If you are a young adult in recovery from disordered eating, you may be wary of the approaching holiday celebrations. How will you be able to face the abundance of food and drink? How will you cope with the scrutiny of concerned relatives? Can you resist slipping back into unhealthy behaviors? Balanced holiday eating can happen with support.

At Red Oak Recovery^®, we are committed to helping our clients understand the triggers of their disordered eating habits. We provide a range of experiential and evidence-based treatment options, which we tailor to the needs of each client. Don’t let the holidays hold you back in your recovery from disordered eating. To learn more, please reach out to Red Oak Recovery^® today at 866.457.7590.

Use These 5 Planning Tips to Keep Your Recovery on Track

The holidays can be overwhelming if you don’t prepare for them in advance. Fortunately, there are a variety of strategies that you can use to maintain your recovery from your disordered eating. For instance, these strategies can include:

1. Review your attitude about food and holiday eating. Try to eat mindfully, enjoying the whole holiday experience: sights, aromas, sounds, and camaraderie.
2. Plan your eating. Holiday meals are often delayed or protracted. Eat a small, healthy meal on your regular schedule. Then you’ll be able to enjoy a small portion of the holiday feast or party goodies without straying too far from your meal plan.
3. Use your support network. Consult your nutritionist about keeping balance in your holiday food choices. Entrust a friend or loved one to act as monitor and support at a large social function, so you do not slip back into old behaviors.
4. Anticipate stress and manage it. Review your trigger points and coping strategies. Keep up your exercise and meditation regimens. Anticipate situations that are uncomfortable and have an exit strategy.
5. Control your schedule. Give yourself permission to say “no” to activities and relationships that are at odds with your goals.

If these strategies aren’t enough, please reach out to our experts today.

Signs That You Need Support Disordered Eating During the Holidays

Many people are reluctant to seek treatment for disordered eating. After all, their disordered eating behaviors are less frequent or aren’t as severe as those of someone who has an eating disorder. Unfortunately, this isn’t true. While the symptoms may not be as severe as the symptoms of an eating disorder, you should take the problem seriously. If you do not manage your disordered eating habits, you may be at a higher risk of developing an eating disorder. You’re also at a higher risk of developing a mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety.

If you’re afraid that you’ve fallen back into bad habits during this holiday season, consider the following symptoms:

• You’ve begun to count your calories obsessively.
• You have an excessive or rigid exercise routine.
• You have anxiety about eating specific food groups or foods.
• You’ve begun to base your self-worth highly or exclusively on your weight or body shape.

These symptoms are not all-encompassing, but it may be challenging to determine whether your habits are healthy or not. Ask a friend or family member to help keep you accountable for your holiday eating. If they see that there’s a problem, you can always reach out to a mental health treatment provider for additional support.

Recovery Help for Co-Occurring Disorders

Are you a young adult facing this holiday season with the anxieties of disordered eating and co-occurring drug and alcohol abuse? Red Oak Recovery^® has treatment programs that will help you make sense of your feelings and give you the support strategies you need to develop a healthier approach to food. Learn to successfully manage stress and addiction during the holidays and beyond. Call 866.457.7590 to speak to an enrollment specialist and begin your journey to recovery today.