Dealing with Pre-Thanksgiving Anxiety

​Thanksgiving is right around the corner and for those struggling with Eating Disorders and body image, your anxiety may be increasing the closer we get!
 
A lot of thoughts, feelings and experiences tend to come up around this holiday such as; how am I going to deal with comments my family members make? How am I going to feel around the food? How am I going to eat? Am I going to end up binging? Should I not eat the day before to earn the Thanksgiving dinner? I hope no one brings my favorite dessert so I don’t have to have it! Will my family pay extra attention to my plate? What happens when my aunt loudly exclaims how full she is and how “bad” she is for eating that much?
 
This is not even a snapshot of a person’s brain who struggles with an Eating Disorder. In all honestly, just typing that caused me anxiety! Imagine being deep in the struggles of your Eating Disorder and having these thoughts racing around your mind!
 
Here are some tips to help in your preparation for Thanksgiving!

• Self-talk: Lots and lots of self talk can be so helpful when your brain is going a million miles a minute. Remind yourself that you have permission to eat, you will get through the holiday, you have the means to cope and you will be ok. Having a hard time with this? Think of the things you would say to a loved one if this is what they’re struggling with…now say them to yourself.
• Cope: I just posted a video about creating a coping box. Make sure you get this set up soon so that it’s ready for you on and around the holiday. If you’re going to be at a family member’s house, take something from your box with you so that you can use it if your anxiety amps up.
  
• Have a support person: Is there someone in your family who really is helpful? Ahead of time, ask them to be your support person. Ask if they will be willing to check in with you throughout the day and perhaps even talk privately with you if needed at any time.
• Express gratitude: Here’s an awesome thing to do! Gratitude is one of the biggest recommendations I give to my clients. When you are experiencing and expressing gratitude, it makes it so that you are not experiencing the negative emotions, even just for a moment. Ideally, this will help you increase your positivity for the day. So, throughout the day, challenge yourself to come up with 3 different things that you’re grateful for!
• Get involved: Be involved in the food preparation. I know this can be scary, but try to make it a fun experience with your loved ones. Also, it’s ok to snack on the food as you’re cooking. After all, that’s what all the best cooks do!

 
Remember, this is a holiday that is meant to be an enjoyable one for you. It’s supposed to be a time filled with family, friends, love and gratitude. How can you make this Thanksgiving a good one?
 
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I need your help to spread that message and to help protect the future generations. I want to share your stories to help spread this message also! Please, if you feel comfortable, sharing your story, I would love to hear them. If you’d like, I would love to share them here also. No matter what part of your journey you’re in, your story can help others! Let’s build this recovery and prevention community!
 
Do you have any more tips for Thanksgiving prep with an Eating Disorder? You can send me your thoughts by commenting here, DM-ing me on Instagram or sending me an E-mail!

I wish you wellness on your way to finding your State of Balance!

You can also check out my YouTube channel for more inspiration!

Here are some videos on dealing with family members and on dealing with food on Thanksgiving!

HAVE A WONDERFUL & HAPPY THANKSGIVING!