Eating disorder recovery can be life-changing for many, but it can also be exhausting. The emotional work of recovery is still work, and that can lead to something that isn’t talked about enough: recovery burnout.
Many people entering treatment may feel pressure to “get better” fast or return to normal life, which can create stress, pressure, and emotional exhaustion.
Eric Dorsa, a nationally recognized LGBTQ+ mental health advocate and activist, talks about their experience with recovery burnout, what helped them get through it and why people are not alone in this.
What Does Recovery Burnout Look Like?
Burnout during eating disorder recovery doesn’t always look the way people expect. Instead of wanting to quit, it can show up as:
- Emotional or physical exhaustion
- Feeling pressure to be further along in recovery
- Losing motivation to keep doing the work
- Isolating from support systems
- Doubting whether recovery is possible
Eating Recovery Center alum Maddy shares what burnout looked like for her in eating disorder recovery:
“Burnout for me looked like wanting to give up, canceling healthcare appointments, and doing the bare minimum to stay afloat. When I was burned out in recovery, I was very depressed, physically exhausted, and isolating myself. Anxiety, anger, and panic attacks often followed.”
Why Burnout May Happen in Recovery
Recovery is often a complete shift in how someone relates to themselves, their emotions and their identity. For people who have spent years measuring their worth through achievement or control, learning to slow down and heal can feel unfamiliar and uncomfortable.
Burnout can happen when recovery starts to feel just like another place where someone feels they must succeed or “do it right.”
Managing Burnout During Recovery
Burnout doesn’t mean someone is failing in recovery. It can be a signal to pause, breathe, and give yourself patience and kindness.
Eric shared that the following strategies helped them cope with burnout:
- Setting small, manageable goals
- Taking recovery one day, or even one minute, at a time
- Asking for help with meals or daily tasks
- Staying connected to therapy and support systems
- Practicing self-compassion instead of perfectionism
For many people, healing begins when the focus shifts from “getting better quickly” to allowing space for recovery to unfold over time.
Burnout doesn’t mean recovery isn’t working. Sometimes it simply means the healing process needs patience, care, and support.
Read more about Eric’s and Maddy’s experiences with recovery burnout at Eating Recovery Center
Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center is an international center for eating disorders and mood, anxiety and trauma-related disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders and PTSD. We offer the full spectrum of treatment services adults, adolescents and children of all genders, including Inpatient, Residential, Partial Hospitalization and Outpatient programs. Utilizing a full continuum of care, we provide expert behavioral health and medical treatment for eating disorders and mood, anxiety and trauma-related disorders in an environment of compassion, collaboration, integrity, inclusivity, accountability and flexibility.