supporting a loved one with an eating disorder over the holidays
The holidays can be an exciting time. It is an opportunity to spend time with friends and family, reconnect with loved ones, and enjoy the season. While this time can be a happy, joyous time of year, it can also come with a lot of stress and anxiety. This season can be especially challenging for someone struggling with an eating disorder.
Increased stress, a lot of food, and reconnecting with people we have not seen in a while can be overwhelming. When someone is struggling with an eating disorder, the stress that comes with the holidays, and even the joys, can make it harder to stick to recovery and avoid behaviors. It can be challenging to know how to best support a loved one with an eating disorder over the holidays, but it is beneficial to equip yourself with tools and educate yourself.
These are some helpful tips to help you support your family, friends, and loved ones:
Maintain An Open Conversation
Check-in with your loved ones every so often and ask if there are ways you can support them. Be patient and listen to what they are feeling without expressing judgment. If you know a loved one may be in a triggering situation, reaching out can be very beneficial.
Be Mindful of Conversation Topics
Holidays are a time with a lot of food, group meals, and conversation. It is important to be mindful of how we talk about size, weight, shape, and food. As a society, we are deeply entrenched in diet culture, which often shows up in casual conversation. Try to avoid making comments your loved one may find triggering, like mentioning the number of calories in a dish, needing to exercise to burn off the meals, or skipping a meal to compensate for dinner.
Be Inclusive
Look for ways to include your loved one outside of mealtimes. Try to plan activities that do not involve food or a lot of activity. Spend quality time together in other ways like organizing a game night or watching a movie.
Accommodate Their Schedule
If your loved one is in treatment, try to accommodate their schedule. Maybe even try to help a loved one navigate transportation and scheduling. The holidays are a great time to get away and relax, but this time can also be the most challenging. Continuing support of treatment can be essential during this season.
Reach Out
Reach out, but do not pressure your loved ones to join in on activities or meals if they are not comfortable. If they feel that they need to leave early, respect that decision. We do not want our loved ones to be alone, but we must respect each other’s boundaries.
Take Care of Yourself
Most importantly, take care of yourself! The holidays can be challenging for everyone, especially when caring for others. Find someone you will turn to for support during the holiday season. We cannot be there for others when we are not caring for ourselves. Happy holidays!
BALANCE eating disorder treatment center™, located in New York City, offers free consultation calls to help you explore next steps. We provide in-person programming seven days a week and are in-network with UnitedHealthcare (UHC), Cigna, and Oscar, with Aetna coverage coming soon. Support is available, and recovery is possible. Schedule a free consultation call with our admissions team here and stay connected with BALANCE on Instagram here.
This post was written by BALANCE Social Work Intern, Rachel Grossman (she/her).
Rachel is a graduate student at New York University pursuing her Master’s degree in Social Work. She previously graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a focus on psychopathology. Rachel previously worked conducting assessments and providing short-term counseling to children and families internationally. Rachel is passionate about supporting her clients on the journey to recovery.
