December 2011 Archive
Nurturing Our Mind and Body
12.21.11
During this busy holiday season it is very easy to get lost in all the associated hustle and bustle! Shopping for gifts, attending holiday parties, and maintaining commitments to friends and family members–sound familiar?
What is supposed to be a joyous time of year can easily become stressful and fraught with tension. Often we find ourselves caught in the middle of many competing demands and trying to please everyone around us. For those struggling with an eating disorder or food difficulties this dynamic mimics areas that may already be ongoing struggles.
So, how do we learn to say no, navigate this stress and find a way to enjoy the holidays? This process begins with connecting with ourselves.
After all, eating disorders breed on disconnection. When we become separated from ourselves, our wants, needs and desires we become lost. Often we don’t know how to meet the needs we have and we turn to food as way of filling in the gap or numbing ourselves from emotional discomfort. Catching this tendency is key to preventing emotional imbalance and the subsequent symptoms that follow.
Here are some easy questions you can ask yourself that will help you maintain connection or re-connection daily (or at least to get you through the holiday season!)
* How am I feeling today?
* Where may this feeling be coming from?
* How can I make myself (or the situation) better?
* What do I need?
Remember, you can always say no as well!
Enjoy and Warm Holiday Wishes!
Navigating the Holidays
12.02.11
It is holiday time again! Along with the opportunity to celebrate with family and friends often comes increased stress and limited time. For people managing recovery from an eating disorder the holidays can bring increased stress and pressure. Here are some tips to navigate holiday eating and maintain recovery.
* Establish and maintain your support system. Let friend and family members know when you may feel triggered.
* Maintain a routine. Keep established meal times and follow your meal plan even when faced with new foods or different schedules.
* Despite an increase in time commitments maintain appointments with your treatment team.
* Bring a food item you feel comfortable with when attending an event. This way you will know there is something there you will eat, and it will minimize feelings of anxiety.
* Allow time for relaxation. Do things that feel comforting and soothing to you. If you don’t want to attend an event or something does not feel right, honor that urge for yourself. You are not obligated to do it all and be everything for everyone!