If not now, when? 10 Reasons Why It’s a Great Time to Recover
We can despair that it leaves us isolated, that we’re removed from our ‘normality’ and that we’re no longer getting some of the joys which once our world consisted of.
And yet, how useful is that negative self-talk and target-less frustration?
What if it’s true that we are heading toward an eventual ‘new normal’, and that when we finally emerge from this scary and unsettling period, as a different kind of global community, in a much changed setting?
How about considering that there are some really great reasons why this is in fact ideal time to be tackling any troublesome eating disorder thoughts and behaviours which are continuing to keep your life stuck?
Why not find the motivation to see this as a pivot point and fully and truly embrace recovery?
Here’s 10 reasons why it’s actually an ideal time to do so:
1 Putting life and health in perspective
It goes without saying that this is a really unsettling time for us all. We’re all hearing with alarming frequency about stories of death and suffering.
How about that for a reminder that life is precious?
Use this time to remind yourself you’ve been blessed with the pressure gift of life. Embrace it. Be well.
2 Time to reconfigure habits
Researchers have long argued over exactly how long it takes a person to rewire their brain to become newly acquainted with a routine or habit.
The answer to that hardly matters. What’s important is that you can have your daily routines and patterns well and truly on the way to a ‘new normal’, by the time lockdown lifts.
Challenging behaviours is hard, but when there’s less distraction and a clear period of having to ‘consider your lot’, perhaps now is the time?
3 Comfortable clothing is the only lockdown fashion choice
One of the hardest things about recovering from an eating disorder is the bloat, the bodily discomfort, the sense that your shape is changing quicker than your head is ready for it too.
That’s all made so much easier when you have the perfect excuse to be home-based in comfortable clothing and feeling less conscious of the body. Be comfy. Let the body you should be in, become yours.
4 Kitchen creativity is beckoning you
What a gift of a time this is to learn your way around the kitchen and new recipes. Don’t let that pass. Emerge from this phase with some new culinary talents to your skillset, and start to recognise that your limited repertoire or restrictive ‘permitted’ ingredients was getting you nowhere fast.
5 Shopping support? Everyone is at it
Have you previously found shopping in supermarkets stressful, but not wanted to lean on someone for help?
Well, news flash…..all of us are leaning on neighbours and colleagues and buddies to help in our shopping needs.
Exercise some trust in a person you know well, and seek them out to shop for or with you.
6 Limited exposure to judgment
Less contact is awful. We get it. But you know what, sometimes you might be turning down the volume on things which weren’t always helpful.
Do you have friends who might comment on one another’s coffee or food choices when you meet up? Have you often felt you need to make comparison?
This is really unhelpful when you yourself are affected by an eating disorder, so now you have a gift of time to create resilience to this and focus on being well for you. Your food. Your plate. Your life.
7 Changing shape, changing you….Who cares?
And again, just like judgment on food choices, we know that judgment or mere mentions about our shape and size is tricky.
Hands up those who’ve ever been told ‘oooh, you’re looking well’, after putting on a few pounds?
We get that those comments are hard to hear – even well intended.
All the more reason to get well in this period of limited contact with others. Do this for YOU and you alone.
8 Opportunity knocks. It’s time to create new means of validation
Whether we think it at time we descend into an eating disorder or not, often it creates us a certain sense of validation….and a poor and devastatingly impactful one at that.
Turn this time into an opportunity to find out what else validates you. What are your values? What do you want from your life? Who do you want to emerge as being?
Might a new skill, craft or job focus be a useful part of your positive-looking and aspirational new world?
9 And relax. What a great time to rest and repair
Limited time outside, less places to go, more being ‘at home’….arrrggggghhh, we hear you cry.
Stop with that.
Actually, this is exactly what your deserving body needs.
You need rest and repair time to help fully recuperate your body from the consequences of an eating disorder. Use it. Enjoy relaxation and sofa time like you’ve never done before.
10 At last. I’m learning to be ‘with me’
There’s one level of anguish in being absent from the company of others…but quite another to deal only with the company of ourselves.
Well, you know what, this is the very person you’re stuck with.
Lockdown is presented to you as the wonderful occasion in which you get to truly make friends with yourself.
This person is unique, significant, worthy and gifted. Be comfortable with you and you can be sure your journey to full recovery will be ever easier.
*Can we help? Email us on hello@wednesdayschild.co.uk
- May 2020
