Every holiday seems to have a large food component in our culture. Fourth of July is no exception. If you have an eating disorder, the holiday may pose some challenges for you that other people don't consider.

If you recognize these challenges and confront them directly in terms of your needs and vulnerabilities, you can participate in a fun celebration while maintaining your eating disorder recovery. Fourth of July food challenges take many forms.

The Days after Thanksgiving – Time for Your Real Thankfulness

In my years as a psychotherapist, I’ve been honored to work with many people who reveal and discover their true feelings during holidays. As we share and explore together, we find the core gratitude within that enhances daily life and enriches their holiday experience. Perhaps some of what we’ve found will deepen and enrich your experience too.

The Thanksgiving holiday is over. You may reflect on:

You may notice and wonder why I include sustainability issues in my writing when my work is dedicated to eating disorder recovery and women's fulfillment in life, living free, respected, healthy and educated.

Sustainability - the real sustainability that supports the health and well-being of all while respecting and honoring living active systems and relationships among and between everything - is vital for our personal lives. It expands out to include everyone, everything and, indeed, the globe.

Understanding and taking care of your mind, spirit, and body well, with an appreciation of how you are connected with everyone and everything, is all the equipment you need to create a good, healthy life and a sustainable world. That includes eating disorder recovery. Here's how.

You are on the other side of Thanksgiving. How did you do? Now, you have a week or two before Christmas food starts to surround you. Are you ready?