Coping with Eating Disorders During the Holidays
Eating disorders are especially prevalent during the holidays when family members and friends who don’t understand how eating disorders work may try to pressure you into eating foods you’re not ready to handle yet. If you’re dealing with an eating disorder, follow these tips to help yourself make it through the holidays without hurting yourself or others around you.
What is Binge Eating
Binge-eating disorder (BED) is characterized by recurrent binge-eating without regular use of compensatory behaviors. Binge-eating episodes are associated with three or more of the following: eating much more rapidly than normal; eating until feeling uncomfortably full; eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry; eating alone because one is embarrassed by how much one is eating; feeling disgusted, depressed, or guilty after overeating. It’s important to note that while some people who binge-eat may be overweight, others may have a body mass index within a healthy range and yet still struggle with binge-eating disorder.
What is Anorexia
Anorexia is an eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. Anorexia is one of a few disorders that fall under EDNOS, or Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, which includes purging disorder and binge-eating disorder. People suffering from anorexia nervosa restrict their food intake for fear of gaining weight, maintaining low body weight, and exhibiting an intense fear of becoming fat.
What is Bulimia
Bulimia is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge-eating followed by purging behavior to prevent weight gain. A typical bulimic purge cycle involves consuming excessive amounts of food at one sitting, followed by self-induced vomiting or abuse of laxatives, enemas, diuretics or other medications. Purging behaviors help a person cope with shame and anxiety from feeling out of control during binges. Some people experience a cycle without purging. This form may be more common among males.
How Anorexia and Bulimia Affect the Body
This is one of those topics that can make people uncomfortable—if you have friends or family members struggling with eating disorders, it’s natural to want to avoid thinking about what they’re doing to their bodies. However, anorexia and bulimia are serious conditions that require professional attention; ignoring them doesn’t make them go away. If you do know someone suffering from an eating disorder, one of your best resources is research. Understanding how these illnesses affect a person’s body can help you better support him or her in getting treatment. Here are some facts: * Anorexia nervosa (AN) is characterized by extreme weight loss due to self-starvation and excessive exercise. The most common cause of death for people with AN is heart failure, brought on by starvation and low body fat levels.
How To Deal With Eating Disorders During The Holidays
We all have times in our lives when we just don’t feel like being social. The same thing happens to people who have eating disorders, only sometimes it’s more than a lack of desire to hang out. It can be a severe mental health issue that leaves them in fear for their own life. How do you support someone who has anorexia during Thanksgiving or Christmas? Well, it isn’t easy. But there are ways to help your loved one cope without ruining everyone else’s holiday spirit. Here are some tips on how to deal with eating disorders during holidays: We all have times in our lives when we just don’t feel like being social. The same thing happens to people who have eating disorders, only sometimes it’s more than a lack of desire to hang out. It can be a severe mental health issue that leaves them in fear for their own life.
Tips For Getting Through The Holiday Season
Stick to your regular eating patterns. If you eat normally, you won’t be ravenous and tempted to binge. Eat a healthy meal before going to parties or dinners so that when hunger strikes, you’ll have something solid in your stomach—and be less likely to reach for high-calorie foods. Reach for fruits and veggies over cocktail snacks or mashed potatoes and gravy (yes, even if it is homemade). If you do indulge in high-calorie holiday treats like pies or cookies, don’t feel guilty about it—just stick to moderation. Remember that eating healthily during the holidays is all about planning ahead so that unhealthy snacking doesn’t occur out of ignorance or lack of options. Planning will keep weight gain at bay!
Holiday Survival Kit
To help you survive, here are some simple ways to cope with eating disorders during holiday gatherings. If you have a loved one who’s struggling, make sure to offer them your support; if they refuse it, it may be time to seek professional help. You can also offer non-food gifts—such as a relaxing evening at a nearby spa—to show your support for their recovery process. It’s also important that friends and family members don’t give in to guilt when eating together; instead of pressuring your loved one to eat more than he or she is comfortable with, except that his or her choices are healthy (even if they seem extreme). Most importantly: Offer support in any way possible, but never force change upon someone else.
Create a Support Network
While it may seem daunting, telling friends and family about your struggle is a good way to solicit support. This can also help you feel less alone and less ashamed of your eating disorder. The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) offers information on how to create a support network, as well as tips for providing effective support for loved ones who are struggling with an eating disorder. Their website also provides numerous online resources and contact information for local treatment centers. It’s okay to ask for help—it doesn’t make you weak or broken! If you find yourself in need of immediate assistance, please call NEDA’s helpline at 1-800-931-2237 or text NEDA to 741741 anytime day or night. If someone close to you has an eating disorder, they deserve support too—so don’t be afraid to offer it! You might even be able to convince them that seeking treatment is their best option if they don’t see it themselves yet.
Check-In Regularly With Friends And Family
It’s easy to let yourself fall into your eating disorder when dealing with loneliness or homesickness. Be honest about how you’re feeling and ask for support if you need it. If any of your loved ones are also struggling, you can use Christmas as an opportunity to reach out, because it’s easier to seek help from people who already care about you. You might be surprised by how much comfort they can provide. Just remember that you aren’t alone in what you’re going through—and that others have dealt with similar issues before, so they understand exactly what you’re going through. You might be surprised by how much comfort they can provide. Just remember that you aren’t alone in what you’re going through—and that others have dealt with similar issues before, so they understand exactly what you’re going through.
Get Educated On What An Eating Disorder Is
An eating disorder is an illness characterized by extreme concern about overweight, body shape, and food. Binge-eating disorder (BED) may not be a household name, but it’s becoming more common. People affected by BED will binge on food regularly during weeks of overeating, and then restrict their food intake to try to lose weight during other weeks of restriction. These two types of cycles often overlap and can cause major physical health issues. With help from healthcare professionals, however, people affected by BED can learn how to overcome these challenges. One important step in getting better is learning what an eating disorder is as well as how to support loved ones who may have one.
Speak Up If You Feel Bad About Yourself or Start Comparing Yourself To Others.
It’s human nature to compare ourselves to others, but if you feel bad about yourself or start obsessing over your appearance during a holiday get-together, stop and ask yourself if these feelings are based on fact or if they’re rooted in insecurity. It’s easier said than done, but being able to separate your negative feelings from reality will go a long way toward making you feel better and protecting your health.
Focus on Your Strengths
If you’re struggling with an eating disorder, it can be easy to feel self-conscious during a holiday season when everyone is counting calories and commenting on their dress sizes. However, if you’re able to take a step back and focus on your strengths instead of your insecurities, you might be surprised by how much more at ease you feel. Whether that means bringing up topics you know other people will find interesting or finding a new hobby for yourself (perhaps one that involves staying active), acknowledging what makes you special is one of the best ways to deal with self-consciousness during a stressful time. You’ll likely find that taking pride in yourself is not only something other people enjoy seeing but also something they can relate to.
Keep A Positive Attitude!
You may be feeling down or depressed during one of your favorite times of the year due to having an eating disorder. Just remember that these feelings are not permanent. If you can’t get yourself out of bed, try doing something you enjoy, like baking a delicious holiday treat or watching Christmas movies on Netflix (just watch out for those Bing Crosby specials). Focus on what you have going for you and surround yourself with supportive people who will help you through your rough time. Try to stay busy so you don’t think about food as much. Don’t let your eating disorder ruin your holidays!
Eating disorder support groups
If you’re suffering from an eating disorder, finding a support group that works for you is important. Support groups allow you to connect with people who share your struggles and offer valuable insight into dealing with eating disorders. Some programs also meet regularly and take on additional responsibilities outside normal sessions like telephone or email support. Groups also provide a much-needed respite from everyday stresses; being around other people who understand what you’re going through can help keep you focused on recovery, instead of your symptoms. You don’t have to go it alone; find out if there are any treatment options in your area that include support groups for people suffering from eating disorders.
Where to find more information and help
If you think you may have an eating disorder, there are lots of resources available to help. The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) is a good place to start. They offer information about treatment and support groups, as well as tips on how to help someone suffering from an eating disorder. Their hotlines can also help connect you with local services in your area. These numbers will be open 24 hours during Thanksgiving week and for several days afterward so that those struggling or feeling triggered have someone available when they need it most. Contact information for NED:
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support/contact-helpline