Eating Disorder Recovery During The Holidays

Greetings to all of you and Happy Thanksgiving! In the spirit of thankfulness, let me share again how thankful I am for this group…for each of you who continue to show up in recovery from this thing called ED…for the courage and wisdom and inspiration you bring to the table each and every week. You inspire me in more ways than you know, and it is truly an honor to sit among you and share a little in the journey. 

Speaking of Thanksgiving and the Holidays, in general, it can be a challenging time of year, can it not? How encouraging it was, though, to see 12 of you show up at group on Tuesday night, encouraging and supporting one another through recovery—even during a time of year that may not feel all that conducive to recovering. The stress of the Holidays can be enough to send any one of us back to coping mechanisms that make us feel a little more comfortable, a little more safe. Several members shared, though, about a new sense of balance they are experiencing lately with food. While this whole concept can be entirely lost during this time of year, one relayed that she was being intentional around the Thanksgiving meal by reminding herself that it is only one day, that she doesn’t “have” to binge, but also that she doesn’t need to spend all her downtime on the treadmill while her family is enjoying one another elsewhere. We talked some about approaching this particular meal (and others during this time of year) without fear, and members shared different tactics that have worked for them in the past. One shared a tip she has learned from her dietician—envisioning your plate ahead of time and actually drawing out what it will look like (i.e., foods, portion sizes, etc.). Then, once you get to the meal, there is no longer so much of that unknown to fear because you have already planned your mode of attack ahead of time! (This particular group member, in fact, has been experiencing quite a lot of success with trying new, scary foods lately; she is learning to enjoy different foods and situations, even when she is in less of a position to control those things.) Another member shared about a recent trip she took and the kind of freedom she experienced, learning more about “normal” and intuitive eating and the new sense of peace and enjoyment this brought to her vacation. “That’s why I’ve chosen to do recovery! To have that kind of freedom!” one group member commented.

Just a reminder that we will continue to meet throughout the Holidays and that this group is a great place to practice “putting your recovery first.” Also, utilize the phone list and your fellow group members’ contact info throughout the week; it’s a great way to stay connected and get support during what can be a very challenging time of year. May each of you experience a little more freedom than fear during these holidays, a little more hope than despair…more peace than unrest.

Because you’re worth it!!!

Written by Stefani Adair, Volunteer Facilitator