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The holiday season can be overwhelming, especially if you're recovering from an eating disorder. Between the invitations to social events, possibly being offered trigger foods and being around others who may not be supportive of your recovery. This can make the time between Thanksgiving and New Year's feel like forever. We wanted to share our top five tips for honoring your eating disorder recovery during this holiday season.
Participate in holiday traditions that support recovery. This is your invitation to choose which traditions you say "no" or "yes" to. If a tradition reminds you of when you were at a different place in your recovery, maybe it's best to skip it this year? Think of it as a chance to start new traditions that support your eating disorder recovery.
Purchase gifts that don't involve body size, food or exercise. Finding the right gift can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. You need to consider your budget, the person it's for, where you'll buy the gift and if it's available. The last thing you need is your eating disorder thoughts getting in the way.
Plan time for reflection & time with others. Sit down with your planner or calendar app and for every social event you add make sure you plan some time for yourself. This time could be for meditation, journaling or having your meals or snacks. Remember that the greatest form of self-care is eating enough.
Follow your treatment plan. Keep on, keepin' on. Continue to follow your meal plan and follow your activity guidelines. Prioritize your sessions with your dietitian and therapist. If time feels tight, decreasing your session length or frequency may be helpful through the busy holiday season.
Find ways for additional support. Give yourself the extra support that you deserve. Consider joining an in-person or virtual support group. It can be helpful to surround yourself with others who are also recovering from an eating disorder.
Because we know the holidays are challenging for those with eating disorders, you're invited to join our Recovered Community for FREE in December. This is your chance to see what our community is all about. Be sure to join before our virtual group discussion on Monday December 19, 2022 at 4pm EST.
The Recovered Community is an educational + supportive community for those that are working towards eating disorder recovery. An ideal member of our community is at least 13 years of age, has an eating disorder and has either been receiving 1:1 treatment for at least 6 months or has stepped down from a higher level of care. You can find more information about our community and register here.
If you're not sure if the Recovered Community is for you. Feel free to book a free inquiry call to see if you're a good fit.
You don't have to do it alone, you're worthy of support.
