For those in the midst of an eating disorder, I see you. Summer can be especially hard with vacations and time spent in bathing suits. 

As you prepare for that upcoming barbecue or poolside hangout, I encourage you to consider ways to increase support and a sense of safety. 

-Create a game plan. While we can’t predict the future, it can be helpful to consider potential triggers that may come up during your summer event. Whether that trigger is a person, a particular food, or wearing a bathing suit, it can be helpful to consider how you’d like to approach it ahead of time. 

Why could this be helpful? In moments of anxiety, our nervous system responds to threats or potential threats. This is a fight/flight response in which our prefrontal cortex (the part of our brain in charge of planning, analyzing, etc) “goes offline” while our limbic system (think emotions) goes into survival mode. Having a general idea ahead of time can help make a stressful situation slightly less stressful because you know what you want to do. 

-Talk to someone. Allow part of your game plan to include a trusted other. Eating disorders have the tendency to isolate us from others, but you are always deserving of support and care. Ask a friend if you can text them after that pool party. Tell your mom how she can specifically support you at that family gathering. If you’re uncertain as to how to include your friends or family, talk with your therapist about what might be helpful for you specifically. 
 
-Practice gratitude. Stick with me here. I’m aware some of you may be thinking, “Okay, Sarah. You’ve lost me here.” I’ll get to that. 

Practicing gratitude has been shown to improve mood and wellbeing. It may feel cheesy at first, but consider the least-cheesy way possible to find appreciation for what your body has done and continues to do. Maybe it’s focusing on how your arms have helped you all this time to wrap your niece up in a big bear hug. Your hands have given you the opportunity to shape your clay in pottery class.    What might you find gratitude for? 

I do want to take a moment to acknowledge that for some who are differently-abled, with a trauma history, or have had experiences in which it seems like our bodies have betrayed us- this may just not feel right. THAT’S OKAY. 

What if-instead of body positivity or gratitude, we consider taking a stance of body neutrality? Body neutrality is not holding our bodies as good or bad, right or wrong. It is acknowledging “Even if I am having my most difficult body image day and I want to crawl out of my skin, I can practice tolerating my body and giving it the food and water it needs.” 

-Wear comfortable clothes. Find clothes that fit well. You may be holding on to clothes that fit from another point in time. Maybe your clothes fit differently now and getting new clothes seems financially unfeasible or just plain upsetting. First of all, I encourage you to explore this in therapy. Second of all, I can *almost* guarantee you will have a better time when you are wearing clothes that are meant to fit your body, rather than trying to get your body to fit into your clothes. 

While this is not a comprehensive list, I encourage you to consider ways to make your summer more fun and less stressful. 

*This information is not a substitute for therapy. Blog and Instagram posts are for educational and creative purposes only. If you are interested in therapy, please reach out through contact information provided.