Staying abstinent from an Eating Disorder through the Holidays....

You can tell the Holidays are approaching The Victorian in Newport Beach when the blazing coastal sun is cooled by the fall chill and the clients ditch their flip flops for Uggs. Ah, the Holidays! A very merry and scary time of the year considering the Holidays are focused around two very triggering things: Family and Food. But in eating disorder recovery we offer hope. The hope being that there are things we can do to keep our abstinence and sanity this Holiday Season 2010. The hope is BOUNDARIES. Yes, big emotional and physical boundaries. Check out some of these boundaries before you take a slice of pumpkin pie….

1. Supportive Pie – Think about being at the dessert table with the option of picking one of the assortments of pies. There’s apple pie, cherry pie, pumpkin pie and then there is some moldy pie with ants crawling all over it. Which pie are you going to go for? Please tell me you will NOT for for the moldy pie obviously because it will make you sick…..Think of this pie choosing analogy when you select who you are going to spend time with over the holidays. Are the people you’re spending time with going to pull you back into your disease and make you sick? Are your parents judgmental and critical? Is the emotional baggage that comes with being with these people going to cause you to relapse? If so, then don’t chose that pie. You deserve the best and you deserve to make wise and healthy decisions for yourself.
2. Under the Mistle Toe- When we think of the holidays we think of places of celebration, parties and people kissing under the mistle toe. Sadly, however a lot of the places we used to go for holidays don’t bring us great mistel toe memories…..Hanging out in a bar, with others in their addictions and at parties where alcohol will be served can be triggering. Put up your boundaries and protect yourself. Avoid environments that might tempt you to return to your past bad habits. If you have stopped drinking, don't go to holiday parties at bars or even homes where alcohol will be a major focus. Politely decline. Your health and lifestyle are more important than social obligations.
3. Strolling through the leaves  – Fall and Winter are great times for soothing walks because the air feels so crisp and enchanting…. When times get stressful with the family and friends take yourself on a de-stressful walk. Take a deep breath and just get out of the house. Call your sponsor or a friend and ask them to blow off steam with you as you walk.
4. Christmas Carole – There is something fond about the tradition of reading the Christmas Carole year after year. It’s our own tradition that reminds us of gathering with people we love. This year start your own tradition. Start knitting, having bon fires with friends, writing or taking an art class. Own the Holidays for the good and the bad and stick it out with your creativity. You can create your own Holiday you just have to do it!