Of course, this doesn't have to be the case and there are many ways to keep yourself away from triggering situations and being able to bring your heart rate back down in a reasonable manner. It isn't easy by any means. Thanksgiving and Christmas used to be my favorite holidays and I would count down the days until they arrived but now it's a different story. My countdown is more towards when they are over and I can go back to my comfort zone. I am trying though, I'm doing a lot of article reading that has been sent my way, Bible reading (like A LOT), talking with friends, allowing myself to eat the cookie and keeping my focus off of me and on others as well as Jesus.
I just want to encourage everyone who finds themselves in this boat that you CAN MAKE IT! Take it one day at a time, that's all. Don't worry about Christmas Eve dinner today because it's only Wednesday. Keep positive thoughts flowing constantly, post them around your room and bathroom, write them on your arm, put them in your wallet! Negativity will not help so just steer clear of it. I have survived several Christmas's and Thanksgiving's when I didn't think I would make it out alive and I plan on surviving this one as well but I plan on surviving AND enjoying myself a little bit more too. You should try it :)
The last three weeks in group we have been going over holiday survival! LOVE IT! I'm going to share with ya'll the do's and don'ts of the holidays! Anything in ()'s is a side note by me that I have found to help!
DO:
- Stay on your regular sleep schedule as best you can.
- Eat every few hours, regardless. (accountability in this area is a good idea. find someone who can love you still even if you get angry at them for asking)
- Drink 8 ounces of water, at least four glasses per day. (Set an alarm on your phone to go off a few times a day. When mine goes off it says, "Are you drinking water?")
- Get fresh air, take walks or just go outside for 10 minutes every so often.
- Practice mindfulness at least five times a day.
- Notice when you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed or overly anxious, take preventative measures to reduce these feelings as best you can.
DON'T:
- Forget to breath. (I find that I need to back away from the situation, go to a different room and literally breath in and out for a while)
- Drink too much caffeine. (I have a * by this one)
- Get too hungry, you will be more likely to restrict or binge. (another * by this one)
- Over schedule yourself, prioritize and try to get yourself appropriate time to transition from one thing to another.
- Get lost in expectations and 'should be's' and focus on what really is.
- Make any major decisions over the holidays. Wait until the second week of January. (I was going to get my nose pierced, then I read this...)
I have also given you a few REALLY good articles that have pointers too. These are articles from authors of books I've read and blogs that I follow from eating disorder specialists and centers. No need to read them all but know they are here for you. Also, remember that you aren't the only one who is freaking out about the Christmas cookies and fudge sitting in the kitchen right now. There's a lot of us and a lot of people who aren't freaking out anymore because they overcame this! So hang in there, hold your head up high and (ps my water alarm just went off ;) tackle today and today only.
I love you and so does Jesus! :)
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