Holiday meals during the holiday season tend to be unhealthy most of the time if not always, therefore it is advisable to try and eat healthy as much as possible. Any big holiday meal served in any holiday event is going to have a lot of fat and sugar in it. If you do make the choice to not exercise as much as usual, don’t stress yourself out about eating healthy all day long leading up to the meal.
Holiday events such as family gatherings tend to be filled with a lot of food and drink that is not healthy for you, so it is important not to put pressure on yourself to eat healthily. If you do choose to have some foods that aren’t as healthy, just keep the portion size down and then continue eating healthily afterward.
For anyone with an eating disorder, the holidays can further put you at risk of the condition worsening during the holiday season therefore in any holiday event ensure that you try to maintain a healthy diet.
What is an eating disorder?
Binge eating disorder is also another disorder that is similar to anorexia and bulimia which involves uncontrolled eating of large amounts of food in a short period.
Eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other ailments like anorexia nervosa contribute significantly to the rates of early death among individuals who acquire them. Electrolyte imbalances, cardiac problems, and other medical conditions caused by eating disorders are listed in the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) as additional causes of mortality.
The holiday season is a tough time for many people who suffer from eating disorders because of the abundance of food during this time. This makes it difficult for some individuals to keep their disorder under control, which could lead to a worsening of their condition.
Many people are aware that they should watch what they eat during the holidays, but this does not come easily for those suffering from an eating disorder. “When it comes to the holidays, many individuals are aware that they should eat carefully, yet with an eating problem, this is not always easy,” Susan Albers, Psy.D., author of “Eating Mindfully” and a clinical psychologist at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio says.
Skipping meals is also another eating disorder that is underrated this is usually seen in people struggling with weight loss and their general body weight, this involve food that is either less of no food at all and the person starves.
Eating disorder recovery
These are programs that are available to help individuals avoid the problems associated with the holiday season. There are also support groups for family members of people struggling with an eating disorder so they can better understand what their loved one is going through and how to best help them get better. Eating disorder treatment of co-occurring disorders such as food addiction and compulsive eating is also generally done through the use of a 12-step approach.
Talking to a friend about getting mental health help
It’s important for individuals with an eating disorder to recognize that they shouldn’t feel bad or embarrassed if their condition requires them to get help from a professional. Seeking care shouldn’t be viewed as a sign of weakness or that they are crazy.
The first step towards recovery should be to find someone close to them that they trust and feel comfortable talking to about their condition. If you know what kind of mental health treatment your loved one needs, you can help them figure out the right professional for this type of care.
The role of a friend or family member in a person’s recovery is to be supportive and understanding of the fact that they have a serious problem. This means being patient with them, listening without judgment, and being encouraging without adding pressure.
It is also important to not assume that everybody knows what your loved one is, being supportive and encouraging, making sure they understand how much you care about them and want them to get better, and helping them fix any problems that arise as a result of their disorder.
Families may assist their loved ones in receiving mental health therapy by assisting them with transportation and encouraging them to continue on the treatment program (Albers, 2010).
It is also critical to ensure that your loved one takes his or her drugs since it helps to minimize cravings, avoid relapse, and boost the chances of completing a rehabilitation program.
Talking to a friend about getting mental health help It’s also important for family members not to take the disorder personally, remind themselves that they have done nothing wrong, and try their best not to blame themselves for what their loved one is going through. This makes it easier for them to provide support without adding pressure.
Supporting a teenager with eating disorders
Adolescent girls and boys with eating disorders are at risk of developing social withdrawal, which is a serious condition that can have devastating consequences.
The main problem with being socially withdrawn is that it makes your mental health condition worse since it reduces the chances of you receiving help from family members and friends who understand what you are going through.
Parents should therefore do whatever they can to try and prevent their daughter or son from becoming socially withdrawn, including involving them in as many activities as possible so long as they don’t involve food. Parents should also encourage healthy habits such as healthy eating and exercising by limiting their children’s computer time and getting them involved in fun hobbies.
If your child has an eating disorder, it could be helpful for you to join a support group specifically created for parents whose loved one has the condition. It is also important for parents to realize that their child isn’t in control of their eating disorder and they can’t force them to get well simply by demanding it. Parents should avoid getting angry when their children relapse since this will only add fuel to the fire and increase conflict.
A child who relapses may require professional assistance, which could be provided by a therapist or psychiatrist experienced with helping teenagers recover from eating disorders (Albers, 2010). Many parents discover that connecting with other parents who are going through the same thing helps them better understand their child’s condition and how to best support him or her.
It’s crucial to realize that anorexia nervosa is a mental illness as well as a physical problem. There are many people who suffer from eating issues but do not receive treatment because the expense of professional health care in the United States may be prohibitively costly for some individuals (Koke et al., 2010).
If your friend or family member is in the United States and cannot afford to receive treatment for their eating disorder, you may offer them your full support without pushing them into accepting assistance since receiving meals from someone who cares about them may make them feel worse about themselves.
Coping skills to avoid ED
There are some coping skills that one can use to avoid eating disorders, including relaxation skills, distraction methods, meditation or mindfulness techniques, interpersonal support, and problem-solving strategies.
It’s also important for teenagers to manage their emotions since they can lead to risky behavior such as self-harm. Teenagers should therefore learn how to use healthy coping mechanisms such as talking about your problems with a friend or doctor (e.g., a therapist or psychiatrist), listening to music, exercising, spending time in nature, playing sports, and reading books.
The following list contains additional coping strategies for teenagers with eating disorders to consider: taking deep breaths when you feel the urge to engage in eating disorder behaviors such as self-harm, controlling food intake by counting calories or grams, distracting yourself from eating disorder thoughts by engaging in a hobby such as painting or playing a musical instrument, seeking help from a doctor through the use of effective communication skills, identifying how you can be proactive when an eating disorder thought occurs, and taking time to relax when experiencing anxiety.
How to avoid eating disorders during the holiday season
Avoiding eating disorders during the holiday season is no easy task, especially when you consider how much emphasis American culture places on food. It’s often difficult for teenagers to resist eating disorders triggers during the holidays because of all the parties they go to where everyone eats lots of delicious foods.
Creating a list of people you trust
If you’re worried about being able to avoid eating disorders during the holiday, consider making a list of people you can trust who will encourage you to eat healthily and not engage in any disordered eating behaviors. Being around supportive people is crucial for those struggling with eating disorders because they remind them that there are times where they must eat and it’s okay to do so (Koke et al., 2010).
Talking to a trusted person about your eating disorder is also recommended since they will likely encourage you to eat healthy foods when you’re around them. Other helpful strategies include asking friends and family members not to bring up negative topics such as dieting because these may trigger your eating disorders thoughts.
How family members can help
Regardless of how you choose to avoid eating disorders during the holiday season, it’s also important that your family understands the challenges associated with this time of year. Family members can help ease these pressures by setting up an action plan for dealing with too much stress. Another important strategy includes talking to your family about things they can do or say that will help you avoid eating disorders during the holidays.
Coping with holiday stress
It’s important to remember that it’s normal for teenagers to feel stressed from time to time, especially around the holidays. If you’re struggling with avoiding EDs during the holiday season, consider talking to a doctor or therapist about your feelings of stress and anxiety so you can build up your coping skills.
Symptoms of eating disorders
The symptoms are loss of menstrual period in girls and women and decreased libido and impotence in boys and men. You might choose to avoid eating disorders during the holiday season by learning relaxation skills such as yoga or meditation, changing your diet (for example by reducing caloric intake), exercising at least 30 minutes per day, discussing feelings of stress or anxiety with a doctor or therapist, eating at least three small meals per day, and being mindful by taking deep breaths when you feel the urge to engage in eating disorder behaviors such as self-harm or controlling food intake by counting calories or grams.
