Equip’s Post

Thanksgiving to New Year's day is a joyous time for everyone to connect and celebrate with friends and family during holiday occasions. However, it can also be a very stressful time for many 😔 Food is a very prevalent part of the holiday season, making it clear that those experiencing eating disorders and body image issues can have a difficult time during the holidays 💔 With over 30 million people in the United States alone suffering from eating disorders every year, it's important to acknowledge this problem and do the best we can to address it 🙌 Check out our blog "Eating Disorders Around the Holidays: Strategies to Cope" to learn more about the challenges some people face during the holidays, and what you can do to help people with eating disorders and body image issues to cope during this time of year ❤️ https://lnkd.in/e5BdBATf #eatingdisorderrecovery #eatingdisorderawareness #bodyimageissues #holidayseason #holidaystress #holidaystressrelief

Reposted with the correct link! Your free guide to calmer mealtimes is available below 😊

We know that if you're supporting a loved one with an eating disorder, mealtimes can be the most important - and most stressful - times of the day. Here's 5 reasons why mealtimes may not be working: 1️⃣ you're walking on eggshells, constantly. You're terrified of saying the wrong thing and feel very stuck - and terrified 2️⃣ you keep providing reassurance - around the size of the meal, the number of calories - and none of it seems to be helping 3️⃣ your child's anxiety around food (understandably) increases your own at mealtimes. You know you should remain calm - but how? 4️⃣ you think that talking about the food on the plate will help make it less scary. It doesn't. 5️⃣ You believe that the amount of food your loved one is being asked to eat (by the dietitian or nutritional therapist) is way too much for them. It's not fair on them - you wouldn't eat that much, so how can they? Yes, mealtimes are scary. Yes, we feel utterly overwhelmed, and terrified. How can we do this up to 6 times a day? Yes, we can feel that we've landed on another planet, that the parenting skills we've used before - and the language - no longer work. But it doesn't have to be this way! 🤗 If you're ready for MEALS THAT HEAL, that give you the language and skills to navigate mealtimes, DM us Meals and we'll share our guide to Meals that Heal: Helping your child to eat even when they don't want to. Or download here: https://lnkd.in/eVAnU_cC or DM us MEALS And please let us know what you think. What struggles do you face? How have you overcome them? We'd love to hear from you! 👇🏻

At this time of year, it’s as important as ever to consider ways to be Eating Disorder Safe. The ED Safe principles offer a framework for supporting your own wellbeing and that of those around you. Our team has come up with some holiday-themed ED Safe actions for you to try. Give them a try and share this post with friends and loved ones. ➡️Health - Help your family or community members connect with traditional food and movement practices to honour your shared cultural heritage and promote holistic health. - Make a plan to include movement-based adventures in your weekly or monthly routine. This could include bushwalks, bike rides, scavenger hunts, play etc. ➡️Food - Recognise that the holiday period may involve food and eating experiences that are outside your norm. Give yourself permission to roll with these changes, knowing that this period will be short-lived. - As a holiday project or gift idea, create a family recipe book with favourite recipes that reflect culture, heritage and the important social functions of meals made and shared with love. ➡️Mind - Start the new year with a diet-culture detox: unfollow unhelpful accounts on socials, choose magazines that do not promote diets or body ideals, remove books with diet-related messaging. - Start seeking new accounts, media and books, either that celebrate body diversity or that deal with topics which aren’t weight, beauty or body related at all. ➡️Body - Give yourself permission to worry less about your appearance when attending festive events. Choose outfits for comfort and/or self-expression. -Make an extended-family pact to avoid making comments about anyone's body over the holiday period and beyond. ➡️Harm Minimisation -If you are finding it hard to navigate the food environment or to maintain positive or neutral body image, help is available. Call the Butterfly Helpline for assistance on 1800 33 4673 or visit bit.ly/NEDC-Helplines. - If you notice a loved one struggling, get help early – Call the Butterfly Helpline or or visit https://lnkd.in/gAiCdR4g for advice. For more information, or to access the Eating Disorder Safe principles resource, visit www.nedc.com.au/ed-safe

Would you like our free guide to Mealtimes? Check it out below!

The holiday season, with its abundance of gatherings and festive meals, can be particularly challenging for individuals dealing with eating disorders. The emphasis on food, coupled with social expectations, may intensify stress and anxiety. However, with thoughtful strategies and support, it's possible to navigate this time while maintaining your recovery journey. #Copingwithholidaystress #Eatingdisordersandholidays #Holidaymentalhealth #Mindfuleatingtips #Selfcarestrategies

How to help #teenagers #tweens and #Parents have food help overcome #anxiety #depression ?? #WorldFoodDay: The Connection Between Food and Mental Well-Being! #GoodFoodGoodMood Yesterday was World Food Day! It serves as a vital reminder of the deep connection between food and mental well-being, especially for #teenagers and #youngadults who often grapple with anxiety and stress. At www.rightyourmood.com (RYM), we understand the power of food to nurture both #bodyandmind. Challenges #Parents Face • #Tweens: Many children aged 9-12 are avoiding meals, creating challenges for parents. • #Teens: Overconsumption of junk food, processed snacks, smoking, and alcohol can significantly worsen anxiety and stress. Solutions for #Families To help combat these issues, families should focus on: • #NutrientRichMeals: Incorporate foods rich in omega-3s, magnesium, and B-vitamins to support mental health. • #ReduceProcessedFoods: Prioritize whole grains, fruits, and vegetables at home. Why Start Today? Creating a nurturing food environment can significantly impact your family’s mental health. Small, consistent changes can lead to #healthiereating habits that support #emotionalwellbeing. Join Us for a Free Chat! At RYM, we’re committed to educating families and raising #awareness about the #importanceofNutrition. ****Free**** #15minuteconsultation with #experts of the RYM team to discuss how to #implement these changes in your home. Backed by #GlobalInnovativeResearch So what are you waiting for? Comment or DM Aditi Kulshrestha Ritambhara Guide Rahul Rosha and we’ll reach out to you! #WorldFoodDay #MentalHealthMatters #FoodAndMood #TeenNutrition #RightYourMood

Halloween can be a challenging time for those in eating disorder recovery due to the heavy focus on costumes and candy. 🎃 In this blog, we explore the pressures surrounding body image and food during this festive season, offering practical tips for managing social situations, embracing self-compassion, and prioritizing your recovery. Whether you're navigating costume parties or candy-filled events, this guide provides support and strategies to help you enjoy the holiday with confidence and peace of mind. Read the full guide here: https://lnkd.in/eRarC2dp

The holiday season can be a challenging time for those navigating eating disorder recovery. My latest Psychology Today article, Navigating the Holidays in Eating Disorder Recovery, offers practical, compassionate strategies to help you protect your peace, set boundaries, and embrace self-nurturing practices during this season of diet-culture noise. Check it out!

Why do I advise against restricting your kids' food? 🤔 It's because research repeatedly shows it can backfire and lead to serious consequences. Take a look at what the research shows can happen when we restrict, and why I recommend a NON-RESTRICTIVE APPROACH: 1️⃣ Loss of control - Controlling certain foods can make them more tempting, leading to overeating when they’re available. - Instead, encourage balance and an all-foods-fit approach. 2️⃣ Emotional eating - Limiting foods can push kids to use that food as a way to cope with feelings.  - Allowing all foods can help them learn to cope with emotions in other ways. 3️⃣ Risk of eating disorders - Constant food monitoring can lead to unhealthy attitudes toward eating, increasing the risk of eating disorders.  - Teaching them to trust their bodies builds a better relationship with food. 4️⃣ Body dissatisfaction:  - Regulating diets can cause kids to feel their bodies need to change, leading to low self-esteem.  - Promote body and self-acceptance instead. 5️⃣ Weight gain  - Ironically, food restriction can lead to weight gain beyond normal growth as kids' bodies react to strict rules.  - An inclusive, more flexible approach to food supports natural development. We don’t want our kids to feel trapped by food rules. Instead, we can guide them to trust their bodies, listen to their hunger and fullness cues, listen to their emotions, and build a positive, healthy relationship with food. 💖 📌 If you are an individual living in North Carolina, I have several in-person and virtual openings for counseling! 💌 Please DM me to inquire or email dremily@ciepcounseling.com. P.S. Follow me, Dr. Emily, for more guidance and resources on parenting, managing anxiety and overcoming eating disorders 💙 𝘗.𝘗.𝘚. 𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘴 & 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤. . . #dremilyciepcielinski #mentalhealththerapist #eatingdisorder #healthyhabits #mindfulparenting