Tips for Sticking to Recovery During the Holidays: Part 1

By Alexandra Forsythe, Certified Eating Disorder Recovery Coach

Recovery During the Holidays

The holidays can bring many thoughts and feelings to the surface. Remember your eating disorder self doesn’t take a vacation. Anxiety tends to be high when gatherings are focused around food. Managing the stress and anxiety during the holidays can be overwhelming and it’s easy to fall back into comfortable eating disorder behaviors. Since it’s a busy time with family and friends, it’s easy to put recovery on the back burner. How can you stick to recovery during the holiday season when you are pulled in many directions? Here are a few simple tips to make sure you put your healthy self first and continue to focus on your recovery.

Communicate Recovery Goals with Supports

Your treatment team is there to support you, be sure you reach out as needed and plan ahead to stick to your appointments and continue the treatment plan you and your team have set in place. 

Practice Gratitude

You’ve been working hard! Take a moment each day to thank yourself. Some ways to show yourself some compassion and love:

• Read
• Meditate
• Take a bath with your favorite products
• Call a friend
• Snuggle a furry friend
• Journal
• Set boundaries with friends and family
• Go to a holiday market
• Write a letter
• Enjoy your favorite seasonal latte

Recovery Mantras

• I am brave for facing fear foods
• Being scared is normal, but I won’t let fear control my recovery
• No food is “good” or “bad”
• I am strong
• Flexibility allows me to strengthen my healthy self

Visualization

Take time in the week(s) before the holidays to sit and visualize how you want the holiday to go. Be specific yet kind. Picture yourself using tools you have learned from your treatment team to use in stressful moments. Visualize your holidays as a fully recovered person. 

Remember this is a season to enjoy friends and loved ones. Be patient and kind to yourself. You’re working hard, it does not go unnoticed and Happy Holidays!

Be sure to check out part 2!

Struggling in your eating disorder recovery? At the Kirsten Haglund Virtual Transitional Living Program, our Certified Eating Disorder Recovery Coaches can help. We provide one-on-one coaching and group workshops tailored to helping you build skills like the ones provided above. Click here for more information on our program and how to apply. 

–Original post by Alexandra Forsythe

*Note: these tips should not be used as a substitute for medical or mental health advice. Always consult with your healthcare professional.