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Because of this the person can begin to let go of their disorder without feeling that they are in unbearable danger. They are participating more in life, and they are beginning to develop trust in their ability to care for themselves.
At this point, even though they feel vulnerable and new, they start to rely on their new competence. They have proven themselves trustworthy to themselves.
In the therapy process, they learn how to live with their misgivings about the therapist and over time learned valid reasons for giving that therapist their trust. They learn what it takes to earn trust.
This learning extends over to their own internal experience. For the first time in their lives, they appreciate what it takes to earn their own trust. When they develop and discover their own trustworthiness they discover a strength and security they never dreamed possible before.
Overeating, bingeing, purging, starving, spacing out on sugar or massive quantities of anything can't compare to the freedom and security in relying on your own strength, judgment and competence.
People learn to let themselves feel, now that they trust themselves to be their own trustworthy caretaker. They learn to listen to their thoughts and feelings, now that they know what listening is. They make decisions that are in their best interest for health and a good life, now that they have tools and know how to use them.
An eating disorder is a pretty paltry, flimsy, time consuming and useless protector when you compare it to your own trustworthy, caring and responsible self. You integrate some of the relationship you had with your therapist into your own style of being in the world. You become your own caretaker. And before you take any action you remember that first step in therapy. You have confidence that you can feel, know what you are feeling and listen to yourself now. You recognize your frailties. You know how to draw on your own inner reliable and trustworthy sources of life affirming wisdom. That's where you find your freedom.
next: Guided Imagery and Eating Disorder Treatment
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