I'd do anything to not be bulimic any more. Yes, recovery is the goal. It spells freedom from obsession with food, getting yourself back, getting your life back and having the energy to concentrate on people and things without the haze of body and self-hate clouding the way. There are so many benefits to you, from saving money on binge foods and doctor bills to feeling you can go out to a restaurant with friends and not worry.
Recovery is great.
However, recovering from an eating disorder using psychotherapy is also nothing if not a pain in the neck. It takes time, money, perseverance, humor, trust, hope, support, dogged persistence and some really good treatment. Understanding the stages of recovery can make the process more bearable and maybe even interesting. In this article, I am addressing the process of recovery as seen from my point of view as a psychotherapist. I am not addressing the many important aspects of recovery which have to do with medical management and with nutritional management.