For many people the holidays are a time of joy and celebration, a time to gather with family and friends and indulge and enjoy the traditional fest. For someone with an eating disorder it can be less than enjoyable as the holiday season are often anxiety ridden and centered around the subject of food, in fact it can be an nightmare to say the least.
With anorexia and bulimia present, Christmas hasn't been the usual family fun time of the year for me, instead it has been very lonely and quiet stressful . An eating disorder is a horrid illness, it can be painfully tormenting for the sufferer and their family and friends. I constantly would be filled with guilt that would provoke total avoidance during the Christmas period, last Christmas having been invited down to spend Christmas day down in my aunties for dinner, I was too mentally and physically sick to face Christmas , so I spent it in bed alone, locked up inside my own mind. Hopefully this year will be different and i'll be able to fight through it.
I decided to write a post of helpful tips for coping with the pressure that can arise around Christmas time, my main desire as you already are aware of is to at least help someone, even be it one person. Below is a list of few tips to make the Christmas season more manageable.
Plan Ahead
If you are visiting family and friends in advance you may consider letting people know how you are feeling, I don't mean tell everyone Bob, Joe and John, just people who you feel comfortable with who will support you on the day. Talk to them about your fears around food so they can try and ease the anxiety and stress, if you don't feel comfortable doing so as I know it can be quiet scary and daunting, another idea would be to write down on a piece of paper how you're feeling and give it too a family member. It can also be helpful to give close ones information to help them understand due to the medias misleading ignorance towards eating disorders. Meal and serving size should be decided in advance, try negotiate a way of your needs been met to prevent stressing out.
During the Meal
It can be helpful to talk about general light topics during the meal, but be prepared for unnecessary comments about food/weight that may arise, as people don't intend on triggering you it easily can slip someones mind. Have someone supportive sitting next to you during the meal can make it a lot easier. Avoid reacting defensively as closed loved ones have your best interest at heart, as we all have that one relative that says the wrong thing at the wrong time.
After the Meal
I find it helpful to distract yourself after the meal to keep negative thoughts at bay, maybe take a walk with a family member or listen to your favourite music until the feeling of fullness passes, take time out to relax, I promise you this that the feeling will pass you just got to hang in there !!! If you have a period of behaviors do not beat yourself up over it, just put it behind you and move on as mistake's are bound to happen, nobody is perfect.
*COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY TO REDUCE HOLIDAY STRESS*
I wish you all the best and hope you all have a very happy Christmas.
Remember you are worth more than a number on a scales.
take care
