Thanksgiving in Recovery
While the start of the holiday season is often exciting and eagerly anticipated, it can also bring about its challenges, particularly for those in recovery. Thanksgiving is a holiday that is often defined by the preparation of a large meal to share with family and friends, but for those who are recovering from an eating disorder, this meal can cause much anxiety. Despite these anxieties, there are steps you can take to ensure you have a positive Thanksgiving with your loved ones.
Thanksgiving celebrations are often focused on sharing a meal with family and friends. These gatherings can be times to catch up with relatives or friends that you may rarely see throughout the year. However, Thanksgiving can often center around diet culture and language, which can be particularly harmful to someone in recovery. For example, when surrounded by family, it can be easy for the conversation to turn to complementing each other's weight loss or discussing why they are refusing to partake in dessert because they gained weight, and are on a diet or are “being good.” This type of language can be particularly triggering for individuals in recovery, so it is important to prepare for the holiday and focus on your own plate during this time.
Have a support system ready.
Surround yourself with trusted family and friends to help you navigate the holiday. Often conversing with family members over the dinner table can be stressful, especially if these family members are unaware or unfamiliar with supporting someone in recovery. They might unknowingly ask challenging questions or make triggering remarks, so it is important to surround yourself with trusted individuals who can help you navigate these questions and support you. Having a support system in place will help remind you that you do not need to deal with these challenges alone. It’s okay to set boundaries if needed, and it’s okay to leave conversations if you feel as though the conversation has become too difficult. It’s also okay if you need to step away from the table to take time for yourself. Practicing mindfulness and affirmations will help you to focus on yourself during this time.
Practice Intuitive Eating.
When bringing out the Thanksgiving feast, it is important to remember that there are no "good" or "bad" foods. Practice intuitive eating by listening to your body, and remember that portioning your food is up to you. Whatever amount of food you feel comfortable with is okay, and you do not have to compare yourself with anyone else at the table. Remember to eat throughout the day as well. Many people often restrict themselves from eating during the day to “save themselves” for dinner, but this restricting mindset can be harmful.
While Thanksgiving can be a challenging time for those in recovery, preparing for the meal and having a support system in place might make it easier to navigate and relax and enjoy the holiday. Remember that Thanksgiving is not only about the food, it is also about being grateful and giving thanks. Practicing mindfulness and gratitude will help you focus on yourself and feel more comfortable entering into the holiday season.
Sources:
Chandler. (2021, November 15). How to Navigate Diet Culture During Thanksgiving. Eating Disorder Hope. https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/blog/how-to-navigate-diet-culture-during-thanksgiving
Hunnicutt, C. (2021, November 18). Navigating Thanksgiving with an Eating Disorder – Tips for Individuals and Families. Monte Nido. https://www.montenido.com/eating-disorder-navigating-thanksgiving/
Moore, P. (2021, November 12). Thanksgiving means family, food—And plenty of harmful diet talk. Here’s how to deal with it. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/thanksgiving-weight-diet-talk-advice/2021/11/08/2d4c4a3e-4007-11ec-9ea7-3eb2406a2e24_story.html
Navigating Thanksgiving When You Have an Eating Disorder. (n.d.). Kindful Body. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.kindfulbody.com/blog/navigating-thanksgiving-in-eating-disorder-recovery
Waitt, S. (2017, November 23). 7 Tips for Getting Through Thanksgiving in Eating Disorder Recovery. National Eating Disorders Association. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/blog/7-tips-getting-through-thanksgiving-eating-disorder-recovery