By: Leslie Ann Glossner M.S., Anxiety & Eating Disorder Therapist at Recovered & Restored
It’s that time of year again. As the air grows cooler and the days shorter, it’s time to wake up far too early, sling our heavy backpacks over our shoulders, and board the bus. It’s mid-September, so by now there may be some semblance of a routine beginning to form. Maybe you’re getting excited for football games, the fall play, or the homecoming dance. Or maybe, just maybe, you’re dreading everything having to do with school.
Back-to-school can mean something totally different for the student dealing with an eating disorder. For many, attending school is a time to be social, play sports, and learn new things. For a student with an eating disorder, however, it can mean a minefield of issues. Getting dressed in the morning, eating lunch in front of others, trying to pay attention in class, participating in school sports, and even just being perceived by your peers can be a daunting experience. Overall, the back-to-school experience can be exciting yet overwhelming. Whether you’re a student, parent, or educator, it’s important to manage this time with mindfulness and self-care strategies. As a Pennsylvania eating disorder therapist, I’m going to share some tools and ideas to help students with eating disorders navigate the back-to-school season!
Build a Support System
Communicating with trusted adults is essential for setting yourself up for success this school year. A support system made up of parents, teachers, school counselors, and even friends can help you manage triggers and relieve stressors. Not to mention, it’s also a benefit to have a mental health professional on your team who can empathize and advocate for your care alongside you. If you feel safe and comfortable to share your situation with teachers or school staff, they may be able to help you with you with deadlines or private spaces for meals.
Plan a Consistent Meal Schedule
A busy school day filled with classes, extracurriculars, and homework can easily derail meal routines. Prioritizing consistency and planning ahead can save you from scrambling and stressing over fitting in exchanges at the last minute. When that happens, anxiety around food choices may lead to engaging in disordered eating behaviors. For example, Sunday can be a great day to prepare nourishing options that can last you through the week and save you when things get hectic.
Develop Coping Strategies for Triggers
When I was in high school many moons ago, it was HARD. Peer comments, body comparison, and chaotic cafeterias made focusing on recovery very difficult. I can’t imagine the landscape has gotten any easier so it’s important to design ways to manage all of those intense triggers.
As a Pennsylvania eating disorder therapist, one of the tips I often share with clients is how mindful self-care is a great go-to option in a pinch. Removing yourself from a situation via slowing down your breath, tapping into the world around you using your senses, journaling, or taking a short walk can help calm your nervous system down in times of stress.
Additionally, sometimes the best way to deal with triggers is to leave them in the dust altogether. Surrounding yourself with positive influences and relationships that celebrate your individuality, interests, and strengths can be so much more fulfilling than engaging in conversations on weight, dieting, and appearance.
A Final Tip from a Pennsylvania Eating Disorder Therapist -
Give Yourself Grace
The most important to remember is that recovery is not linear. As a recovered individual myself and as a therapist working with clients, I have seen this time and time again. There will be ups, and there will be downs. Setbacks can happen, but that doesn’t undo the progress that you have made. Practicing self-compassion and giving yourself grace will go a long way.
Here are some additional resources that can help you navigate this tricky time!
ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders) - Back-to-School Guide for Eating Disorder Recovery
National Alliance for Eating Disorders - Back-to-School with Eating Disorder Recovery
Self Compassion by Dr. Kristin Neff - Self-Compassion Practices
Other Mental Health Services Offered in PA, NJ, DE, SC, MD, CT, and FL
We offer a wide variety of services related to eating disorder recovery including trauma therapy! We offer Weekly Support Groups, Nutrition Services, and Family and Parent Therapy as well as Coaching, all tailored to meet the specific needs of the individual. We offer our services for Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating, and Orthorexia as well as Maternal Mental Health, and eating disorder therapy for athletes online in New Jersey, Delaware, South Carolina, Maryland, Florida, and Connecticut! We are here to offer our support and understanding in a safe and non-judgmental environment.
We have immediate openings right now for eating disorder therapy in:
Delaware, New Jersey, Florida, Maryland South Carolina, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.
And recovery coaching worldwide.
Recovered and Restored is an eating disorder therapy center founded by Gabrielle Morreale, LPC. We specialize in helping teens and young women heal from eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, orthorexia, and binge eating disorder and treat disordered eating, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. We provide eating disorder therapy in the towns of Horsham, Upper Gwynedd, Lower Gwynedd, North Wales, Lansdale, Hatfield, Blue Bell, Doylestown, and nearby towns with eating disorder therapy. Also providing virtual eating disorder therapy in New Jersey, Delaware, and Florida. Some towns served virtually but are not limited to Pittsburg, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Center City, Cherry Hill, Haddonfield, Mount Laurel, Cape May, Avalon, Brick, Dover, New Castle, Bethany Beach, Marydel, and Oceanview
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