Thanksgiving Resources

BY SARAH LECK & BRI AREY
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Thanksgiving -- as well as any holiday or event that focuses on food and social gatherings -- can be an extremely stressful time for individuals struggling with an eating disorder. It can also be a bump in the road to recovery for someone who has previously struggled with an eating disorder, as the stressors of family and meals create an overwhelming environment. Even folks who have never struggled with an eating disorder may feel uncomfortable because of body-related comments from relatives they haven't seen since last day. It may seem like an impossible day to get through.

But at Embody, we know that recovery is possible. There are a number of steps that both you and your allies can take to help this holiday be a day to truly be thankful for. We've rounded up some of our favorite Thanksgiving resources for you -- check them out!  

For those who need support: 

• "Learning to Love Thanksgiving," by Morgan Walker (via UNC Exchanges)
• "Tips for Staying on the Eating Disorder Recovery Track Through the Holidays," by Cristin Runfola (via UNC Exchanges)
• "5 Ways to Shut Down Body Bashing This Holiday Season," by Pooja Patel (via Proud2Bme) 
• "The Self-Care Master Post: Ideas, Inspiration & More!" from the NEDA Communications Team 
• "6 Tips for a Stress-Free Thanksgiving Dinner," by Miriam Roelink (via Recovery Warriors)
• On Twitter: follow the hashtag #THX4SUPPORT to take part in the campaign and find resources and live support online.   

For allies: 

• "7 Ways to Host a Thanksgiving Dinner that Supports Eating Disorder Recovery," by Allison Epstein (via The Huffington Post)
• "5 Comments to Avoid on Thanksgiving If Someone You Love Has an Eating Disorder," by Harriet Frew (via The Mighty)  
• NEDA's Parent Toolkit​