Holiday Survival For People With Eating Disorders

For many of us, the holiday season is a time of merriment and celebration with family and friends that often includes lots of parties with over-indulgence in food and drink. The laughter and memories we share is punctuated by foods that are often not good for us. This can exacerbate the stressful situation for many who are suffering from eating disorders whether it is overeating, bulimia (binging and purging) or anorexia (restricting your eating excessively).

Christmas dinners like this can induce anxiety for people with eating issues (Photo by mariecinqmars)

Here are some ways you could survive the holiday season.

1. Plan ahead – When preparing for parties and visits with friends and family, decide beforehand what you can or cannot eat during the season. This will help you avoid stress and anxiety that may aggravate the situation.

2. Develop a regular eating schedule – Do not starve yourself for days preparing for the big feast. You will be robbing yourself of needed nutrients. This also makes you hungrier and increases your chances of overeating at the big meal on foods that are not healthy.

3. Be reasonable with your portions – Exercise self-control when choosing portions of food. Too little is just as harmful as too much. Resist the urge to pile the food on. If you are not satisfied you can always return for seconds.

4. Find a supportive partner – The season can be hard if you choose to bear all your weight concerns and issues alone. This can increase the effects of your eating disorder; for example, you may overeat or starve yourself to deal with these issues. A supportive partner who you can confide in and rely on will be great to help relieve some of the stress of the Christmas season. They can also be there for you when your issues tempt you to give in to your disordered eating habits.

5. Resolve issues with family or friends – For many people, the issues that lead to bulimia, anorexia or overeating can be traced to dysfunctional relationships with our loved ones. The eating disorders many times will not be resolved until we get to the root of these issues. Therapy or even family therapy, if possible, could be a good way to start.

The holiday season is a stressful time for those with eating disorders but these tips could help alleviate some of the pressure.