The recovery process from an eating disorder, such as anorexia and bulimia, involves several phases . The second phase, contemplation, is when the person begins to realize that something is wrong. But it's not until the third phase that they begin to mentally grasp the need to make changes in their life and seek strategies to do so. This is why, even with some awareness of the illness, recurring thoughts about it still persist. Becoming aware is the first and most fundamental step in the recovery process .