Protecting your Eating Disorder Recovery in College

Aug 16, 20245 min read

The transition to college can be a challenging time full of changes such as moving to a different city or state, living in a dorm, commuting to campus, meeting new peers and roommates, establishing new routines, and having increased independence. These changes can be especially challenging if you’re adding eating disorder recovery to the mix. It’s important to work with your support team to prepare for such a big transition and discuss potential triggers that may be waiting for you on campus. While maintaining eating disorder recovery on campus can be challenging, it is possible to achieve with planning, consistency, and support!

College and Eating Disorders

First of all, you’re not alone in your experience as a college student recovering from an eating disorder. According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), between 10-20% of women and 4-10% of men in college are experiencing an eating disorder. In fact, rates have even been on the rise in recent years.

As noted above, college can be a particularly challenging time for all students. There’s the academic pressure to do well in classes and on exams; learning time management for social engagements, class work, employment, and more; perhaps feeling anxiety or stress from being away from home and loved ones for long periods of time; making career decisions; creating new and maintaining existing friendships and relationships; and learning to live independently. It makes sense that many college students struggle with coping with stress and changes during this time!

Potential Challenges and Triggers

Being aware of potential triggers can support you in planning for how to deal with challenges you may face on campus. Working with your support team to anticipate your personal triggers can also be really helpful!

Planning for and accessing meals

For a lot of students, college is the first time they have to plan all their meals or ensure they’re scheduling time to eat throughout the day without the structure of a school day or family schedule. Not having enough time at meal times to get to the cafeteria, restaurants, or dorm room to have a meal can cause students to skip meals.

Food insecurity

Many students struggle to afford meals and face a lack of reliable access to adequate food, which can increase the likelihood of disordered eating behaviors.

Diet culture and weight stigma

There is often talk about stigmatizing dialogue around weight and body changes on college campuses. We’ve all heard the phrase “freshman 15,” which perpetuates harmful diet culture rhetoric. Triggers related to body image, diet culture, weight stigma, and food present on campus can be a challenge for anyone, especially those in eating disorder recovery.

Stress

College is a time of managing lots of stressors and learning to adapt to lots of new changes. New stressors and changes can trigger eating disorder behaviors.

Tips for Protecting Recovery in College

We’ve discussed some potential triggers on college campuses, but that doesn’t mean recovery or maintaining recovery isn’t possible! Working to identify your existing triggers or potentially new triggers you might face is helpful so you can prepare how you will cope with them. Here are some tips for protecting your recovery on campus:

Seek support

If you already have a treatment team, discuss scheduling appointments with them before leaving for your first semester. If you are going to school in a different state, it will be important to check with your current team to see if they’re able to provide telehealth services in a different state. If not, ask for support in finding another provider. Most universities offer free confidential counseling services to students as part of their tuition. Check the university webpage as a first step to finding accessible and affordable care while in college! You can also choose to fill out a consent form for your current team to collaborate with any new therapists, doctors, or dietitians. Don't forget: Beyond's eating disorder therapists and eating disorder dietitians offer in person and virtual therapy and nutrition counseling services, so you can access our care from many states!

2. Prioritize Self-Care

Eating regular meals, getting enough sleep, and managing stress are crucial parts of maintaining recovery in college. Do your best to schedule classes at times that don’t interfere with meal times and ensure you have enough time between classes to grab a meal. If that’s not possible, schedule time in the evenings or morning to prepare meals and snacks to bring with you. Having snacks in your dorm room is important too. If you don’t have a car on campus, see if a roommate, Resident Assistant, or someone else in your dorm or classes is willing to give you a ride or check the university or local public transit schedules. If financially feasible, meal or grocery delivery options are also available. You’ll also want to make sure your schedule leaves enough down time for you to decompress, schedule therapy or dietitian appointments, and get at least 8 hours of sleep.

3. Have Coping Skills Prepared

Your self-care is super important, and coping with the difficulties of college and eating disorder recovery will be important while you’re on campus. Review your current coping strategies with your support team before leaving. If you find your current coping skills toolbox is a little sparse, take some time to find new strategies to support yourself with coping with triggers and stress. Coping skills can be unique to every one and should include strategies for managing emotions and stress and dealing with triggers. It may be helpful to have a list of coping strategies or a box of tangible tools accessible to you when needed.

4. Stay connected

Having a circle of social support can be an important part of maintaining recovery. If you’ll be physically removed from family and friends who are part of your current support, coordinate times for Facetime, phone calls, and/or visits. College is also full of opportunities to meet new people in classes, clubs, sports, and dorms. Surround yourself with people who will positively support your recovery.

5. Set clear boundaries

Know your limits and communicate them clearly to others. It’s easy to get excited when you first arrive on campus. While surrounding yourself with supportive individuals and engaging in enjoyable activities can be important to your self-care and recovery, pace yourself with signing up for new obligations and remember that it’s okay to say “no.” You don’t have to join every group or attend every social event, especially if you don’t think it will support your recovery. You can talk with an academic advisor about your course schedule to ensure you’re taking the appropriate amount of credits for both your academic and eating disorder recovery goals.

Conclusion:

While there may be challenges to navigating college while recovering from an eating disorder, it is possible! Working with your current support team to prepare will help facilitate a smooth transition and setting up a support system while you’re on campus will help maintain your recovery. Remember that your health and wellbeing is top priority, and taking care of yourself and your needs will make it possible to achieve your academic goals. Wishing all first-time and returning college students a healthy and successful 2024-2025 academic year!

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