Dual Diagnosis and Eating Disorder Treatment

It’s not uncommon for many of us coming into rehab to be dual diagnosed. For me, I was battling both addiction and alcoholism along with an eating disorder. Sometimes dealing with the secondary issues can be a lot trickier than dealing with addiction. For me, getting clean was a no-brainer. My life was insane and using drugs was not and is not an option. My recovery in regards to addiction has been very simple, very black and white. I just don’t use. Things with my eating disorder, however, have been a lot more challenging. It’s an issue I have had to deal with during and after adolescent treatment. I have often felt discouraged and frustrated when my E.D. issues resurface during challenging times in my adolescent recovery. I sometimes wonder if I will ever have a totally “normal” relationship to food. I haven’t actively binged and purged, and I haven’t actively restricted since I went to treatment, but I have certainly gotten “weird” with food from time to time. I think my friends and family have also been frustrated and made nervous by the fact that my progress has been much slower in this area of my life. There have been many more stops and starts but progress is being made, however slowly. In treatment, I learned the beginning tools to get on the road to recovery from my eating disorder, and I continue to use them years later. That strong foundation is what keeps me striving for freedom and happiness today. Every day isn’t perfect, but I am clean and sober and as long as I have that, I am free to keep growing.

It’s college Application Time

It’s college application time and being a young recovering addict can add a bit more stress to an already stressful situation for any teen. While most teens look at going away to college as a chance at freedom and unlimited partying, as a recovering alcoholic and addict, the idea of leaving my established support system and being surrounded by college binge drinking makes me uncomfortable. Fortunately, in adolescent treatment, I learned the value of how to set up safe situations for myself.
Many colleges now offer sober college experiences, or “dry” dorms, or floors of dorms where students agree not to drink, smoke, or use drugs. AA and NA meetings are available across the country whether it be in New York, California, Dallas Texas, etc. There are nationwide calling plans and internet access allow for an easy connection to sponsors and 12-step support. As I research schools, I am also checking out the availability of 12-step meetings and housing options at each school. I am considering living off-campus in order to avoid crazy dorm life. Some schools even offer scholarships to students who pledge not to drink while in school. I feel that with my strong recovery foundation, I will be okay no matter where I go, as long as I take the steps necessary to keep my recovery a priority. I am used to being a teen that doesn’t drink, but sometimes it is hard to explain my sobriety to people who don’t know me. I am excited to be going to college. Before I got sober, I didn’t think I would be able to do it. Sobriety is the reason I have the freedom to go to school, and remembering that will help me succeed wherever I end up attending college.