Life Hacks

LIFE HACK FOR EATING

DISORDER RECOVERY

As RCOT encouraged OTs to share their life hacks over OT week, PhD student and OT working in CAMHS Esther Dark considers this theme in relation to people in eating disorder recovery

The demand for healthcare services, particularly for eating disorders, is high. Data shows that despite treatment time standards for children and young people’s specialist eating disorder services, a considerable number still experience significant delays (NHS England, 2022). These delays can result in individuals becoming more unwell and impede recovery (Hamilton et al., 2022). Even with specialist treatment, evidence-based treatments do not yield consistently good outcomes (Byrne et al., 2017). Occupational therapists support individuals with performance and participation difficulties. In eating disorder settings, they focus on an individual’s strengths and promote choice and independence, so individuals become their own occupational therapists (Cowan and Sørlie, 2021). They offer a unique lens in the treatment of eating disorders, focusing on practical support in the here and now, and fostering occupations and activities which are meaningful and contribute to long-term recovery (Gardiner and Brown, 2010; Biddiscombe et al., 2018). Occupational therapy seeks to implement individualised strategies and support so that change is meaningful, and implemented into an individual’s day-to-day routines. Therefore, in a climate of high referrals and need, with calls for novel and creative approaches, (Touyz and Hay, 2022) occupational therapy can be key in supporting recovery in the long term. Occupational Therapy Week is a national annual event which seeks to promote occupational therapy. This year’s theme is ‘Lift Up Your Everyday’. Although occupational therapy is an essential part of the multidisciplinary team in the field of eating disorders, they are often overlooked in favour of more

established therapies. However, individuals in treatment often seek support to address the practical nature of recovery, such as preparing a meal, or supporting role development and establishing new occupations, which occupational therapists are skilled at supporting (Lock and Pepin, 2019). Recovery is more than physical restoration. It includes psychosocial domains, fostering hope and social connection (Clark and Nayar, 2012). These are goals that occupational therapy also strives towards. For this year’s OT week, the Royal College of Occupational Therapists asked its members to create ‘OT Life Hacks’. These are referred to as small actions that someone can do to overcome challenges which prevent them from doing the things they need and want to do. These life hacks are designed to provide high impact for a low effort, have evidence, and be fun, easy, and accessible. When I attempted to create a life hack for eating disorder recovery and reflected upon this, my efforts seemed superficial and incompatible with the realities of recovery. Often, recovery from an eating disorder is gradual, and requires hard work; it is messy and complex and is definitely not always easy. Recovery is also determined by individuals themselves, outside of medical markers such as weight and eating disorder behaviours, but on finding hope, connection, and engagement in new activities and occupations. Occupational therapists acknowledge this and take a holistic approach. They work alongside, collaboratively supporting individuals to gain insight into why they do what they do (Orchard, 2003). Client-centred practice is not so much about occupational therapists enabling occupations which are considered ‘healthy’ or right, but rather it is respecting an individual’s own knowledge and experience of recovery (Whalley-Hammell, 2015). Therefore, my life hack for eating disorder recovery is mindful ‘stock taking’. It is not a promise that things will be stress-free, but it offers the opportunity to step back, to reevaluate and to focus on what is in front of you, and through this, ‘lift up your everyday’. In a few simple words, this is my life hack: “Feeling concerned with tomorrow? Anxious about yesterday? Overwhelmed by what is around you right now? Take a breath. Focus on the present moment, and what is in front of you. Stop trying, stop doing, just be.” Life hacks are designed to shorten time and make daily activities more efficient. This particular example may not eliminate or shortcut the pain of eating disorder recovery, but it can create meaning, acknowledge one’s inner strengths, and refocus priorities. Follow Esther on Twitter at @EstherDark3.

Feeling concerned with tomorrow? Anxious about yesterday? Overwhelmed by what is around you right now? Take a breath. Focus on the present moment, and what is in front of you.