kartini blog article about this … almost allowed me take a less-shameful breath. Someone is finally speaking what many patients and their families have been living for a long time. Once we know where we stand, then we have a better chance of maybe working something better from there. On another note, however, I saw somewhere recently a thread referring to a story about Remuda’s program for boys in which the company/facility claimed a 95 percent recovered and/or no-longer-diagnoseable rate. I think that’s probably a stretch … either of marketing or statistical interpretation.
September 19, 2008 at 1:58 pm
It’s funny you should mention the term “remission,” because back in college during a time when I was Ed-symptom-free, I used to say, “My ED is at bay.” I guess that was my thinking of “remission.”
Nowadays, I get kind of confused on the semantics, and everyone’s definition is different. I think for me personally (at least when I’m feeling optimistic), I choose to believe that there is the ability to be “recoverED” even if it takes many, many years.
September 24, 2008 at 12:28 am
I too have often struggled with the idea of recovery and what recovery means, and I have to say that I like the word remission too. While I think that it is possible to live ED-free and not have ED thoughts or behaviors, I think the word recovered is a dangerous way of thinking that opens the door up to slipping and not realizing it. People who are alcoholics always say that they are “in recovery” rather then “recovered” even if it has been 30 years since their last drink because the word recovered implies that they can drink or think about alcohol like everyone else, when that is not the case. I think the same holds true with eating disorders – you may be able to live symptom and ED-thought free, but I don’t think someone with a history of a serious eating disorder can ever go on a diet like a normal person. I think the word remission conveys a similar sense of thinking.
September 24, 2008 at 10:55 am
Many people are really offended by the idea of remission rather than recovery, but I think it may be because of fear. Terror of having to revisit the worst of it, and worry that our hearts will break.
I also think people think if we don’t say it is GONE then we mean the person is living constantly with the illness. No: remission means no illness – but the possibility of it returning. I find that OPTIMISTIC, as you do, Grey – not pessimistic.
But if I had recently crawled out of illness, or my daughter had only recently done so, I might be too afraid to even THINK that it could come back.
The key, to me, is to recognize the possibility and ACT quickly to beat it back.
Thank you for your post – great topic!
September 27, 2008 at 2:35 pm
[...] the spirit of my remission and relapse post, I’d like to emphasize the many shades of gray between the two extremes. You [...]
September 29, 2008 at 10:41 am
“There is no recoverED” is very absolute, very black-and-white-thinking.
How about people decide for themselves, rather than let you do their thinking for them?
To me it’s less about being declared recovered by someone ELSE, than the individual’s own assessment of themselves. Who am I to question someone else’s presentation of themselves as recovered? Nobody, that’s who.
And the amateur hour armchair psychologist diagnosis of fear as the basis of anyone’s objection to the remission rather than recovery terminology. ick.
November 5, 2008 at 5:34 pm
I think it is absolutely possible to be cured of an ED. I also think it is nearly impossible for someone still struggling to even imagine that. To me, long term remission is the same thing as recovery. Anyone can technically still be at risk for it, even those that never had it, but they’re still symptom-free. I would personally confidently say that I am recovered, after many years and lots of help.
November 14, 2008 at 3:21 pm
So very glad to hear that Annie!