“What Are The Most Important Things a Recovery Buddy Should Know About Recovery?”

In this episode, Emily and Han speak through advice for a recovery buddy who is supporting a healing journey. 

The key take away points are…

- Get to know the basics about recovery in order to be able to provide grounding advice that reconnects your loved one with their healthy self (see rec. resources)

- Stand by their side through that discomfort without enabling them to use disordered means to alleviate anxiety. Holding somebody to account to follow through with the most recovery aligned action is the kindest thing you can do. 

- Acknowledge that the place that somebody is in their recovery is not represented by their weight. Somebody can be ‘under weight’ at any weight, if they are beneath where their body wishes to be. 

- View recovery with urgency until the point of fully recovered. The amount of deficit somebody is in shows up their behaviours and inner experience.

- ‘Better than before’ is not good enough. Encourage unrestricted eating. Remember that under eating is often invisible.

- Engage in practical support where possible. Keep offering. Keep challenging. Hold to your word with consistency and plenty of hope. 

- Acknowledge that the ED will not like the recovery buddy. Friction that arises is not representative of your wrongdoing. Stand firmly in the recovery ground. 

-Some resources that we both recommend:

1. Tabitha Farrar's 'Rehabilitate Rewire Recover'.
2. Becky Freestone's YouTube videos.
3. Helly Barnes' blog
4. Chris Sandel's '@sevenhealthcompany'.