We can’t change the fact that we develop an eating disorder. But we can choose to get better. And, in the process, we are certain to gain wisdom, as we find our way out of a very dark and pervasive illness and back to a sense of ourselves—often, that we feel like we’ve lost. In this way, our eating disorders can become a great gift in an absolutely ugly package. If you are battling eating, weight, and shape, this might be hard—or even impossible—to believe. Healing from a mental illness can be like completing a complex jigsaw puzzle. When things aren’t getting better, a key piece of the recovery puzzle is usually missing. Despite working hard in recovery, do you find yourself in a debilitating cycle constantly searching to complete the picture? If so, here are seven ways to jump into full recovery from an eating disorder.