Back in the day, my eating disorder (aka “Ed”) would have provided all kinds of ways for coping with COVID-19. Unfortunately, none of his coping mechanisms involve recovery. Have you heard Ed chiming in with excuses to cut back on your own recovery efforts during this unprecedented worldwide pandemic?
Worldwide pandemic or not, recovery must come first. No matter what, we must continue to follow healing principles. This means, in part, doing recovery from six feet away, which is how far the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has asked us to separate from others. The buzzword phrase is “social distancing,” and it is meant to prevent the spread of the virus. It is not a free pass to relapse (as Ed would have told me).
Trauma specializes in hiding. It rarely wears a sign saying, “Hey, I’m right here!” In fact, it is frequently the opposite. People who have endured trauma commonly don’t even know it themselves.
You are not alone if you’ve been victimized by diet culture and are feeling tempted to pursue weight loss. Try something different this year; make a resolution not to diet. You have full permission to choose a full, abundant life rather than one spent shrinking yourself to appeal to the masses.
The holiday season is once again upon us. Does that make your mind wander to wintry scenes, family fun, yummy food, and laughter with loved ones around a table? If yes, you are fortunate to experience the holidays the way they were intended – with joy, beauty, pleasure, and community.