Let’s face it, it’s fun becoming more independent, BUT growing up can suck at times.

You have noticed some changes in your child around food and how they are talking about their body or appearance. You are concerned but have no idea what you should do. Where do you start? Do you say something? Should you seek professional advice?

The holiday season can be a time of love, and togetherness, but it can also be pretty stressful if you have an eating disorder. It can also be an opportunity to take the focus off your illness and enjoy yourself. To get through the holiday period, it’s useful to put in place some self-care strategies. Here’s some tips our Helpline counsellors have suggested:

By Giulia
'My name is Giulia, I am 20 years old and have one year left of my Early Childhood Education and Care degree. I have suffered with anorexia nervosa for about five or six years. After listening to an episode of The Recovery Warrior Show podcast, and knowing firsthand how difficult it can be to communicate about an eating disorder with loved ones, I was inspired to create this list of ten things that I wish my family and friends understood about my eating disorder.'

The holiday period can be a tough time if you’re experiencing an eating disorder. Post-Christmas and New Years can be even more challenging. As you move past this holiday season, your inner critic may be louder than usual and expectations at an all-time high.

Sometimes as our mind races, our thoughts can feel slightly out of control. Or we might feel overwhelmed by our eating disorder voice, self-criticism, or anxiety. When these emotions arise, we may not have the words to fully express what we’re feeling. Or maybe we don’t feel like talking at all. It can be helpful to take a moment, breath, and plug in – to an app.