[Porcelain_doll_2004]

Making a plan of what you will do ahead of time, may be a good idea to help you cope during these stressful times. Below is a list of a few things that may help you during the holidays:

• Make a list of things you can do to help relax and distract yourself from the feelings of fullness after a big meal. e.g. go for a walk, take a bath, read, visit a friend, go for a drive, etc.
• Have the phone numbers of friends and crisis lines available to you.
• If you have to be at a function with certain people who make you uncomfortable, plan ways to excuse yourself from their immediate presence.
• Try not to count calories and try to avoid the scale.
• If you feel yourself starting to panic because you are feeling too full or if you allowed yourself to eat foods that you consider to be forbidden, remind yourself it is okay to eat what you did, that food will not make you fat, and it is only normal to eat more during the holidays. Most people do and it really is okay.
• If you have a period where you end up bingeing or purging, do not beat yourself up over it. Just put it behind you and move forward.
• Prepare responses to make to people who may say something to you that would make you uncomfortable.
• If you feel you need to, set some boundaries for yourself by telling people ahead of time that you do not want anyone to comment on your appearance or your eating.
• Be sure to plan some time for yourself to do something that you enjoy. It is very important to take special care of yourself during the holidays.

These are from the website http://www.mirror-mirror.org/holiday.htm

There is more info out there.

Hope this helps

~Doll~

[jamox01]

Thanks so much Porcelain! I am in therapy for an ed and have put together a plan for the holidays and I'm going to add this to it. Again, thank you so much!

Happy Thanksgiving!

J

Hi Doll ,

Great list. I do remember how difficult those times were for me . Just a memory away. All of the suggestions ring true . They were very lonely times . I was lucky to have a couple of close women In my OA group who I could call at any time . And I did pick up the phone.

Intresting how this centers around the need for an ESCAPE.

Distraction is the magic key for me. Do anything to get your mind off the track its on . To change the tape. turn off the sound. Its a mood or an emotion that sets the wheels in motion . Even if its really listening to the other people sitting at the table . Just as long as the talk is not negative .

Meditation was always recomended for me . I was not able to use that .To complicated for me ..LOL!!!!!! or should I say too much of an open window in my head for the thoughts to remain there.

It had to be something that would "Interupt abruptly " enough that 15 Minutes would pass and what ever emotion that got me there usually would dissapeare and the need to follow through would be gone .

Have some games around . Get a game of cards going something that will distract family members as well.

Animals . the best . Dogs especially to hug and touch . Funny movies .

Aurora

[Porcelain_doll_2004]

Thanks for those ideas. I will keep them in mind and hopefully they will help others also.

Doll

Originally Posted by Porcelain_doll_2004

Thanks for those ideas. I will keep them in mind and hopefully they will help others also.

Doll

Oh I plumb forgot.

Go out in some deserted field with head phones and dance .

Just pretend that no one can see you or is watching.

Aurora

[bchlyn]

ty... i am really struggling with the hoidays this year... guess i will think about a plan...lyn

Originally Posted by Porcelain_doll_2004

Making a plan of what you will do ahead of time, may be a good idea to help you cope during these stressful times. Below is a list of a few things that may help you during the holidays:

• Make a list of things you can do to help relax and distract yourself from the feelings of fullness after a big meal. e.g. go for a walk, take a bath, read, visit a friend, go for a drive, etc.
• Have the phone numbers of friends and crisis lines available to you.
• If you have to be at a function with certain people who make you uncomfortable, plan ways to excuse yourself from their immediate presence.
• Try not to count calories and try to avoid the scale.
• If you feel yourself starting to panic because you are feeling too full or if you allowed yourself to eat foods that you consider to be forbidden, remind yourself it is okay to eat what you did, that food will not make you fat, and it is only normal to eat more during the holidays. Most people do and it really is okay.
• If you have a period where you end up bingeing or purging, do not beat yourself up over it. Just put it behind you and move forward.
• Prepare responses to make to people who may say something to you that would make you uncomfortable.
• If you feel you need to, set some boundaries for yourself by telling people ahead of time that you do not want anyone to comment on your appearance or your eating.
• Be sure to plan some time for yourself to do something that you enjoy. It is very important to take special care of yourself during the holidays.

These are from the website http://www.mirror-mirror.org/holiday.htm

There is more info out there.

Hope this helps

~Doll~

[Porcelain_doll_2004]

Moving this up due to the 4th of July.

Doll

[Porcelain_doll_2004]

This is a old post that I am pulling up for the newer people or old people at PC to be able to support healing. this was a post I made when i was running the ED chat.

Doll

[real life 11]

• If you have a period where you end up bingeing or purging, do not beat yourself up over it. Just put it behind you and move forward

<-- How do you do this? How do people put a binge or purge behind them ?Any suggestions that people can give are appreciated

Thanks!

thanks for the list!

extremely helpful

[eskielover]

Originally Posted by real life 11

• If you have a period where you end up bingeing or purging, do not beat yourself up over it. Just put it behind you and move forward

<-- How do you do this? How do people put a binge or purge behind them ?Any suggestions that people can give are appreciated

Thanks!

Basically it's like what we learn in DBT......accept that it happened. Accepting that it happened & that you did it doesn't mean that you accept it was the right thing to do....but you also don't hold onto the fact that you did it.....it's in the past after doing it.....let it be just that....the fact you did it....it's over, & hold onto the drive to not continue doing it.

It's sort of like when you are working on a project with a hammer & slam your finger with it while trying to hit the nail......you remember that you have hit your thumb because it's something that hurt....but it's not something that you want to continue doing.....you let go of it as being something not good that you did but you don't continue to beat yourself up over having smashed your thumb with the hammer.....& you go on working on the project being more careful in the future with the hammer. Yes, you hit your thumb with the hammer....it wasn't a wise thing to do. You go on with life knowing that you have to be more careful in the future when using the hammer....but you just keep on living your life.

[JayneDough!]

Originally Posted by Porcelain_doll_2004

Below is a list of a few things that may help you during the holidays:

• Try not to count calories and try to avoid the scale.

There is more info out there.
~Doll~

I think counting calories actually helps. I went out with friends over the weekend and didn't write in my calorie journal as I was eating and ended up panicin, not being able to sleep, and evenutally getting up to vomit.

When I totaled up my calories the next day it only came to 1723. Even though I usually only eat 1000/day 1700 isn't as bad as it felt when I didn't know how much I had put in my mouth; to me it felt like 3600, so I vomited.