Holiday shopping is an experience that can bring out the best in some people and the worst in others. If you have an eating disorder, you may not be at your best as you enter the holidays, but there are ways to make your shopping healthier for your mind and body.
First, Bring a Friend for Shopping
Shopping is more fun for many people with a friend or family member. It can be a special advantage, though, to a person with an eating disorder. If you feel comfortable (and maybe even if you're not), tell your friend or loved one about how your eating disorder makes the experience of shopping difficult.
You can even help your friend understand your perspective by pointing out things that are triggers as you walk through stores. You want someone who can be your ally in a shopping trip, and she or he may not know how. You'll have to help your helper.
Perhaps you purge after snacks or meals. If you want help, your friend needs to know this. Or maybe you're tempted to spend most of your time in the mall walking at high speed to try to burn calories. Talk about it beforehand. Of course, if your friend confronts you while shopping, you'll still be frustrated. Knowing you won't necessarily like being called on your behaviors can make the confrontation more bearable.
If you can't bring a friend along, at least have your phone handy so that you can call for support as you go.
Plan Your Shopping Experience
As much as you can, know what you're hoping to buy before you leave your home. It can be exhausting to wander around in the whirlwind of a shopping mall without a solid purpose.
As an alternative, you can shop online. This doesn't take away the need for a shopping buddy, though. If anything, it may increase the need for a friend, because there are lots of triggers on the web. Don't let shopping be something that isolates you.
Should You Consider Avoiding Clothing Stores?
A friend will help you navigate stores of all kinds, but occasionally, you may want to avoid certain stores. If walking in to a store brings up an especially powerful negative voice in your head — telling you that you're fat or worthless — you don't have to be a hero. Be kind to yourself and leave.
If it's not such a terrible voice but it's still uncomfortable, talk it through as you shop. Lean on your support.
Spend Within Your Means
Whether you're bent on spending wildly or simply to gift others so much that you neglect your own well-being, overspending is a hazard. Have a budget for each item you're looking to purchase. Adding post-holiday financial stress won't help with your eating disorder.
Build Rest in to Your Shopping Experience
Fatigue increases the chance of engaging in eating disorder behaviors, because they're the things that you normally do to be comfortable. So plan breaks. Have a goal that your feet won't hurt at the end of the day.
Give Yourself Adequate Nourishment
Ah, yes, there's still that issue of eating. You'll need to eat to maintain your energy and your ability to think wisely. If mall foods are triggers, bring your own foods, preferably with the help of your shopping partner. Tell your friend about how eating will be difficult, so you can have help with it.
You Can Live Your Life Better Than Your Disorder Can
Of course, all of this assumes that you want to get better, that you want to be kind to yourself during the holiday shopping season. Not everyone does. Your eating disorder is bent on your destruction. If you're "on your own side" as you shop, you have a great chance at living well and enjoying yourself along the way.
