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Forgiveness

and Disordered Eating

Forgiveness is a major destination on your healing journey. If the child of the past and the adult of the present are to integrate fully into the healed person of the future, there comes a time to release the hurts of the past, to forgive. Forgiveness builds a solid foundation so you can grow beyond the hurt and pain fueling your anger and your eating disorder. You can take control over your pain through the act of forgiveness instead of through the actions of your eating disorder.

Forgiveness doesn't mean you forget what was done to you, but that you forgive those responsible, whether they deserve your forgiveness or not.

Roadblocks to Recovery
Anger, fear, shame, and guilt-the debilitating emotions you've been feeling―get in the way of being able to experience forgiveness. These emotions have been companions up to now. They will not want to be left behind.

As you come to acknowledge the truth about the pain you've been feeling, you will experience the anger you've been suppressing through your eating disorder. This anger is familiar, but without the confines of the eating disorder, it may seem overwhelming. that danger is to want to remain angry, wallowing in blame, which only leads to more anger. You need to move beyond blame and toward forgiveness. Forgiveness is the balm that allows your soul to heal and you to grow beyond your pain and anger.

Showing forgiveness, even to the person who admits no need for it, allows you to show a healing example of what love and acceptance are all about. If you did not receive love and acceptance from the ones who hurt you , or if they were deficient in their ability to love you, you can give love and forgiveness to those persons as precious gifts,. In this way, you can break the cycle of an unloving response. Forgiveness means letting go and getting on with life.

Roadblocks to Forgiveness
Forgiving someone is never easy. It does not happen overnight, it is a process.

Your eating disorder is a response to your pain and anger. If you can understand what happened, get the past the anger, and forgive the pain, the reason for your behavior will no longer exist. When the reason no longer exists, and the health-related complications of your behavior are addressed, true healing becomes a reality.

Read our Special Report on the Principles of Forgiveness.