Don’t Let ED Take Christmas

stormBy Christine Saah (Christine is actively involved with MIHI and will be writing for us weekly.

A young woman, besides me expressed great concern for the holidays saying, I’m really struggling with the urge to binge and purge as well as the urge to self injure, especially during the holiday season.  The holiday season seems to be a battle every day for those with eating disorders and self harming behaviors. Temptations are everywhere. I also think the emotions that trigger us are heightened. The holidays may be extremely joyful and these struggles seem to suck all the joy away from them. There is a way to change this. I promise! It won’t be easy, but you can overcome the negative feelings with Christ and the celebration of His birth.

When there is unbelief, such as not being strong enough to fight the urges to binge, purge and self injure, you can turn to prayer. Ask God to help your unbelief. You can pray, I believe; help my unbelief (Mark 10:24). God knows your feelings of weakness, and He wants to help you. All you need to do is ask. The fact that you are struggling with temptation doesn’t mean you are a failure. It’s a struggle, because you are fighting to change those behaviors. Even the tiniest glimmer of hope is something to celebrate! You need to celebrate the small accomplishments to find joy in the suffering. It can be having one less binge than usual, binging but not purging, harming one less time or just getting through Christmas dinner with your family without acting on symptoms. All things can be done for the One who believes (Mark 10:23). Someone who has almost no belief, but some belief, can still turn to the cross.

This holiday season can remain joyful in the midst of your suffering. Besides being proud of the small accomplishments, you need to remember how great it was for Christ to be born. Most have heard this already, but Christ came into this world to save us from our sins. More specifically, He came into this world for you reading this. You are a sinner. You are also able to free yourself from sin through confession. It doesn’t matter if you confess the same thing over and over again. Each time you turn back to Christ, He is so happy and proud of you! He loves you so much! Use your struggle as a way to create joy when it is lacking. Celebrate every little accomplishment, because it is beautiful!

P.S. You are enough.

 

 

 

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