Naming an eating disorder—whether giving it a personal name or labeling it more generally—can be a personal and therapeutic choice. So is naming your ED right for you? Some find it empowering and clarifying, while others feel it doesn’t resonate. It’s worth discussing with your therapist to explore whether this approach could be beneficial. There are potential advantages and disadvantages.
By naming our ED it can create emotional distance and increase self-awareness. Naming the disorder can help separate it from your identity. It becomes something you have, not who you are, making it easier to challenge harmful thoughts. Naming the disorder acknowledges its presence and impact, making it feel real and worthy of attention and effort to overcome. Giving it a name can help identify when the disorder is influencing thoughts or behaviors, encouraging mindfulness and control. Naming it can also empower recovery by when the disorder feels like an external entity, it can feel more manageable to confront and challenge it—like battling an “enemy” rather than oneself. One of the best advantages comes from discussing struggles with therapists or loved ones easier. Saying, “That’s just [name] talking” can simplify conversations and reduce shame.
There are disadvantages to naming an eating disorder. By giving our ED a name there is a risk of personalization of the disease – Naming can sometimes lead to over-identifying with the disorder, almost giving it too much power or presence in one’s life. It may also allow us to avoid responsibility – Some may feel that by externalizing the disorder, they’re not accountable for their behaviors, which can hinder progress in recovery. Naming can help us to feel dismissive- For some, naming it may feel like minimizing its seriousness, making it seem like a “character” rather than a complex mental health issue. Dependency on the Concept: If recovery is tied too closely to the idea of fighting a named entity, it could complicate progress when the metaphor no longer feels helpful.
At the beginning of my journey towards recovery I refused to name my ED mostly because I did not want to even acknowledge that it exists within myself. As time went on I decided to name it based on my thought process that if I named it, I could shed it like I would a person who was not at all a positive influence in my life. In fact, I chose a name of the person I felt had helped begin my eating disorder. One of things that I was required to do during my stay at an inpatient treatment facility is writing a letter to my ED. I thought naming it and writing it a letter would help in this process too. It could get it ‘out of my system once and for all’.
After about a year into my recovery I began to realize that FOR ME naming it the name I assigned to it was actually keeping this person front and foremost in the front of my mind. This person was living in my brain ‘rent free’. Once I realized this I decided to just call it ‘MY ED’. After another 6 months went on I realized that by calling it ‘MY ED’, I was claiming it as my own, looking at it is a treasured possession. Since in my mind, I no longer wanted to have it as a possession, I made the decision to just call it ‘THE ED’. This allowed me see have the belief that I don’t have to make it mine. I have chosen to discard it like I would a possession I no longer need. I longer need to have this disease in my life. It serves me no purpose except to make me miserable and to encourage me in the most of unhealthy ways.
Naming the ED you have is a very personal decision and like me your decision can change over time. You will need to do what is best for you. Work with your support team if you are questioning the decision you are making in this area. It will be well worth it.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
I know and believe that those of us who suffer from an ED of any type can beat it. It is hard work and at times feels impossible; but I am sure it is a goal that is obtainable to all of you out there.
KEEP YOUR CHIN UP! Take baby steps towards your recovery, put one foot in front of the other and know, with a capital K, you CAN do it. Even if you can’t see it now, the world needs you!
Wings of Recovery 