Navigating Body Image and Eating Disorder Recovery Over the Holidays

​By Javoni Cobb, Eating Disorder Recovery Coach at The Eating Disorder Center

I’ve been thinking about how we navigate our families during the holidays while in eating disorder recovery. This time of year is difficult for so many facing their own struggles. The holidays seem to amplify those challenges for many struggling in their relationship to food and their body. From the triggers of seeing the overwhelming amount of food on the table to hearing everyone talk about how many calories are in the meal, the holidays have come to feel like an uphill battle.

​It can be overwhelming to think about all the factors affecting recovery during the holidays. Your attempt at body neutrality may have been met with your peers discussing weight loss plans for the new year. 

You’ve become anxious about how to show up in spaces you know are triggering. You want to make memories with your family but are nervous about how you'll approach difficult situations.

If these are feelings and thoughts you share, I want to offer a mentality and a way of thinking that can change how you approach your body and deal with the triggers surrounding it. ​

What Do YOU Want This Holiday?

I know this sounds weird, but your body belongs to you. I know we don’t say this often, but we sometimes function as if our bodies are for the consumption of others. We enter and then live in this performative space in our bodies instead of determining what we want for our own bodies. It’s okay to redirect comments about your body and pivot conversations about bodies that seem to be on the verge of spiral. We can be leaders in this way. We don’t have to succumb to our triggers. We can learn how to address the situations and the people that trigger us. 
 
Imagine that for the next holiday you woke up worried about whether your aunt would mention the new diet she’s on or if anyone would notice the changes in your body. These thoughts have turned into full blown anxiety. You look in your closet to search for the outfit that will hide the negative body image, fear, and disordered eating. 
 
Before you pick out your clothes, grab your journal and sit on the bed and ask yourself why this holiday is important to you? What do you want to remember about this holiday? How do you want to show up for yourself today? 
 
Slowing down and asking these questions allows you to consider the meaning behind why you participate. It can also help you to set an intention for yourself that’s consistent with your recovery goals.
 
You may decide to put on the outfit that makes you feel comfortable — or that outfit that gives you the courage to advocate for yourself. You might put a reminder on your phone that you have the power to choose food that tastes good and nourishes you, even if your eating disorder has other ideas.

Honor Your Limits 
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Before you attend any holiday celebrations, have a conversation with yourself about what is too much for you. Too much can be conversations about food, weight, body appearance, dieting, or anything that feels triggering to you. 
Also, think about things that you won’t participate in during this holiday season, such as conversations about other people’s bodies. With this awareness, you can make a plan for how to cope with triggering situations that might come up. For example, you can redirect the conversation if others bring up weight, or step away for a bit if you need to. 

By reflecting on your values and limits ahead of time, you can honor your recovery needs while still connecting with family and friends in a meaningful way. This intentional approach can make the holiday feel more manageable, allowing you to focus on creating the experiences and memories that truly matter. Here’s to a bright and fulfilling year ahead!

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Full Recovery From an Eating Disorder is Possible!

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The Eating Disorder Center is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin. We specialize in helping children, teens, and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, OSFED, and body image issues. We provide eating disorder therapy in Rockville, MD, easily accessible to individuals in Potomac, North Potomac, Bethesda, Olney, Silver Spring, Germantown, and Washington D.C. We also provide eating disorder therapy in Arlington, Virginia and virtually throughout Virginia. Additionally, we offer eating disorder therapy virtually in New York (NYC), Florida, Pennsylvania, and California. We provide eating disorder and EMDR trauma therapy in Rockville, Maryland and virtually throughout Maryland and Virginia. We provide eating disorder recovery coaching via Zoom to people worldwide. Connect with us through our website at www.theeatingdisordercenter.com