---
title: Holidays and Special Occasions 
description: Eating disorder recovery support during the holidays: stories, tips, suggestions
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date: 2012-09-19T06:45:54Z
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---

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Here you will find discussion and personal stories related to the particular stresses and challenges that come with holidays and special occasions.

Suggestions and recommendations are here for moving through these special days as best you can, depending on your level of recovery.

 

   Details    Category: [Holidays and Special Occasions](https://eatingdisorderrecovery.net/blog/holidays-and-special-occasions/)  [![game_halloween_pumpkin_carver_2](https://eatingdisorderrecovery.net/images/game_halloween_pumpkin_carver_2.jpg)](https://eatingdisorderrecovery.net/images/game_halloween_pumpkin_carver_2.jpg "Boo!")

Boo! Halloween is upon us! Children are thrilled and deliciously chilled with the anticipation of costumes, walks in the dark with friends (trailed by parents), parties, images of witches and ghosts and, of course, the promise of lots of candy.

But what happens to you on Halloween? The shops are full of binge bags of every treat imaginable.

 

 [  Read more … ](https://eatingdisorderrecovery.net/holidays-and-special-occasions/tricking-or-treating-yourself-this-halloween)

 

 

   Details    Category: [Holidays and Special Occasions](https://eatingdisorderrecovery.net/blog/holidays-and-special-occasions/)  On 9/11, in the early morning, I sat in my office with a patient. I began work a 6:15 a.m. Seeing people continuously, as is my practice, I wouldn't get to the day's news until my lunch break. A patient came in saying that the Twin Towers in New York had been attacked and were down.

Patients tell me many things. Some factual. Some distortions. Some complete fantasies.

 

 [  Read more … ](https://eatingdisorderrecovery.net/holidays-and-special-occasions/911-then-and-now)

 

 

   Details    Category: [Holidays and Special Occasions](https://eatingdisorderrecovery.net/blog/holidays-and-special-occasions/)  Thoughts on Easter

Holidays can be triggering for you if you have an eating disorder. Easter can mean family gatherings, big dinners and Easter baskets loaded with candy. You may be anxious if you are in the midst of such an experience. You may be anxious and depressed if you are NOT in the midst of such an experience.

I invite you to step back from your current state of mind and take a look at the meaning of Easter. A friend wrote to me today, saying, "I don't get the connection between rabbits, eggs, and Jesus."

Here's my response to her.

 

 [  Read more … ](https://eatingdisorderrecovery.net/holidays-and-special-occasions/eggs-jesus-rabbits-candy-and-eating-disorder-recovery)

 

 

   Details    Category: [Holidays and Special Occasions](https://eatingdisorderrecovery.net/blog/holidays-and-special-occasions/)  Are you traveling this season? Are you going to stay with family? Are you going with friends for a week or weekend of frolic, perhaps in the snow? Maybe you and a friend are taking a few days to be together on retreat in a lovely location. Perhaps you are traveling alone to a seminar, workshop, or meditation retreat so you can share the holidays with other people and not be by yourself.

 [  Read more … ](https://eatingdisorderrecovery.net/holidays-and-special-occasions/holiday-travel-your-recovery-kit)