Many people experience the shame of “out-of-control” eating. And often, when you are struggling, the cycle repeats itself, even if you don’t realize it. You may feel like you lack any semblance of willpower, and you may even feel like a bad person. Although it may not be deserved, what you are feeling is shame.
Moving your body can feel like a chore. Or it could also bring up negative feelings if you have a history of overexercising or a problematic relationship with your body. Diet culture tells us that physical activity is a means to lose weight or alter our bodies. This mentality often results in these activities feeling more like a punishment or chore than a form of self-care. However, movement can be pleasant if you adjust your mindset toward it.
Feeling caught between not wanting to recover and wanting to recover is a normal and understandable part of many people’s experience with eating disorders. This ambivalence about recovery makes sense, given the role many people’s eating disorders play in their lives.
Sunscreen, warmth from the sun, time spent by the pool, and uncontrollable laughs are ingredients in one of the most sought-after times of the year: spring break. After a long winter of coats, snow, and chilly days, spring break reminds us summer is just around the corner. While spring break can be an extremely relaxing and fun time, it can also bring about intense body image distress.
Beginning eating disorder recovery can be overwhelming. For many, beginning recovery signals an active choice to relearn the body’s cues, often the first thing to go when developing or maintaining an eating disorder. Because of this tendency to see one’s body as an enemy, learning to love your hunger cues, rest cues, energy cues, and discomfort is exhausting. And while there are many components to recovery, yoga has recently been studied for its focus on being present and listening to your body.
We live in a world that teaches us from a young age that we cannot trust our bodies. Society tells you that your body needs to be controlled, changed, or manipulated to be “good enough.” Living with these pressures can be very difficult. You are not alone if you have tried to change your body to reflect these unattainable standards; this way of operating has failed you, and you have not failed to adhere.
Ramadan is a period of religious observation from March 22nd to April 20th, 2023. The Muslim community observes Ramadan as a time for fasting, prayers, and reflection. However, Ramadan can be a triggering time for individuals with an eating disorder.
If you or someone you love struggles with food and body distress, you are not alone. Unfortunately, over 30 million Americans struggle with eating disorders. When we talk about healing, we often talk about how important recovery is, what it involves, and how you can get there. But where is there? Recovery can feel like a leap of faith into the unknown, so here are four tangible reasons to heal your relationship with food.
Each year, the National Sleep Foundation dedicates one week to spreading awareness about the importance of getting enough sleep each night. From March 12-18, they'll continue reinforcing how sleep benefits an individual's well-being. Interestingly, there has also been some research to suggest a possible link between eating disorders and sleep problems.
If someone mentions eating disorders, your brain might automatically envision a white, thin woman with thinning hair, brittle nails, and a pale complexion. Not only has this been the stereotype of what having an eating disorder looks like, but it also acts as the stereotype for anorexia nervosa (AN). Yet, AN affects people from all walks of life. It can present differently across all different bodies, and harmful stereotypes such as these can interfere with the diagnosis of AN.
The spring begins as the snow melts, and the days become warmer and longer. The flowers and trees bloom, winter coats return to closets, and spring break brings college students to beautiful locations. However, springtime may cause negative thoughts about one's body image for those with an eating disorder.
Instead of dedicating energy to satisfying your eating disorder, redirect it towards showing yourself kindness and compassion. Loving yourself can seem like a distant destination, but it is a feasible goal.
