You’re Stronger Than You Think: Redefining Resilience in Disordered Eating Recovery

If you’re on a journey of recovering from disordered eating, you’ve probably had moments where you’ve felt like you’re falling apart. Maybe your emotions feel too big. Maybe some days, it’s hard to even get out of bed. You might look at others and wonder how they seem so strong, so resilient—while you feel like you’re just trying to hold it together.

But here’s something I want you to really take in:

Just by being here, reading this, trying again—you are showing resilience.

What Is Resilience, Really?

We often think of resilience as bouncing back quickly, being unfazed by stress, or powering through adversity with a smile on your face. That’s the “Instagram version” of resilience. It’s polished and shiny, and honestly? It’s not very real.

True resilience isn’t about how quickly you recover. It’s about the fact that you keep going—even when it’s hard.

If you’ve experienced trauma, deep emotional pain, or the internal battles that come with disordered eating, it’s natural to feel like your resilience is worn thin. You may feel fragile. You may struggle with boundaries, with food, with emotions that feel like too much. That doesn’t mean you’re weak. That means you’ve been fighting for a long time.

And you’re still here. That’s powerful.

You’re Dealing with So Much More Than People See

Recovering from disordered eating is not just about food. It’s about shame, control, grief, identity, fear and sometimes trauma. There are layers to this process—many of which are invisible to others.

So, if you’re doing the deep, emotional work of recovery—of untangling painful patterns, facing old wounds, learning how to nourish yourself both physically and emotionally—you’re engaging with a level of strength many people never have to summon.

You’re not weak because you struggle. You’re strong because you’re healing.

Endurance Is a Quiet Kind of Bravery

Maybe you don’t feel “resilient” right now. Maybe you feel like a mess. That’s okay. Let’s reframe what resilience really looks like in the context of recovery:

• Resilience is getting out of bed when your body feels heavy with shame.

• Resilience is choosing to eat even when your mind is screaming not to.

• Resilience is crying through a therapy session and still coming back next week.

• Resilience is feeling broken and still deciding to keep healing.

This is the kind of strength that doesn’t get applause—but it’s the strength that changes lives.

You Don’t Have to Be “Fixed” to Be Resilient

There’s a myth that you only get to call yourself strong once you’re all better. Once you’ve “beat” the disordered disorder. But recovery isn’t a finish line—it’s a process. And every step you take, even the small, shaky ones, are acts of bravery.

Even setbacks are part of the journey. They don’t erase your progress. They don’t cancel out your effort. If anything, they highlight your resilience—because every time you get back up, you're saying: I deserve a life beyond this.

Be Gentle with Yourself

Your nervous system, your body, your emotions—they’ve all been through a lot. Healing isn’t just about changing behaviours; it’s about learning to feel safe in your own skin again. That takes time. It takes kindness. And it takes people reminding you that you’re doing better than you think.

So, here’s your reminder today:You’re doing better than you think. You are not behind.

You are not broken. You are becoming.

A Final Word

You don’t need to look resilient to be resilient. You don’t need to feel strong every day to be strong. Recovery is messy, emotional, and deeply human. And you, just as you are—struggling, trying, showing up—are a walking example of resilience.

Hold that close. You’re not just surviving—you’re healing. And that’s something to be proud of.

Contact Alison at the Appeite Club for details about how Intuitive Eating counselling could help you.