Someone else's opinion of you does not have to become your own.

This is quote that I have read several times but I couldn’t get out of my head today. In recovery we realise that the condition’s terrible opinion of us has become our own - and we totally believe it. I have yet to meet a sufferer of Ed who is not very beautiful, smart and talented and yet because we don’t believe we are smart, beautiful, talented … we are often the people walking around with our heads down and belittling all our achievements.

It’s a question I used to hate being asked in sessions, but now I see why the question “Who are you?” is so important. We have to find out who we are, what we like, what we want, what we believe and what our talents are, what our values are. We have to form our OWN opinion on who we are …. And not the condition’s.

"Someone elses opinion of you does not have to become your own" ....

No - we are not the conditon’s opinion of us - nor are what we think other people we are - OR what we think they think. The reality is much simpler and way less stressful. Tell yourself that you are smart, beautiful and talented. Repeat it to yourself over and over, instead of the negativity and then ask what can you go to learn about you today …Then write down what you learned, magnify the positive and give yourself credit. Gradually, you will find you form your own opinion about yourself, free and recovered and happy and strong - so strong that condition could never “get you” again.