You may be wondering what recovery will actually look like. You may be wondering what your role will be, feeling overwhelmed by the challenges ahead, or unsure what to watch for. The most important thing to remember is that recovery is a process, not a quick fix. Recovery will look slightly different for each individual, but for every teen will need your consistent support.

Relapse can look different for each individual, but it usually involves the reappearance of eating disorder thoughts or behaviors after a period of improvement. While relapse is definitely something to be aware of and watch for, it does not mean that the person failed in their recovery, and it’s also important not to panic. There are many ways you can support your teen to help prevent relapse.