Christmas is supposed to be the happiest time of the year, but for anyone suffering from an eating disorder it’s a time of high stress. In fact, holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving (if you celebrate that), and Easter are actually scary and are something someone with an eating disorder dreads because it means having to face food. For these holidays, meals together are an important family tradition so that can make it all the more daunting. Here’s what it’s like surviving Christmas with an eating disorder.
Content Warning: If the topic of eating disorders triggers you, click off this blog post. Full disclaimer: I am not a mental health professional. I am simply someone with lived experience sharing my story. If you are struggling with an eating disorder, please reach out to a professional for help.
For Those Surviving Christmas With An Eating Disorder
For anyone suffering, try to remember how awful it feels when you’re engaging in eating disorder behaviours. I’ve also avoided going out or spending time with people for fear of having to eat, and ’tis the season of family gatherings so try to keep in mind that you’ll be missing out if you avoid spending time with others.
Being “skinny” wont make you happier, if anything it will just make you miserable. I understand that it is a massive struggle though, but I encourage anyone suffering to mind themselves over the holidays. Your body needs love and nourishment and I hope you give it that.
For Loved Ones
If you know someone with an eating disorder please don’t tell them things like they’re being difficult or “ruining Christmas.” Understand that it is a very stressful time, and they don’t mean or want to be a burden. Be calm, and encouraging. I understand that you might be worried too and it could come across as anger, but I think patience is key here. Don’t comment on their weight. Don’t say “wow you’re eating so much/little.”
The Final Word On Eating Disorders & Christmas
Trying to recover from an eating disorder is the scariest thing in the world. For many it’s a coping mechanism for when you feel like you don’t have control over yourself and life, so recovery also means facing other issues too. There’s also the fear of weight gain, I once felt that gaining the slightest bit of weight was terrifying but when I did I found that it wasn’t the worst thing ever, and physically I felt miles better.
Talk to friends, family, and mental health professionals about how you feel, try to “challenge” your eating disorder and remember that food is meant to nourish you; it’s not the enemy. Your “eating disorder voice” is not telling you the truth so remind yourself of that, try to see a professional if possible.
Mind yourself, and I hope you make the best of the holidays, and know that surviving Christmas was an eating disorder is hard, but not impossible. I believe in you.
Here are ways to mind your mental health, and self-care tips.
If you’re struggling with surviving Christmas with an eating disorder, reach out to services such as Bodywhys.
Thank you for writing this, it is really helpful.｡*:☆(・ω・人・ω・)｡:゜☆｡
As for me i put on 12 pounds in November and then starve myself in Christmas. Working on that.
Glad it helped, I hope you enjoy Christmas and mind yourself over the holidays
I’m new here and my only goal is to just be able to talk about what I have gone through and continue to go through. I’m really glad that I came across your post because it’s important to me to be able to read what other people have to say about what I’ve never been brave enough to talk about. I know how overwhelming this time of the year can be in all ways, but worrying about something as seemingly simple as eating amplifies that stress times a hundred. I can tell from reading this that things won’t be easy for you this holiday season, but I sincerely hope that you make it through feeling stronger every day. Thank you for helping me.
Wow thank you, it’s really hard to open up about it but hearing others say it helped them makes it so worth it. Hope you got though the holidays okay