Valentine’s Day is associated with love, romance, and an occasional giant teddy bear. While the idea of the holiday is about feeling an abundance of love and sharing that with others, it can often be a challenging and lonely day, especially in recovery from an eating disorder.
By: Cait Berosh
This Valentine’s Day, it may be helpful to shift your thinking to caring for yourself in a loving way. Prioritizing yourself and your recovery this season can help to ensure you feel all the love you deserve on this day.
The tips below can help you set boundaries and care for yourself this holiday season.
Acknowledge the Difficulties of This Season
Spend time reflecting on ways to anticipate this time, especially if it feels challenging. It may be helpful to journal on this idea or talk it through with a strong supporter, such as a therapist.
Set Expectations for Gifts
Gifts are often a large part of Valentine’s Day. So, if you are exchanging gifts with someone, set boundaries around what you want to give and receive.
Discuss the Ways You Most Feel Loved
For many people, physical touch and intimacy can be challenging experiences. Similarly, showing love through food may also be very difficult for those in eating disorder recovery. This year, find other ways to feel and express love with your partner and loved one. Communicating your needs in this way can be helpful on Valentine’s Day and beyond.
Make a Plan for Valentine’s Day
Whether you want to stay home and watch your favorite movie, spend time with family or friends, or do something special with your partner, decide ahead of time. Choose what will be most beneficial to you and work to create a plan for the day.
- Ask yourself specifics to create a plan that will best serve you. If you are going to watch a movie, which movie? If you are going to spend time with your friends, what are you going to do? If you are going to do something with your partner, what activity will you do?
- When creating a plan, set clear expectations about what you would feel comfortable doing on this day and discuss specific things you would like to avoid with those involved.
- Some ideas for plans you can do on your own include making a craft, doing a puzzle, reading a book, going for a walk, listening to your favorite playlist or podcast, or taking a long bath or shower.
Setting boundaries and coping ahead is a form of love, a way to protect your heart and peace. Remember, Valentine’s Day is challenging for many individuals, both those in eating disorder recovery and those not. You are not alone through this period and are worthy of feeling loved this season.
At BALANCE eating disorder treatment center™, our compassionate, highly skilled team of clinicians is trained in diagnosing and treating the spectrum of eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating, and other disordered eating and body image issues. In addition to our full-time Day Treatment Program and Weeknight Intensive Outpatient Program, we offer high-quality programming, nutrition counseling with a licensed dietitian, meal support, and various other groups and resources to help those seeking help for food concerns.
Our admissions team would be happy to answer any questions you may have about our programs and services. Book a free consultation call with our admissions team below, or read more about our philosophy here.
This post was written by BALANCE Social Work Intern, Cait Berosh (she/her).
Cait is currently finishing her Master of Social Work at Columbia University and holds a B.S. in Nutrition from the University of Tennessee. Cait is passionate about helping individuals find their confidence and self-esteem to create a healthy relationship with their body, themselves, and others. Specifically, she aims to fight against diet culture and create spaces that are rooted in authenticity and community. Cait’s main goal in her work is to help others feel supported, seen, and validated in their experiences. After graduating this May, she plans to work with adolescent and young adult women, specifically concerning eating disorders, body image, life transitions, and self-esteem. Cait is excited to learn from the incredible team at BALANCE and support clients on their recovery journeys this year.
