How to manage food anxiety during the holidays

THIS ARTICLE IS republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons License.

Christmas can be a time of togetherness, fun and relaxation. However, it can also bring unique challenges, especially for those who may struggle with food anxiety, weight issues, or a eating disorder.

There are many reasons why the holidays can be such a difficult time for people struggling with food concerns. Holidays can often magnify feelings such as stress, anxiety, isolation and grief.

Therefore, some people may turn to food for comfort and solace. Being stuck at home because of the holidays or because of the cold weather could also encourage overeating and worse eating disorder.

Another issue is that there is a barrage of health and diet messages throughout the year telling us what we should and should not eat. However, during the holidays, advertisements and cultural messages often promote overindulgence.

This can make people even more confused about what to eat, or make them feel guilty if they indulge in festive treats. Add to this there are social pressures – they don’t want to say “no” to invitations that may be to eat and drink more than usual.

For people who struggle with disordered eating patterns, the festive season can feel like a minefield. Christmas celebrations often revolve around large communal meals and encouragement to indulge. This can activate complex and sometimes painful feelingsbringing some to avoid family and social gatherings.

Eating disorders often involve developing habits around eating routines. For those with an eating disorder, eating in public can cause distress with fear or judgment I feel overwhelmed from the fire on the food.

The festive period can be even more stressful for those struggling with disordered eating patterns and money problems. In the festive period, shops and advertisements tempt us with expensive and luxurious foods.

For those facing money worries, the added pressures to spend for Christmas can be triggering feelings of inadequacy and shame.

While this time of year is undoubtedly difficult to navigate, if you’re someone who struggles with disordered eating or weight and food anxiety, there are a few strategies you can use to get through .

Avoid feasting and starving

The New Year often comes with pressure to cancel holiday indulgences, leading many to consider a crash diet. However, extreme diets can be harmful for both physical and mental health.

Instead of falling into the “feast or famine” trap during the holidays, try to find ways to balance indulgence with healthy habits. Instead of eating a tempting dessert right after your meal, try going for a walk with your partner or family. The desire may be gone by the time it returns.