HEALTH AND WELLNESS
bother?” (Hey, just so you know, that right there is called depression, my friend. If you’ve got a mental health provider on your care team, it’s a good time to reach out to them.)
Yes, the future is profoundly uncertain right now. What we’re experiencing is unprecedented in a lot of ways. Feeling fearful and even hopeless in the face of a literal pandemic makes a lot of sense.
Not knowing your experience, I can’t tell you how to feel or react to this outbreak. But for me, as horrific as it’s been, this moment has shifted my priorities so rapidly.
When I think about all the time that was stolen from me by my eating disorder, and I think about everything that could happen in the weeks to come? I’m reminded that there isn’t any more time to waste.
you through each day and signal to you what you might need to move through it with as much ease as possible. There’s a pandemic happening. The stress is literally palpable and unavoidable. So if you find yourself craving certain foods right now? That’s your body seeking out richer energy sources to do its job. If you do end up gaining weight? That’s your body adapting to protect you, should you get sick and be unable to properly nourish yourself later on. And if you’re “stress eating” or seeking out comfort foods? That’s your body using food as a way of self-soothing — which can serve an important purpose.
Your eating disorder (and sadly, our culture at large) may want to demonize these experiences. But especially given the circumstances? They’re all very, very normal experiences to have with food.
Humanity has survived plagues and pandemics throughout history, thanks to our resilient, adaptable bodies. The last thing we should be doing is punishing them for protecting us.
5. Recovery still matters. I know a lot of us may find ourselves sinking into despair. “If the world is falling apart anyway,” you might be wondering, “why should I even
"Humanity has survived plagues and pandemics throughout history, thanks to our resilient, adaptable bodies."
"There are so many things I took for granted that feel more important than ever before: connecting with loved ones, my morning walk to the train station, feeling the sun on my face, ....