9% of the world’s population is affected by eating disorders (EDs). So if you feel lonely in the struggle against your ED, you’re not as alone as you might think.
Overcoming an eating disorder is no easy feat, so you should feel proud of yourself. But considering that we have to eat to survive, eating disorder triggers will remain constant in your life.
To stay in eating disorder recovery, you need to recognize what these triggers are and how to handle them. Keep reading to learn more about this subject.
The Scale
The scale is something that gives you solid numbers, so it’s understandable that you want to see your weight in tangible terms. But while seeing that number can quell your anxieties. Knowing the worst time to weigh yourself is important. Otherwise, it can also be one of the ED triggers you have to deal with. It’s also important to know the worst time to weigh yourself so you can start healing from
After seeing your weight, you might feel like losing X pounds will help you feel better. But the truth is, it won’t, and I’ll send you into a spiral.
It can be tough, but you need to put the scale away and focus on healthy eating instead.
Emotional Distress
We also go through ups and downs throughout our lives, which is normal. So you can’t really avoid this trigger, as it’s inevitable that something will cause you emotional distress.
What you need to do is have good ways to manage your eating disorder. It can be helpful to get into therapy so you can learn healthy outlets to handle your emotions. That way, you won’t relapse.
Before and After Photos
Many people document their weight loss journeys online, and the common way to do so is by posting before and after pictures. While these posts can be inspirational, they can also be detrimental to those with EDs.
In general, it’s good to limit your time online and to focus on your own journey in life. The less you see of others’ “perfect” lives (which are only “perfect” because they carefully curate what they put online), the better you’ll feel about yourself.
Certain Places and People
Eating disorders are similar to addiction to substances because the people you’re around and the places you’re at can trigger you to relapse.
While you might value your friends and your old haunts, it’s best to avoid both when you’re feeling vulnerable. If your friends won’t be supportive about your recovery process, then they really aren’t your friends and it’s time to rethink your social circle.
If your specific ED is binge eating disorder, uncraverx.com has some great tips on saying “no” to triggers.
Avoid These Eating Disorder Triggers
Eating disorder triggers can be tough to avoid, but with a few changes in your life, you can reduce the chances of running into them. Now that you’ve identified some common triggers and which ones might apply to you, you can take the appropriate steps to stay in recovery.
To read more on health and wellness, keep browsing our blog page now.
