Surviving Easter while Recovering from an Eating Disorder

As an eating disorder sufferer, I have always found Easter a bit of a daunting time of year.

All of a sudden all this extra chocolate seems to enter the equation and in the past, the thought of having to get through it all would send me into a blind panic.

Easter does not have to feel like an ordeal though.  It can be made manageable and even enjoyable.

Now Easter is actually one of my favourite times of year.

I am going to share a few tips that have helped me make Easter more manageable and less daunting recovery wise.

(Not all the points I raise are entirely specific to eating disorders.  Most are relevant to all people really or to anyone who wants to make their Easter a relaxing and enjoyable one.)

~ Everyone has to have an Easter egg at Easter.

Easter is certainly not all about the chocolate but Easter eggs are definitely an important part of it and it would be a shame to let your eating disorder cause you to miss out.  I know this is easier said than done as chocolate is often a 'fear food' among eating disorder sufferers and when there is so much chocolate around or pressure and expectation for you to eat chocolate, it can feel very overwhelming.  In order to recover though, you have to conquer each of your fear foods one by one, so Easter may be the ideal time to set yourself a challenge to eat some chocolate - even if it's just a little.  

And I have to agree that Easter egg chocolate is always the best chocolate ever, so what better time!

~ Chocolate is good for your mental health.

Chocolate (particularly dark chocolate) increases your serotonin levels.  If you suffer from depression, which quite often goes hand in hand with an eating disorder, the serotonin levels in your body will be low.  I've also heard that chocolate causes your body to release endorphins which lift your mood.  In other words, chocolate makes you feel good!  If you are able to think of having a little bit of chocolate as 'recovery food' then the prospect may not seem as daunting.

~ Suggest other gifts you would like to receive besides chocolate.

Everyone should feel able to have some chocolate over Easter but if you are recovering from an eating disorder, being confronted with a generous amount of Easter eggs can feel like a step too far.  When I was little, I remember other children used to count up their Easter eggs and compare how many they got with their friends, when I came down on Easter Sunday to my pile of Easter eggs, I would feel like crying!  It's hard because you don't want to seem ungrateful when other people have been generous towards you and have bought you Easter eggs but at the same time, I bet those people would feel bad if they knew the amount of anxiety their gift had caused you.  At the end of the day, the main thing your family and friends want is for you to be happy and make progress in your recovery, if that means telling them that you feel overwhelmed when you receive too many Easter eggs then I'm sure they will appreciate your honesty.  This year my mum bought me some lovely Easter themed bath bombs from Lush instead of an Easter egg.  I am still looking forward to diving into the Marvellous Creations Easter egg my aunt got me though as it is my favourite type of chocolate, especially the one with the jellies in!

 

~ Enjoy experimenting with Easter colours.

I always think of Easter as such a happy and joyful time of year and I think that is reflected by the lovely pastel colours that seem to be associated with it.  After such a dull winter, I love it when the weather begins to brighten up and I can start introducing a bit of colour back into my outfits.  I adore wearing colourful, floral headbands and I quite literally have enough to match any outfit!  I have also been experimenting with a few new nail polishes in pastel tones.  I especially like the Rimmel Rita Ora Nail Polish in Peach as it is a colour that I haven't tended to wear much in the past.  I also really rate the BarryM Speedy quick drying nail polishes that everyone seems to be hyping about recently.  At first I wasn't so sure about the Pit Stop shade as it seemed a little grey and dull but when I got out in the light, I noticed a hint of lilac which was quite unusual and ever since it has been one of my favourites.

~ Get Creative: Easter Cards.

I have to say I am often guilty of missing the boat when it comes to sending Easter cards, which is silly because I always love receiving them!  In a way I think because I don't receive as many as birthday or Christmas cards, it makes me appreciate the few Easter cards I do receive all the more.  Easter can be a difficult time of year if you are recovering for an eating disorder but I have always found that I can get through difficult times more easily if I channel my energies or distract myself into doing something creative.  Use the Easter break as an opportunity to turn your hand to something creative - bake Easter inspired treats for your friends and families, make Easter cards, decorate Easter eggs, or make some Easter inspired decorations.

~ Find and experience the joy in Easter...

Remember that chocolate is only a very small part of Easter - sometimes you just need to focus on the other parts.  It's about finding the little aspects that cause you to light up inside - the things that make your Easter enjoyable and even aid your recovery.

 

Personally, I always feel as though, when Easter comes, spring has officially arrived.  The weather starts to get warmer (well hopefully!), the days get longer and everything seems to be filled with energy and life.  It is amazing how much of a difference waking up to a blue sky can make to the rest of your day.  I like to make the most of the good weather, get outdoors, go on long walks and see all the flowers start to bloom.  I always associate daffodils with Easter - I always think of them as such happy flowers!

Easter can be a really peaceful and relaxing time.  It can feel like a God-send to have a long weekend to chill and break up the working week.  Think of Easter as an opportunity to rest, relax and recharge.  One of the things I do to relax is sit in the garden on my favourite blanket and watch my rabbits hop around the garden (they have to be watched as they have a tendency to burrow!).  So many people have gardens and yet spend so little time in them, I've certainly been guilty of that.  However, simply sitting in the garden, soaking up the sun and listening to the sound of the birds can fill you with such a strong sense of peace and tranquility.

~ Easter is about new life and new beginnings (and baby animals :) )

There is nothing I love more to do around Easter than see baby lambs skip around the fields and squeal over the cuteness of them!  My granddad used to request to be driven to the top of the South Downs every year to see the 'lambies' as he used to call him.  I used to find it amusing that an otherwise tough and slightly grumpy old man would have such a soft spot for those little lambs but funnily enough that is the Easter pastime that has always stuck out most in my mind. 

Without sounding overly spiritual, Easter is about new life and new beginnings.

It saddens me that I spent so many Easters consumed by anxiety when I was a child and should have been having fun and scoffing down Easter eggs like everyone else.  If you have suffered from an eating disorder for a long time, it can sometimes feel as though it is a never ending battle.  I am certainly not there yet but I am feeling far more relaxed and excited about Easter this year than I have been any other year and that's got to count for something.

I think the thing we have to try to hold onto is that when you look far or closely enough, you can't help but realise that Easter is such a wonderful time of year.  It's a time of hope, joy, peace, new life, new beginnings and possibility.  And these are all things that you can take with you into your recovery and indeed wherever life may take you.

I wish you all a joyful, peaceful and enjoyable Easter!

Love and Strength,

The One Day Seeker