How to Distract Your Focus on Food This Holiday Season

The focus on food during the holidays tends to cause a good deal of stress and anxiety when dealing with an eating disorder. In fact, when I think of the holiday season, three things come to mind: family, friends, and the big one, food. This year, let's stay present on what really matters instead of fixating on what, when, and how much we eat.

Eating Disorder Stress from Our Focus on Food During the Holidays

Managing recovery from an eating disorder is tough enough on a normal day, and when the holidays come into play, staying on track can become even more difficult. 

In the past, my experience with the holiday season was almost unbearable. I spent the time before, during, and after obsessing with what I was going to do about the food situation. What was I going to eat? How much was I going to have? Would I get out of control? This focus on food plagued my mind and took away most of the joy this season brings.

Maintaining Eating Disorder Recovery During the Holidays

With increased time away from my eating disorder behaviors, I have been able to once again find some light in this joyous time of year. This, of course, didn't just happen overnight. I needed to strategize in order to find comfort during the holidays and let go of my focus on food.

My biggest piece of advice is to talk with a supportive person about your worries, concerns, and what your plan is to ease those anxieties. This can be a friend, family member, therapist, anyone you feel comfortable with. I often chose someone who will be with me during holiday events so I am able to pull them aside and talk if I'm having a difficult moment.

Doing your best to stay present is also something that is very helpful to ease stress. Focus on spending time with the people you love and making memories rather than fixating on what dinner is going to be like. Remaining mindful and in the now allows us to let go of what happened an hour ago as well as what may happen at a later time. The holiday focus on food doesn't have to stress you out completely.

I wish you all the best this holiday season. You are strong and deserve to enjoy yourself.