Holiday Triggers & Relapse Risks
As Hanukkah, Christmas, Boxing Day, Kwanzaa, and New Years days are upon us, we are surrounded with gatherings, activities and food. This is a particularly difficult time in general if you have to spend time with people who may critical or toxic, or are opinionated about your eating or how much you eat.
This is a time when it benefits to have someone who is supportive and understands about your eating disorder and the unique challenges you may have at this time of year who can help to ground you or even redirect conversations away from your eating or food to other topics.
Maybe this is a time of loss and grief or difficult memories from trauma, which impacts your eating as well.
How do you manage the triggers you experience at this time of the year?
What do you need to pay attention to with your risk of relapse with the progress you have made? Some areas of relapse include:
- Nutritional/weight/dietary
- Behavioral
- Emotional
- Thoughts/Cognitions
- Physical
- Social/Relational/Interpersonal
If you notice these as something you've been struggling with recently, what are some coping skills that you have or can pull back out that you've learned or has helped you in the past? Some to consider:
- Emotion Regulation
- Distress Tolerance
- Self-Care
- Grounding
- Mindfulness
- CBT Skills
- Humor
- Gratitudes
- Support system
- Other things
I'd love to hear your thoughts.
@KristenHR i have intensified fear of allergic reaction as i will have higher histamine intake for a few days. I´m coping usually by drinking a lot of water to help my body flush it out but this time i´m sick so can´t really have water. Trying my best to at least have tea but we will see how it will go. Family is ok, despite being pressured a bit i can stand my ground there
@sadcat13
I hate hearing that you are sick and are struggling there. I'm really glad to hear that you are able to hold your ground with family. It makes easier when you can hold your ground. It's hard when the pressure is that where you just shut down.
Sending you positive and healing thoughts.
@KristenHR thank you. My mind is my worst enemy. I can manage my outside pressures, they are not that intensive. Just within reasonable worry of being underweight. But i wish i had a mute button on my brain. It is starting to play it´s favourite tape of you will have an allergic reaction and die from this. I really need a mute now that i can´t drink water due to sickness.
