HealthInfo Canterbury

Self-care with an eating disorder

There are many things you can do to help yourself recover from an eating disorder.

Admitting you have a problem and accepting help are the first steps. The earlier you ask for help, the easier it will be to get better.

Here are a few more things you can try.

• Learn more about eating disorders. This can help you understand what's happening to you. You may like to look at an online self-help programme available from the Centre for Clinical Interventions.
• Try to be kind to yourself. Seek support to learn ways to deal with difficult emotions and thoughts.
• Make time for things you enjoy and spend time with people who make you feel good.
• Talk to a friend or family member. Support from people who care about you is important. Instead of concentrating on your eating habits, try to improve communication and build up your emotional confidence and security.
• If you're a binge eater:
  • Try not to let yourself get so hungry that the urge to binge is overwhelming. Don’t stop eating good-tasting food, even if it has more fat and calories.
  • Keep a diary. This can help you become aware of your eating patterns and the positive and negative feelings that trigger binges. Be aware of your feelings – take time out and ask yourself how you feel.
  • Ask your GP if you can be referred to the binge-eating disorder group at the South Island Eating Disorders Service.
• Join a support group where you can talk about your problem and get advice and support from people who know what you are going through.

  HealthInfo recommends the following pages

• Centre for Clinical Interventions – Consumer resources

  You can find good self-treatment resources on this website, including information, worksheets and activities. Download and work through the modules to help you with your recovery.

  • Overcoming disordered eating, parts A and B

    Information about disordered eating – how it develops, how someone maintains it, and strategies to change the problem behaviours and thinking patterns.

  • Building body acceptance

    Provides information about body dysmorphic disorder – how it develops, how it's maintained and how to address this problem.

• Eating Disorders Association of NZ

  Information and support for people with eating disorders, their friends and family.

On the next page: Getting help with an eating disorder

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Endorsed by the South Island Eating Disorders Service, Canterbury DHB. Last reviewed January 2021.

Page reference: 75502

Review key: HIEDI-73561