Why a Higher Power Matters in Eating Disorder Recovery

One of our clients recently shared this breathtaking ocean photo along with these words:
“Thank you for helping me along my journey of understanding higher power. If this isn’t bigger than me, then I don’t know what is!”

Even when the skies are cloudy, there is beauty, there is power, there is something greater than ourselves.

At Imani Treatment Centre, we believe recovery is not something we do alone. For many, discovering a power greater than ourselves becomes a source of strength, comfort, and hope. Whether you call it nature, faith, connection, or simply the beauty of life itself — acknowledging something bigger can help guide the path to healing.

For many, the journey of recovery begins with a realisation: we cannot do this alone. Eating disorders are powerful, convincing us that control is everything and that self-reliance is the only way. But true healing often begins when we learn to let go of absolute control and lean on something greater than ourselves.
Eating disorders are powerful, convincing us that control is everything and that self-reliance is the only way. But true healing often begins when we learn to let go of absolute control and lean on something greater than ourselves.

What Does “Higher Power” Mean?

The phrase “higher power” can feel abstract, but in recovery it simply means finding strength, comfort, or perspective outside of ourselves. That “greater power” may look different for each person:

• Faith — for those who believe in God, a higher power is personal and relational: a Creator who provides love, guidance, and strength.
• Nature — the ocean, mountains, or even a sunrise can remind us of beauty and vastness beyond our struggles.
• Community — being held by a group of supportive people, whether it’s family, peers in treatment, or a recovery group, can feel like something greater than ourselves.
• Love — the love of a parent, a child, a partner, or even the deep compassion of a therapist can serve as a guiding force in recovery.
• The beauty of life itself — small but powerful moments, like laughter with a friend or a quiet cup of tea, can remind us that there is more to life than illness.

What matters is not the label, but the effect: a higher power helps us loosen the grip of perfectionism and shame, offering a new perspective that says: You are not alone. You are more than this disorder.

Why This Matters in Recovery

Eating disorders thrive on isolation. They shrink a person’s world to numbers, calories, rituals, and self-criticism. By contrast, a higher power expands the world again:

• Instead of isolation, there is connection.
• Instead of relentless control, there is surrender and trust.
• Instead of shame, there is grace, compassion, and hope.

In this way, discovering a higher power — however you define it — becomes a turning point. It doesn’t erase the struggle, but it provides strength, hope, and courage to keep walking the path of recovery.

Walking Together, Not Alone

At Imani Treatment Centre, we believe recovery is never meant to be walked alone. Our team offers specialised care for eating disorders, but just as importantly, we walk alongside our clients with compassion, presence, and encouragement. Time and again, we see that when someone begins to connect with a higher power — whether through faith, nature, community, or love — the weight of recovery becomes lighter.

Cloudy skies will come. But even then, beauty exists beyond the clouds. And so does hope.

If you or someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder, please know that support is here.

📞 +27(21) 761-0740
🌐 www.imanitreatment.co.za

#ImaniTreatmentCentre #ImaniRecovery #HopeAndHealing #EatingDisorderRecovery