Christmas With Anorexia
I had a post all drafted up for today, but I threw it out the window in lieu of something else much more important.
Christmas seems to be a loaded time for many things; our tables are laden with wonderful food and our week is saturated with family events. It is a happy time. We are surrounded by the people we love and a feast almost every day of the week.
For an anorexic, that is the problem.
Jolene has been doing very well for the last while. She found a medication that worked with her and she had been actively trying to surround herself with a support network and positive influences.
The tricky thing with an eating disorder is that it is subtle. It slips up quietly; a few discouraging words from a person here, an interaction with a trigger there, and suddenly, what was looking like a breeze slides into battle field territory. Suddenly we notice that we are losing her again. The voice that we hear is no longer her, but her eating disorder. Her decisions are clouded by her impulses.
I am not saying Jolene has gone backwards. Any recovery is full of ups and downs. But Christmas strikes a deep fear in the heart of someone who struggles with food and makes each day a struggle.
We need to find a balance with the Christmas propaganda that you will need to “Lose Those Holidays Pounds” which assumes you will GAIN anything at all or suggests that food is a thing to be feared rather than celebrated. We need to find a way to celebrate sensible eating and the wonderful gift that our bodies are. Yes, we come in all shapes and sizes, but that is what makes it amazing.
This Christmas, eat your vegetables, have a bit of pie, and celebrate how beautiful you are and how blessed you are to be surrounded by family and friends.
And if you think of it, please send out positive thoughts and prayers to Jolene. Christmas is never an easy time for her, but we are celebrating the fact that it is her first Christmas with us in a while and surrounding her with support and love.
Your writing is so well done and sweet and funny and all around enjoyable to read. I am thinking of you and your family and praying for some new, good memories to add to the previous ones. Merry Christmas and a happy healthy New Year.
Thank you Abby. I so appreciate your kind words. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Definitely will be thinking of and praying for her as well as you and your family.
Thanks Kaitlyn. Merry Christmas!
thinking and praying for you all
Thank you so much, Aimee!
hi, I’ve been a reader for a while and super admire your writing and positivity. I would love to jump into writing more myself, though I lack some confidence and attention span and am working on it. Was living in Ontario and hoping to be heading back…need a roommate ? 🙂 Seriously! Or know someone who does?
I am looking for anywhere…but I think London or Guelph might be good too (know anything of these places?…I don’ t like “danger’ and would love a place with libraries, simplicity , good food (grocery stores) , safety, and walking trails!). Let me know.
I’m also wishing Jolene the best…I’m struggling with issues my own maybe kinda sorta similar to that…so I *know*…best to you all.
Aw Jill. Thank you for your kind words and I wish I could give you a big hug. Stay strong and the biggest piece of advice I can give you is change your self talk. Don’t call yourself negative names when you are alone, but speak to yourself as if you would speak to a friend. Call yourself “sweetheart”, “honey” and “pretty”. It sounds so silly, but you will believe it after a while. Blessings and love to you.