A lapse occurs when one experiences a temporary slip-up into old habits. A lifestyle change does not occur over time and it may take some time before one gets used to new, better habits. A lapse is like a “crave” to go back to what has destroyed oneself. With some courage, determination and strong will power, one will make it through these phases!
Dealing with a Lapse
During the first stages of recovery, lapses are very common. For example, one’s trying to increase his or her daily caloric intake until a bad mood or a thought affects one’s behaviour and the sufferer purposely restricts his or her food intake for a day or two in order to cope with the bad mood or thought. After adopting such behaviour for a few days, the sufferer becomes aware that he or she is reverting back to disordered habits and gets back on the recovery-wagon.
Lapses can be frightful for some, but they are INEVITABLE and I can assure you that everyone experiences them. I experience them nearly every week because I am not fully-recovered yet, but I know recovered sufferers who experience them every month or during a specific season or month. These lapse stages can teach an ED sufferer a lot. When I have a lapse I usually ask myself the following questions.
· Did I eat enough during the past few days?
· What is currently bothering me in my life?
· Did I expect too much out of myself?
· Am I sleeping enough?
· Am I getting enough sunlight?
· Am I spending a lot of time by myself rather surrounded with good company?
I keep a diary and list down the answers to these questions along with a brief description of that day’s activities. After the week is over, I read through the whole week’s writings and analyse. I also try to list a positive statement about myself each day. At the end of the week, I would have collected and got to know seven positive statements about me!
Maintaining a balanced diet, full of nutritious food can aid brain function whilst providing oneself with sufficient energy and adequate nutrition. Thus one would be able to carry on with his or her daily activities without feeling depressed, tired or run down.
Exercise helps a lot. The endorphin rush brought about by exercise helps oneself feel calmer, stronger and also helps to boost self-esteem. So a brisk walk, jog or a short circuit-training routine can avoid or minimise the effect of a lapse.
Here is a summary of the article above in order to help oneself overcome a lapse:
· Forgive yourself
· Make a diary
· List positive affirmations
· Focus on progress rather than perfection as recovery is a progressive change rather than a rapid change
· Maintain a healthy lifestyle
· Listen to music
· Seek extra support
· ...And remember that a lapse is a normal part of recovery so do not consider giving up
Lapses are not experienced by eating disorders’ sufferers only. Drug addicts, people suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcoholics, people undergoing treatment for depression or gambling addicts, all go through these “lapses days”. Therefore this article does not apply for ED sufferers only!!
Dealing with a Lapse
During the first stages of recovery, lapses are very common. For example, one’s trying to increase his or her daily caloric intake until a bad mood or a thought affects one’s behaviour and the sufferer purposely restricts his or her food intake for a day or two in order to cope with the bad mood or thought. After adopting such behaviour for a few days, the sufferer becomes aware that he or she is reverting back to disordered habits and gets back on the recovery-wagon.
Lapses can be frightful for some, but they are INEVITABLE and I can assure you that everyone experiences them. I experience them nearly every week because I am not fully-recovered yet, but I know recovered sufferers who experience them every month or during a specific season or month. These lapse stages can teach an ED sufferer a lot. When I have a lapse I usually ask myself the following questions.
· Did I eat enough during the past few days?
· What is currently bothering me in my life?
· Did I expect too much out of myself?
· Am I sleeping enough?
· Am I getting enough sunlight?
· Am I spending a lot of time by myself rather surrounded with good company?
I keep a diary and list down the answers to these questions along with a brief description of that day’s activities. After the week is over, I read through the whole week’s writings and analyse. I also try to list a positive statement about myself each day. At the end of the week, I would have collected and got to know seven positive statements about me!
Maintaining a balanced diet, full of nutritious food can aid brain function whilst providing oneself with sufficient energy and adequate nutrition. Thus one would be able to carry on with his or her daily activities without feeling depressed, tired or run down.
Exercise helps a lot. The endorphin rush brought about by exercise helps oneself feel calmer, stronger and also helps to boost self-esteem. So a brisk walk, jog or a short circuit-training routine can avoid or minimise the effect of a lapse.
Here is a summary of the article above in order to help oneself overcome a lapse:
· Forgive yourself
· Make a diary
· List positive affirmations
· Focus on progress rather than perfection as recovery is a progressive change rather than a rapid change
· Maintain a healthy lifestyle
· Listen to music
· Seek extra support
· ...And remember that a lapse is a normal part of recovery so do not consider giving up
Lapses are not experienced by eating disorders’ sufferers only. Drug addicts, people suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcoholics, people undergoing treatment for depression or gambling addicts, all go through these “lapses days”. Therefore this article does not apply for ED sufferers only!!