TRIGGERS
Eventually you will identify your own, personal triggers and you will be able to avoid them/learn how to deal with them. A trigger can be anything and can 'trigger' you in to doing anything but mostly when we talk about a trigger in relation to an eating disorder we refer to something that triggers you in to taking part in an eating disordered behaviour. This could be binging, restricting, cutting back/cutting out insulin, etc. Triggers can be physical or emotional so try and figure out what yours are and learn how to deal with them and/or learn how to avoid them. Identifying your triggers can be vital to recovery as you will learn how to avoid falling in to an eating disorder's trap.
TRIGGERS -
TRIGGERS -
- Being alone/isolating oneself
- Restricting food (as it makes you vulnerable to binging)
- Denying oneself 'treat' foods (same as above)
- Arguments/conflict
- Loneliness
- Exposure to the event/thing that caused the eating disorder in the first place (i.e. abuse)
- Exams/finals at school, college or university
- When pressure is increased from friends/family to get better i.e. if a 'time frame' is given to get better
- Going through a break up with a boyfriend/girlfriend/partner
- Marriage problems
- Problems at work
- Bullying
- The loss of a friend/family member
- If a friend is also going through an eating disorder
- Recently talking to your therapist about a past trauma
- Just being discharged as an inpatient
- Having a desired weight that is too low and not realistic for your body/height
- Presence of OCD