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Surviving the Holidays in Eating Disorder Recovery

Coping with stress and family pressures during the holidays

DENVER — Dec. 23, 2010—For many the holiday season is a time of joy, celebration and spending time with family. Although there is much to be celebrated, for those in eating disorder recovery the holidays are one of the most stressful times of the year.

The focus on food during the holidays creates unique challenges for those with eating disorders. When it comes to the family gatherings, there is often tension regarding the eating disordered individual’s participation. According to Dr. Eve A. Wood of the Eating Disorder Center of Denver, “Many anorexics or bulimics cannot help but feel the scrutiny of their every action around holiday eating. They sense that others are keeping a secret ledger and calculating the caloric value of every bite they consume.” The stress over eating can cause some on the path to recovery to struggle, where they will cope with their emotional discomfort by turning to their eating disordered behavior.

The best ways to cope with eating disorders during the holidays is to plan. Individuals with eating disorders need to be aware that the holidays are a busy time, and they need to focus on themselves and their personal recovery plan. By listening to ones own body and remembering what they have learned in recovery, rather than getting caught up in the stress and hectic schedules, they can come through the holidays successfully. "It's important to think of rest and food during the holidays as prescriptions for recovery," said Dr. Tamara Pryor, Ph.D., clinical director at the Eating Disorder Center of Denver.

For more information about how to get through the holidays and/or to support your loved one through the holidays (or something to this effect) please call the Eating Disorder Center of Denver at 866-771-0861, visit edcdenver.com, follow us on Twitter @EDCDenver or find us on Facebook.

About Eating Disorder Center of Denver (EDCDenver.com)
Established in 2001, Eating Disorder Center of Denver (EDCD) is one of the nation's foremost centers for the diagnosis and treatment of the full range of eating disorders.

EDCD is committed to empowering individuals 18 years of age and older suffering with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and related disorders to help them achieve and sustain recovery. A multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, physicians, clinicians, family therapists and registered dietitians work together to create a specialized, evidence-based treatment plan for each patient. For additional information about EDCD, visit www.edcdenver.com, call 303-771-0861, follow us on Twitter @EDCDenver or Friend us on Facebook.

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