At this point, it may come as no surprise that there are apps that can help people in recovery from eating disorders as well. And unlike the apps that address mental health issues, most of these ED apps make it much easier to collaborate with licensed clinicians.
Recovery Record is a free app available on both Android and iOS devices and is designated as the “smart companion” for recovering from an eating disorder. You can set goals, meal plan, and learn new coping tactics to find which ones work best for you. Progress will be tracked and when goals and milestones are reached, rewards and positive affirmations are given to encourage the positive behavior. What makes this app unique is its customization and connectivity options. You can customize everything about the app, from meal plans to coping tactics to the motivational quotes. The designers of this app were acutely aware of the fact that recovery never looks the same from person to person. The most innovative part of this app is that it allows for an individual’s treatment team to monitor the recovery in real time. Clinicians can link their profile to the profiles of their patients and track progress, set goals, and measure outcomes. This app truly presents a new approach to recovering from an eating disorder and takes full advantage of the technology we have today.
Rise Up + Recovery is quite similar to Recovery Record, but has a few different features. It places emphasis on the CBT model’s self-monitoring homework. You log your meals, check-in with your emotional and mental state, and document your behaviors. You can set custom reminders and share motivational quotes and affirmations to keep yourself motivated. This does not allow for direct connection with a treatment team, but it does allow you to export PDF summaries of your daily logs for easy sharing with your team. This app has a wide range of easy to access resources, including podcasts music, and reading material. Additionally it has a GPS tool that allows you to locate clinical treatment providers near to your location.
Recovering from an eating disorder requires constant and consistent commitment to the recovery process. Recovery apps are a great tool to aid the recovery process, especially if more traditional methods have little effect. As usual, these apps should always be used in conjunction with clinical treatment.
Read more about OPG’s work with people suffering from Eating Disorders.