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quasi-

/ˈkweɪzʌɪ,ˈkweɪsʌɪ,ˈkwɑːzi/

combining form

prefix: quasi-

• apparently but not really; seemingly.

"quasi-American"

• being partly or almost.

"quasicrystalline"

from Latin quasi ‘as if, almost’.

Ah, the dreaded quasi-recovery state. You’re better, but not fully there; you’ve done some work, but not all that needs to be done. It’s like having one foot in, and one foot out; one step forwards, one step back. To make it harder, other people (sometimes even treatment professionals) may assume you’re ‘fine now’. But you’re not fine - thoughts around food, body and movement are still taking up more mental real estate than it should, and you know your behaviours are not where they should be either.

Quasi recovery is the worst of both worlds as you’re pissing of your ED and your healthy self simultaneously. Your healthy self is disappointed because you know you’re not where you want to be (or moving towards it), and your ED is angry that you’re not at your ‘sickest’ anymore and aren’t doing enough ED behaviours (although the ED is happy it can latch on still, like the parasite it is). Pissing off your ED is good, but it’s meant to be a temporary thing so that you recover and there no longer is any ED to piss off. Recovery is temporary discomfort for long-term peace. Quasi on the other hand means a constant, never-ending cycle of guilt, shame and doubt. It’s like a perpetual struggle, and the ED loves to confuse recovery with being recovered. Quasi means being constantly stuck in the former; getting to a certain point, but never past it. But why? What’s the point of that? I’d instead say that you did not come this far only to come this far.

Controversial perhaps but I don’t personally believe people with eating disorders are doomed to have to do ‘fear food challenges’ for the rest of their lives. I know I’ve ‘made it’ with a client when what used to be a ‘fear food challenge’ becomes a regular night out having pizza with friends. I don’t do ‘fear food challenges’ anymore as a fully recovered person, I just eat (but oh God was it necessary to do ‘fear food challenges’ to get here!). I do understand recovery looks different for everyone and we all move in a different pace, but it breaks my heart to see so many people (incl. treatment professionals) settle for ‘almost there’, not believing full recovery and freedom is even a possibility!

What can make quasi-recovery extra difficult is not knowing what is you, and what is the ED. Certain beliefs are so entrenched you don’t even push back against them, and certain behaviours have become ingrained habits you don’t fully realise you’re doing. ("But I prefer staying in and cooking for myself instead of going out for pizza with friends… right?”). People in quasi often know something is ‘off’, but struggle knowing where to start, and where they begin and the illness ends.

As this quasi such a common (and shitty) space to be in, I created ‘From Quasi to Full Recovery’, an intensive 2-month online group coaching programme aimed at people who are tired of their eating disorder’s BS and would like practical tools and support to get unstuck. I first ran this programme spring/summer 2023, and the response was amazing. Since then, I’ve had quite a few people asking me if/when I’ll re-run it, and now felt like a good time (especially with all the ‘new year, new diet’ BS).

Join now

The programme starts 29.01.24, and lasts aaall the way into March 2024. Cost equals £60 per week for 8 weeks (£240 per month/£480 total), making it a lower cost option (but don’t confuse lower cost for less content, it’s a pretty intensive programme). The programme is international, so you can participate from anywhere in the world. English does not need to be your first language, last round over half of participants were non-native speakers (if you’re able to read this post and listen to my podcast and understand at least most of it, you’ll be fine English-wise). If you want to learn more about how the programme works, what it covers, read some testimonials from people who’ve done the programme before, and potentially book your spot (spaces are limited to ensure a tight-knit community), head to my website letsrecover.co.uk (or click here). I’ve also done a podcast episode discussing it more here.

I am super excited to re-launch this programme, and I find that group work means I can offer more stuff, for more people, at a lower cost, without the long waitlist I have for 1-1 coaching. I really enjoyed running this programme last time, and it was quite emotional when the 2 months were up as we become a bonded group, with new friendships formed. Hope to see some of you there - but please have a read-through before joining to ensure it is a fit. This programme is intended for motivated adults who have already done some recovery work prior, and are prepared to put in a lot more. It is not intended for children, for people who are acutely medically vulnerable, and it does not replace medical treatment for an eating disorder. If you are in treatment, please discuss w/ your team prior to participating. More on who this programme is and isn’t intended for here.

Any questions about the programme? Comment below, or send me an email at contact@letsrecover.co.uk😊