As I mention in one of my posts under the ‘What kept me stuck’ section of this website, I feared the regrets of the wasted time, energy, money, and mental freedom I forfeited in dedicating my life to my eating disorder. The technical term I learned to be the ‘Sunk Cost Fallacy,’ where despite there being more benefits than negatives of letting my ED go, I was torn and felt unable to commit to recovery because I had put everything that I had into ‘IT’ and sacrificed so much over so many years.
Deep down I knew the feelings would be overwhelming if and when I committed to letting go of my eating disorder, which is why it kept me stuck for so many years, using this to keep me loyal and dedicated. I therefore had to face the unbearable feelings head-on, and challenge the subsequent, intense temptations to relapse when I was in treatment, and post-discharge from the ED service.
I had to focus on the reasons why I had made the decision to put my eating disorder in the past which included accepting the reality, coming to terms with all my regrets, and stay motivated to change my life and come out the other side.
