Less Stress Summer Guide

Less Stress Summer Guide

After a winter of endless snow and subzero temperatures for most of the country, many are eagerly awaiting summer. Consequently, the recent nice weather in Chicago has stirred anticipation for summer festivals, dining al fresco and afternoons at the beach. For someone in recovery though the summer months may also trigger anxiety around body image, and concerns about maintaining recovery while enjoying summer's fun. Just as we prepare for the stresses of the winter holiday season we can examine our recovery toolboxes and plan for the summer ahead.

1. Summer Clothing

Many of us spend winter reveling in the fact that we can use clothes to cover up what we would rather not reveal to others. As the temperatures rise the safety of our cotton layers become uncomfortable, leaving us with what seems like no protection. Add in the pressures of what the media tells us a summer wardrobe is supposed to be like and dressing ourselves feels like a losing battle. But it doesn't have to be. Every morning you have the option to choose: Skirt or pants? Short sleeves or long? Fortunately in 2014 there are many options that can be comfortable both for the temperature and for you. Look through your closet and have a few options that you know you usually feel good in. Know which pieces are more challenging for you and on the days you wear them acknowledge your bravery. And remember, clothes can be fun but they don't speak to your kindness, courage or strength. Listen to what's right for you that day and honor it.

2. The Beach

Whether you're at the beach or not it seems like so much centers around it during the summer. Every gym is certain they can help you achieve a beach body, and dieting products will assert the same. The funny thing is, every time I'm at the beach I see every body there. Every body can go to the beach to enjoy the sun against her skin or sand beneath her toes. What is being advertised to us as a “beach body” has nothing to do with the beach; instead it's just another marketing ploy. Consequently, the bodies advertised to us are photoshopped and the models featured are paid to look a certain way. Reminding ourselves of these things can help us challenge these ads.

Beyond the ads, if you enjoy going to the beach make an effort to focus on the things that drew you there. Dip your toes in the water, run your hands through the sand and laugh with the people you're with. Resist the urge to compare yourself to the person across the way, acknowledging that they are okay the way they are and you are okay the way you are. Being present for the moment can help take your mind off of how you and everyone else looks.

For those that do not enjoy the beach a genuine, kind “no-thanks” is all you need. If you're feeling left out, consider many of the other activities you could invite others to. Fortunately in Chicago there are plenty of opportunities for movies in the park, impromptu trips to the zoo and music in Millennium Park. Create an achievable list of activities you want to do this summer so that when you turn down an invite to the beach you have others options to enjoy the summer months.

3. Vacations and Irregular Schedules

Maybe you're going on vacation this summer or your therapist is. With summer may come a few weeks in your treatment that you or your therapist have to miss an appointment. If you are anticipating a break in your treatment for a week or two, talk to your therapist. Together you can plan for the time away so that you don't feel like you're sitting in a canoe without a paddle. Often we forget about our most obvious tools when we're stressed. In hindsight we remember that we could have used breathing to slow us down or our senses to help ground us in the present. Work with your therapist down to sharpen your tools so that when the moment arises you can more quickly access them. With this, consider activities you can turn to while on vacation that can help you release the thoughts you'd normally share with your therapist. Write down what you may have shared with your therapist or take some time at the end of the day to acknowledge a few of your strengths. This can help keep your mind in recovery mode rather than on vacation of its own.

Summers seems to require a larger degree of flexibility sometimes, which can be difficult when in you're in the thick of treatment. Be gentle with yourself during this time. Speak up about concerns you may have so that your support system can help. Prepare for what you can during the summer and recognize your effort if something does not go as planned. Just because the temperatures are rising doesn't mean your anxiety has to heat up as well.

Katie Infusino

Katie is an intern at The Awakening Center and finishing up her Masters degree in Community Counseling at DePaul University. She has been thrilled to be an intern at The Awakening Center this year and plans to continue specializing in the treatment of eating disorders and trauma.

The Reality of Relapse

Relapse can be defined in a variety of ways.  Perception and coming to terms with the reality of relapse is important. These moments are inevitable, but they don’t necessarily mean that a relapse is unavoidable. The key is to recognize when warning signs arise and to take preventive measures. I think that relapse can have a negative connotation at times.  When looking at it through a different lens and honoring that it might be part of your journey or your process, recovery may help you form your own sense of discovery and Self.  As the art therapy intern, I believe this poem can speak visually to the hardships and victories while in recovery.  This poem is written about the journey of recovery.  Becoming aware of our surroundings and emotions that manifest on a daily basis can aid in recovery and trying a new “street.”  The poem is by Portia Nelson and it is from her book, There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk: Romance of Self-Discovery.





Chapter I 



I walk down the street. 
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk 
I fall in. 
I am lost ... I am helpless. 
It isn't my fault. 
It takes forever to find a way out. 



Chapter II 


I walk down the same street. 
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. 
I pretend I don't see it. 
I fall in again. 
I can't believe I am in the same place. 
But, it isn't my fault. 
It still takes a long time to get out. 



Chapter III 



I walk down the same street. 
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. 
I see it is there. 
I still fall in ... it's a habit ... but, 
my eyes are open. 
I know where I am. 
It is my fault. 
I get out immediately. 



Chapter IV 



I walk down the same street. 
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. 
I walk around it. 





Chapter V


I walk down another street.

Source: http://www.lifetrekcoaching.com/poems/bio.htm

Rachel Olszewski

Art Therapy Intern

The Awakening Center 2013-2014

Just Breathe

Sometimes the best place to begin is to breathe.

So I invite you to take a few deep breaths, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth and I want you to gently notice how you and your body react.

Notice your belly filling, as if it were a balloon being filled, and the gentle pause between inhalation and exhalation.

Are you feeling a little calmer, as if things slowed down a little bit? Is your heart perhaps beating a little bit softer and at a slower rate? Maybe your limbs are feeling lighter or heavier. Is your posture less rigid and more relaxed?

Take one more deep breath and take notice of your body.

Perhaps by this point you've arrived at a more natural breathing pattern and I want you to try to keep with that as you read this post.

We just took a few seconds, maybe 30 max, to pause and just focus on our breath. Breathing can be a valuable tool to not only calm anxiety, but also to invite yourself to connect with your body, even if it is just for a moment. Taking a few deep breaths allows for the opportunity to clear your mind because you're feeling overwhelmed, or possibly giving yourself the space to sit with an emotion for a few moments before you choose to react. We all use it in different ways, but regardless breathing is a very powerful tool and something that can be done anywhere, at virtually anytime.

So maybe the next time you have a few moments to yourself, you can take a few breaths and focus on your breathing and give yourself the opportunity to reconnect with your body, even for just that moment. You can always find time to breathe. In fact you do it everyday! So what better way to develop the skill, than through practice.


-Jessica Huerta is a Clinical Mental Health Intern at The Awakening Center. Jessica is currently pursuing her Masters of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Roosevelt University.

For the person supporting a friend or loved one with an eating disorder.

“How May I Help You?”

For the person supporting a friend or loved one with an eating disorder.

Michel D. Harris

After greeting each one of my clients, I always ask them, “How may I help you today?”  This simple, open-ended question is one of the most appreciated because instead of telling someone what they should do, I am offering assistance in achieving what my client perceives as important to reach her individual goals.  However, the limited time I have with each client requires an extension of that help from one or several individuals she trusts.  As a source of support to one recovering from an eating disorder, I encourage you to ask, “What can I do to help you?”  What if her reply is always “nothing” or “I don’t know?”  This article will provide assistance with how you can provide support when given minimal or no guidance.

1.  When recovering from an eating disorder, it is a challenge to be comfortable with weight restoration or accepting one’s current body size.  While you may think comments such as, “your face looks nice and full” or “you’re jeans fit good” are complimentary, the person in recovery may hear this as, “your face looks chubby” or “your jeans are too tight.”  Watching someone transform from a malnourished to healthy state is exciting, but instead of making comments related to body size and image, simply ask, “How are you feeling today?”  This shows you are concerned, yet leaves the chosen topic up to the recipient.  Also, as a source of support, avoid making negative comments about your or someone else’s body.  This is the type of behavior that those in recovery are trying to reverse into positive thoughts, and you can help by verbalizing acceptance of yourself and others.

2.  Have you ever experienced any “bumps in the road” when working towards a goal?  Most likely you have, so why would you expect it to be any different for someone recovering from an eating disorder?  There’s going to be days when she falls short with the meal plan or has a binging episode.  Allow that person to use the set-back as a learning experience, and offer positive feedback.  For example, instead of saying, “You were short two ounces of protein today,” communicate positive thoughts; “You met your exchange goals for four food groups today!”  To follow-up, you may ask, “What is your meal planning goal for tomorrow?”  This rewards the positive behavior, yet challenges the person to take another step forward.

3.  Who wouldn’t want to go out for pizza or ice cream?  Events that used to be enjoyable could be fearful for a person in recovery, and there are many reasons why this is so.  First of all, eating out means loss of control in regards to how food is prepared.  Secondly, the foods usually enjoyed at a restaurant are high calorie/high fat, which are avoided in the case of a person with anorexia or used in binge-purge episodes in those with bulimia.  Even though a person in recovery may have previously enjoyed going to a certain establishment, they will have to re-learn how to eat in social situations.  When presenting an invitation to eat out, ask the person where and when she would prefer to go.  This allows control of the situation, and may increase the person’s comfort level in a challenging situation.  Keep in mind that something basic like coffee or frozen yogurt may seem too safe to you, but serves as a starting point.  Once at the chosen destination, act in a manner that makes the person comfortable; don’t comment on what she orders, the quantity of the food served, or the amount of food she eats or does not eat.  When finished, ask the person how she felt about the event and thank her for her company.

In being supportive, it is also important to recognize when a relapse may or has already occurred.  If you notice that the person you are supporting has gone back to behaviors that were detrimental in the past, offer an ear to listen.  For critical situations in which a person is causing harm to self or others, help her seek medical assistance immediately.

_________________________________________________________________

Michel D. Harris is a Registered Dietitian with 14 years of experience as a clinical and outpatient dietitian.  Her areas of practice include eating disorders, weight loss and management, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and food allergies/gluten sensitivity.  As an exercise physiologist, she also assists individuals of all fitness levels in planning exercise programs.

At the Awakening Center, Michel provides individual nutrition consultations, as well as multiple group classes and workshops.  Individual sessions include the development of a comprehensive wellness plan that focuses on establishing a healthy relationship with food and exercise, as well as identifying and changing detrimental eating behaviors/patterns.  The nutrition counseling and mindful eating groups allow individuals to share and receive help with the recovery process via discussion of certain topics and activities.  If you would like to speak with Michel regarding your interest in any of her services, please contact her at 773-929-6262 x24 or meishadivito@yahoo.com.