Now that Halloween is officially over, the holiday season is practically in full swing. Break out your Christmas trees and your pumpkin pie recipes (I made my first one of the season last night), it's time to celebrate. But with all the joy that this season brings, it also brings a lot of stress for some people.
The holidays, Thanksgiving, in particular, are greatly centered around food. For those suffering from an eating disorder in any stage, whether they're actively engaging in behaviors or in recovery, this is very overwhelming. Large quantities of food everywhere you look plus the constant flow of conversation surrounding said food is a lot to deal with. You're expected to pig out on Thanksgiving. But it's not that simple when you have so many complex issues surrounding the control of food and calories.
Other trademark factors of the holidays compound this anxiety. Often times you're surrounded by lots of people, usually family members, some of whom you might not necessarily get along with or feel very comfortable around. Being around family can be tough for a lot of people, especially those with mental health conditions. If you've experienced some kind of trauma or loss in your family, the holidays can be a very strong reminder of all that is missing. It can be a lot, to say the least.
In the United States alone, as many as 20 million women and 10 million men will struggle with an eating disorder at some point in their lives. With statistics that high, it's incredibly likely that someone you know is or has dealt with an eating disorder. Restrictive eating disorders like anorexia nervosa can be triggered by the thought of how much food is expected to be eaten at the table and the inability to escape the calories.
Compensatory eating disorders like bulimia nervosa can be triggered by the thought of how much food will be eaten and the inevitable feelings of guilt and discomfort after the fact.
Binge eating disorder can be triggered by the availability of so much food and the normalization of such high levels of consumption.
OSFED (Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders, previously known as EDNOS, Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified), one of the most common eating disorders, can be triggered by any number of these stressors. And this is just scratching the surface of the baggage that this season carries with it for those who are sick or in recovery.
Thanksgiving continues to be an incredibly tough day for me, and the support of concerned friends and a treatment team can mean the difference between relapse and making it through. Professionals in the recovery community, as well as online recovery communities, offer a lot of helpful tips and support for making it through the day.
If you're recovering or currently in the throes of this illness, don't be afraid to reach out to a friend for some affirmation or even a distraction. If you know someone who's in one of these places, please check up on them. They might not say it, but they can definitely use an extra person in their corner today.
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, contact the NEDA helpline at (800) 931-2237, text "NEDA" to 741741, or visit the official NEDA website at www.nationaleatingdisorders.org.
SEE ALSO: "National Eating Disorder Awareness Week Should Matter To All Of Us"
