Twas the night before Christmas

The countdown to Christmas had begun , end of November through to December .

Everybody wishing everyone a Happy Jolly time . The most favourite time of the year , Well so they say . But not for most people and that's fine .

Some people have lost loved ones , Some don't have people home for christmas that they might be working abroad .

What about the ones suffering from Mental health?

Its all in our head .

smile be happy we’re alive . get on with it . stop being a grinch .

For those of us who have turned into a grinch you dont have to fake it . You dont have to put on a christmas jumper and wear a fake smile if you dont want to .

For many of us who are dealing with some sort of mental illness Christmas Stephens day and New years all the days around the holidays are a really tough time!

Weither you are suffering or recovering from Addiction , Eating disorders ,Depression, Anxiety.

Even those who can’t afford Christmas . Living on their own , maybe a family where both parents aren’t working . A family with parents split up . we often forget about these people .

I grew up loving Christmas , My whole family gathered around in my nannys Christmas morning .

Being able to eat chocolate for breakfast and there was no rules against it .

We would show off our new toys that santa brought to all the neighbours .

Lazying around in pjs for the night , Eating more desert even if you were already feeling like a rolley polley .

Christmas 2016 this all changed , It was the first christmas i spent with Ana by my side .

for anyone not knowing my friend Ana was the self descruting friend also known as Anorexia.

This is the time The happy Jolly feeling changed forever .

I'll never forget that christmas . The mental and physical pain i felt .

Sure for anyone reading if you have never had an eating disorder , your answer would be ''Tut just eat and get on with it '' , I agree , If only it was that easy .

But the past is gone and its now 2020 .

I am recovered physically but truthfully... I really hate Christmas .

Grinch .. '' yep sure am . This time of the year is the hardest time for me as a recovered anorexic .

There’s a lot of uncertainty, lot of anxiety, lot of attention and so much time spent around food. It’s a really hard time.

Like i said im recovered Phsyically but mentally she still creeps in time to time .

The feeling of being full and bloated is the most mental draining feeling to someone with a eating distress . Its scary . Sounds stupid but it is the most dawnting feeling .

If you have anyone going through an eating disorder or recovery heres some tips or advice through my own experience .

Don't add pressure with shoving box of chocolates into their face saying ''Sure its Christmas ''

Just leave them down and simply say Chocolates there if anyone wants some.

So now they feel like They have their own choice .

Sitting at a table , if they have a certain seat . Dont make a deal of why they need to sit there . Hard to explain but they have mental security to be able to look at certain views around them that allows them to calm themselves if they feel panic or stress over feeling full etc ,

This also applys to if you eat at a resturant .

If you have the same dinner every year but this year you changed something , Just tell the person before sitting down .

If eating out dont butt in when the person is ordering . Causes more anxiety . Its already hard enough trying to order .

After the meal try sit around talk , Crack crackers , Play board games . This helps take the mind off thinking how full you are .

Urges last up to about an hour after eating .

Make yourself available for them, be a safe non judgmental person who they can go to if they’re struggling. Don’t dismiss what they’re feeling or going through, don’t guilt them if they don’t eat all of your delicious Christmas dinner. Ask if there’s anything you can do ?

Just being there is so important, but it’s often so overlooked by people.

This is mainly for after Christmas and into the new year, but sometimes diet talk can creep into Christmas time.

It is so disrespectful and hurtful to talk about a diet to someone who has an eating disorder.

I find when i was going through recovery talking about other peoples weight was a no go !

A stranger on the street that was heavy , no comment . Now when im ''recovered'' i wouldhear off many people about someone gaining weight . Our minds still absorb these things .

My mind for example .. ''So i gained weight is that what others are saying ''

A mind of someone with an eating disorder is a very fragile and sometimes f**ked up mind .

Don’t talk about weight, calories and diet, instead talk about being healthy active .