4 Skills For ED Teens To Eat Better For The Holidays
The holidays, a time of over indulgence and over eating. There are treats at work, treats at home, holiday parties with more treats and finally Thanksgiving dinner with, more treats. Sure this is an exercise in self-control for the average person, but for the anorexic or bulimic this time can trigger an exceptional kind of anxiety that can exacerbate or re-trigger an eating disorder making a controlled situation go out of control.
In anticipation of all the food, a teen with an eating disorder may begin to accommodate the overeating by starving themselves before the festivities begin. They may have anxiety about family and friends who mean well, but remind the anorexic teen to, eat. For the bulimic, the reverse may occur with secret overeating and hording food then purging or excessive exercise to rid of the calories.
If your teen has been doing well distracting themselves and developing a more positive body image, the thought of family who have not seen them for a whole year commenting on weight gain or loss might send them into a tail spin. Be prepared for this and have some protective measures in place for your teen.
1. Avoidance
Keep anorexic family members away from your teen or excuse yourself from those gatherings.
2. Rules
Establish rules with extended family to eliminate body image discussion or appearance with your teen. If they can’t do this well then they probably shouldn’t be around your teen, but if they can, they are part of the buffer that should help protect your teen from other family.
3. Time-out
Let your teen know they should make you aware of what they are feeling especially if they’re overwhelmed or anxious. You can even have a secret code to help remove them from stressful or anxiety producing situations (e.g. a thumbs up from across the room). Discussing the plan and establishing a back-up plan can help reduce anxiety.
4. Medical Team
Check-ins with therapists and clinicians increased as needed. These resources help hold your teen accountable as well. They also serve to echo your rules, which give you a break from being the “bad guy.”
The holidays can be stressful for several reasons although they don’t need to be. With good communication and anticipation of potential pitfalls for your eating disorder teen, you can avoid unnecessary setbacks that could have your teen restart treatment or be hospitalized over the holiday season. Your preparation will keep them healthy and safe, home with you.
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