On your journey to recovery you will experience good days and bad days. Recovery takes a lot of time and hard work. It's important that you recognize the "warning signs" of a relapse. If you are able to recognize that this is happening, it is important that you share this with those helping you. You may not want to admit to those helping you that you are experiencing a relapse for fear that you may disappoint them or that they may get angry with you. I can assure you that will not happen. They are there to help you and they will appreciate your honesty. Many people experience periods of relapse during recovery. It is during this time that you must rely on your support systems to help you get through this. Below is a list of warning signs that may indicate that you are experiencing a relapse. If you are experiencing any of these signs, I would urge you to speak to your therapist about it.

• Increase in obsessive thinking about food and weight
• Wanting to be in control all the time
• Perfectionistic attitudes
• Wanting to escape from stressful situations
• Feeling hopeless about work, relationships or life
• Believing you will be happy and successful if thin
• Feeling of being "too fat", even though people say otherwise
• Wanting to isolate
• Unable to use your support systems
• Being dishonest with those helping you about your symptoms
• Looking in the mirror often
• Daily weighing
• Avoiding certain foods because of the calorie content
• Purchasing mostly diet foods
• Skipping meals
• Excessive exercising
• Wearing only loose fitting clothes
• Thoughts of suicide
• Feeling disgusted with oneself after eating