Christmas time is SOOO hard!!!
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Christmas time is SOOO hard!!!
| Tue, 12-12-2006 - 8:30pm |
I don't know about anyone else, but I find this time of year is soooo hard to handle when you have an ED. Everyone is bringing you food...and there are so many damned getogethers and dinners, and brunches, etc...I find myself binging and purging twice as often as I normally do. I just feel even more out of control than I normally do. It just adds so much stress to the holidays that I could do without. This year is my daughter's first Christmas and I have family coming from away that I haven't seen in ages and I should be excited...but I'm so stressed out about all the food that is being brought into my house and all the meals that I'm expected to attend. I feel like I'm heading into battle or something. Does anyone have any tips for getting through the holdays?

These get-togethers are about friends, family and tradition , NOT food.
Are you choosing food over a relationship with a person? Obsessing over the buffet, binging or purging rather than playing with a niece or talking to a grandparent etc.
Think about the lifetime memories you might miss making because you were in the bathroom or planning how to eat more without anyone thinking you're acting strangely.
Is there anyone at these events who knows about your ED? If so, tell them you need them to have your back! It's okay to ask for help! I actually ask those few people who know about my struggle and recovery to "police" me a little bit because it is SO HARD in those situations to keep your head on straight. I'll even ask my bf if I am eating a normal amount or if it's weird if I have a slice of cake etc.
Take your time and relax. Take a walk, remember you are in control. All this food will always be available to you. You can have a piece of pie tomorrow if you're stuffed.
Sleep, meditate, take a walk, read a book, take pictures of family and frinds, play a game.
Pick some one who has "normal, healthy" eating habits and mirror them. If they ARE overeating, which everyone tends to do this time of year, take that walk!
There are tons of ways to get through it, but it's NOT easy. You just have to tell yourself how good you'll feel if you have a nice, happy healthy meal with your family and go to sleep, awaking the next day free of the mental anguish that comes with binging, purging or restricting.
I'm sure many of us here share your sentiment.
Tips, tips, tips...hmmm...eat with people what would be considered a "normal" amount of food, for 2 reasons. One, they won't bug you about not eating, and two, eating "normally" will help prevent binges brought on by restriction. If they are brought on by emotion, that's a different story. Then you have to face those issues instead of stuffing them down with food. If that's the case then maybe you need to post those emotional triggers here and/or talk to someone IRL. Make a deal with yourself that you will do nothing until you hear from us and maybe that will be enough time for the urge to pass.
I hope that helps. If you think it's a load of bologne tell me.
I'm the type that thinks...well, I'm going to have to purge anyway, so I might as well keep eating. Your idea to eat around people is a good one, I think. I don't tend to binge in front of people (I plan those for when I'm going to be alone). Maybe if I just try to spend as much time around others as possible, that'll work. When I binge, I don't know why I'm doing it...it's just a compulsion. I don't think that I do it for any emotional reason...but who knows? I appreciate your tips. Thanks.
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~Diana~
I found this article I hope you find helpful. For me holidays in general cause me a little aniexty. I