I have been leading an ANAD Recovery group on Monday nights and have been blessed and honored to hear other women share their struggles, thoughts, and victories. A reminder that recovery is possible, and at the same time not linear or perfect. For those of us with eating disorders, it is in letting go of this perfection in ALL we do, including recovery, that can offer us freedom.
In our humanity we will slip up in our recovery, but we don’t have to let the slip leave us broken. Satan would have us believe that if we slip, we may as well fall. Jesus offers us, not only grace but a promise. Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am you God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Oh, sweet sisters, if you find yourself slipping, hold on to his outstretched hand.
There is a common theme of coping and finding healthy and beautiful ways of distracting from using ED behaviors as we are finding ourselves isolated and lonely. I know it is something I struggle with these days as I shelter in place, I miss my routine. I miss my family. I miss seeing my clients in the flesh and miss being seen in the flesh.
We all are working so hard at some level to get through out unique challenges in battling a common illness. When Ed sneaks into your loneliness it can feed your fears when you should be feeding yourself and nourishing your mind body and spirit. When his happens remember that you are truly not alone and your Father is waiting for yo to come to him. Matthew 11:28 “come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” (NIV)
How are you giving to yourself? Here is what I know, when I am feeling pressed from all side from ED to engage I pause, pray and ask myself what are my helpful, beautiful options? I have a list of options and some are simply tasks or responsibilities. In other words distractions! And this is a viable option. Who doesn’t love a clean kitchen or organized closet?
My other go to is Post It Notes! I keep these notes where I can see them and they are color coded. Each color represents a different healthy beautiful coping strategy. Tasks is one, but I also include a set of ways to relax, recreation I like to, not NEED, to do.
A fourth color gets rewards. What is something special that will give me a real boost that ED would steal away? Here is one of my go too rewards…SOCKS. Yes, socks, as a runner, cyclist, etc. there is no greater feeling than a fun pair of new comfy socks, and they are an inexpensive way to make me smile and my feet happy.
This leads me to my faith color and this is for my recovery strategies. There are many filled with God’s word and promises. Others filled with ideas and quotes. You see, my recovery enables me to do the things I love like running, biking, and MORE SOCKS.
Today I personally woke up overwhelmed with the news and found this scripture to be helpful for me. This kind of feels like our world situation right now.
17Though the fig tree does not bud and no fruit is on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the sheep are cut off from the fold and no cattle are in the stalls, 18,yet I ,will exult ,in the LORD; ,I will rejoice ,in the God ,of my salvation! 19GOD the Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer; He makes me walk upon the heights! For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments.…”
These days when ED can sneak into my exhausted state of being, I don’t have to work so hard to think of ways to fight it. I have Post It Notes with all the options I need. What is one you Post It Notes?
I hope you are doing well and staying safe in these uncertain times. Please remember that God never intended us to walk this journey alone. If you need support join us on Monday nights @ 5:30 (we will not meet on 6/15/20) Or email me for your free 1-hour consultation.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
“Two are better than one, because they have good return on their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one alone keep warm? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (NIV)