As the Texas eternal summer fades into fall-ish/ winter here in Texas I can’t help but get excited for cozy knit sweaters and scarves, holiday goodies and enjoying time with family and friends. For our clients, we know the holidays often means extra stress and plenty of triggers; excess food everywhere you turn, countless social gatherings, hectic schedules, not to mention less sun light each day which can bring its’ own struggles.  In this post I will explore some holiday tips for anyone in recovery.

Recovery is a full time job and in order to manage recovery and the holidays it’s important to look at your schedule realistically and see what you can put on the back burner for now.  You therapy appointments is not something that can wait till after the holidays! I often see clients that forget about treatment during the holidays, but that simply isn’t an option! This is the time of year when you need your treatment team the most! Saying no to obligations in order to put your recovery first, isn’t easy, but it is necessary in order to prioritize your recovery! Ask yourself if going to that holiday party will serve your healthy self, if not, skip it. If going the extra mile is typically your go to, consider sitting that one out. Prioritizing your recovery means being gentle with yourself. The last thing your eating disorder wants you to do is to be gentle with yourself and that’s exactly what you should do!

A new season is a great opportunity to create new habits and routines. Instead of focusing on past behaviors think about how you could create new habits that are promoting your recovery. This thought can bring up lots of ideas, but maybe look at where some of the harder moments you had in the past and see how you could replace those moments with structure and support. There are countless things you can do to prioritize your recovery in your daily routine; maybe hanging a quote in your car to remind you to stop for lunch, listening to a soothing playlist on your way to school, sitting with friends or teachers at school/work that have a healthy relationship with food, decorating your bedroom with art work you made in treatment, preparing to go snacks at the beginning of the week, etc. Recognize that you are in charge of your own actions and how you can you act as if recovery is your number one priority, even when it feels like the furthest thing from a priority. Getting into recovery oriented routines early in the season will make it easy to continue moving forward.

Living with an eating disorder is like living in a fog, unable to connect with the world around you. One thing I liked to think about in my own recovery, was what would “baby Kate do?” and this would especially apply to a change in seasons. Would baby Kate want to go cut down a Christmas Tree or try a favorite holiday dessert? Would baby Kate want to spend time with friends and family? Of course she would! This was a great way for me to get in touch with my soul self and what was really important to me instead of what my eating disorder wanted to do. The holiday season is a great time to challenge your recovery with new routines, new activities, and new flavors, but during change and challenges I think sticking to the basics is always key.

Prioritize your treatment, set a schedule and stick with it! Meal plan with your dietitian and supports. Keep your doctor appointments! Life will come up and threaten to shake things out of place, but committing to these basics can help you feel grounded. Stepping back from activities that do not enhance your recovery can only promote your wellness. Look at where you’ve struggled in the past, and see if you can put support in those places. Fall is a time of transition, but transition is an excellent opportunity to step up your recovery and see how you can rewrite old scripts and step into healthy change.