Comments on: Remission in is (and Recovered is so last season)

By: Tina Vega

Tina Vega — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:23:17 +0000

I have 21 years of recovery under my belt and very much consider it recoverY… I think the very thought of considering myself recoverED would put me at risk of relapse. In that way, I see my ED to be very similar to other addictions. I see the process of relapse as being “progressive”… a series of seemingly small behaviors that send me back into the destructive trap.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:21:30 +0000

So very glad to hear that Annie!

By: Annie

Annie — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:34:32 +0000

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.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:41:22 +0000

“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.

By: Your treatment needs « Grey Thinking

Your treatment needs « Grey Thinking — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 18:35:45 +0000

[...] the spirit of my remission and relapse post, I’d like to emphasize the many shades of gray between the two extremes. You [...]

By: Laura Collins

Laura Collins — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:55:03 +0000

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!

By: Grey House

Grey House — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 04:28:36 +0000

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.

By: Tiptoe

Tiptoe — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:58:23 +0000

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.

By: guinea pig

guinea pig — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 23:04:26 +0000

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.

By: eshoe

eshoe — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:14:25 +0000

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.