Resources supporting recovery
How to manage the festive period
The festive time can be challenging for all, let alone those with eating distress, OCD and neurodiversity. This resource explains what things might be particularly difficult, suggests some ways to cope if you are struggling, and also provides some ways that friends, family, carers and colleagues can help those who are in need of some support.
What can make the festive period particularly challenging
- Food-centric activities
- Difficult family dynamics
- Insensitive comments – weight gain/ loss,
- Unhelpful talk about food and exercise – guilty pleasures, don’t deserve,
- Change of routine e.g. times of meals, different situation
- Lots of people, chaotic
- Lack of usual support network
- Pressure to have recovered, be ‘normal’, comparisons
Coping strategies
- Breathe
- Take time for yourself
- Enjoy non-food related activities
- Try and stick to a normal eating routine
- Communicate – Talk to the people you will be with and plan ahead if you can, to help make things seem more in your control
- Have a support plan in place – people you can contact, helplines, helpful behaviours
- Allow yourself to change the subject / remove yourself from situations if they get too much
- Adjust expectations – it is not realistic that Christmas will be perfect
- Carry helpful quotes, comfort items, fidget toys, comforting smells, blanket
- Create a safe space you can escape to
How friends, family, carers, colleagues can help
- Enjoy non-food activities such as decorating the tree, playing games, opening presents, watching a film,
- Avoid comments about weight, eating habits, food choices, appearances or portion sizes
- Talk to the person and gain an understanding of what will be particularly challenging for them and create a plan together about how you can help them
- Provide the person with as much control as possible and tell them about the plans so they know what to expect e.g. who will be there, what time the meal will be, what will be served
- Create a codeword the person can use in times of distress so you know they need to talk or take time out
- Remind them that they are loved
- Don’t try to change them, e.g. pressuring them to eat more etc.