Identifying the Eating Disorder Voice

While at sometimes it can be pretty easy to decipher between the eating disorder voice and our authentic voice, at other times it can be pretty difficult. It can be hard to understand where some of our thoughts are coming from, if they are our own or if they are the eating disorder voice disguised as our own.

Oftentimes I have found it very helpful to work with clients to thoroughly understand what they're eating disorder voice and there are authentic voice sounds like. This is a simple activity you can do to help you raise awareness and insight around those voices, to then better be able to separate from the eating disorder voice and make choices in the direction of recovery.

Steps:

  1. Take a piece of paper and split it into two columns.

  2. In one column write eating disorder voice and in the other column, write authentic self voice.

  3. Then think about what both of those voices sound like and describe them as thoroughly as you can.

  4. Using these descriptions, as thoughts come up that seem confusing to you, that you feel can be both your authentic voice and your eating disorder voice, use the descriptors that you have identified in this activity to help you understand what voice that is. Practice letting the eating disorder thoughts pass while listening to the authentic thoughts.