Finding Peace in your Body: The Role of Body Neutrality in Recovery

For some people in eating disorder recovery body image becomes a huge focus. While this is not true for all, some people in recovery must learn to accept their changing body or to change the way they view themselves. It is a journey of acceptance and love. For some, learning to accept and love your body unconditionally can feel like a difficult task, this is where the practice of body neutrality may come in handy. It is important to note that everybody’s journey is different and this practice may not be suitable for everyone.

Body neutrality asks us to shift focus to the idea that a person can exist in their body without thinking too much about how it looks. Sometimes in recovery it feels like there is too much pressure to always view your body lovingly and positively; this can become draining. Body neutrality asks you to move away from negative self-talk but does not pressure you to constantly love your body either. It simply invites you to view your body as a vessel in which you live, and to not focus (negatively or positively) on any physical aspects of your body. This is done with the intention that you will give less importance to normal bodily changes (ie. aging, weight fluctuation, etc). 

Some people also use this practice as a bridge towards body positivity, and while some use body neutrality constantly, others only tap into this tool on days in which self-love seems difficult. No matter how you decide to use it, body neutrality can be a particularly useful skill in recovery.