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10 Tips for Traveling and Maintaining Eating Disorder Recovery
Contributor: Kirsten Haglund, Community Relations Representative for Timberline Knolls and Founder and President of the Kirsten Haglund Foundation
Today, travel is easier and cheaper than ever, making it a regular part of our personal and professional lives. It is hard to avoid and can be incredibly stressful, which means triggering opportunities abound for those in eating disorder recovery.
However, traveling does not have to run recovery off the rails. In fact, it can be used for just the opposite: to strengthen and affirm the skills developed and lay the foundation for a strong and lasting recovery.
Therefore, here are a few tips:
- Get to the airport/train station early: In order to avoid anxiety and any last minute or unexpected troubles that might lead to stress or a missed flight or train.
- Plan ahead with snacks/food: Make sure to pack snacks and foods that you like and that are nutritious. Options in transportation hubs or along the highway are not always satisfying and can be triggering.
- Drink lots of water: Hydration is essential for overall health and well-being, but also helps digestion and energy levels, and to keep your mind and body strong.
- Get outside: Fresh air, especially after being cooped up in a plane, car, or hotel can be incredibly healing. Taking time in nature or even just a few short, deep breaths of outdoor air can do wonders for your mental health.
- Get some sleep: Bring an eye covering, perhaps your favorite bedtime story, get a bedtime ritual started as soon as you arrive at your destination. That way, you can take advantage of restful sleep, even in a place other than home.
- Give yourself grace: If you stumble in your recovery while traveling, be prepared to offer yourself forgiveness and grace. Expect you’ll be imperfect because perfection is impossible.
- Reach out to your treatment team: Make sure to ask before you embark if you can call a therapist or close friend for support and encouragement if you need to while traveling.
- Bring healthy coping strategies: Bring your favorite books, music, knitting gear or yoga mat so that you can practice healing strategies if the travel gets stressful. Don’t leave them at home and assume you’ll be fine!
- Dedicate time away from technology: Screen time can make us feel distracted and scattered – especially in new situations. So, make sure to focus on the people in front of you and relationships, rather than your device.
- Practice prayer and gratitude: Make prayer or meditation a part of each morning while traveling, practicing gratitude, which gives you something to focus on other than circumstances which might be less than comfortable.
The most difficult thing about traveling in recovery is that there are so many unknowns. Therefore, the most important this to do is have a plan in place, and to expect the unexpected.
Being prepared for uncertainty is a great skill to hone, both in recovery and for the rest of your life. With grace and gratitude, travel and the accompanying busy-ness can be an incredible opportunity for growth.
About the author: Kirsten Haglund continues to work as an advocate for greater awareness of eating disorders and resources for care. Since she won the crown of Miss America 2008, she has spoken on numerous college campuses, worked with youth and church groups domestically and abroad, lobbied Congress with the Eating Disorders Coalition, and started her own non-profit, the Kirsten Haglund Foundation, to raise funds and assist families financially in seeking treatment for eating disorders. She is also the Community Relations Specialist for Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center.
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer a discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.
We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Published on February 27, 2018.
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com
The EatingDisorderHope.com editorial team comprises experienced writers, editors, and medical reviewers specializing in eating disorders, treatment, and mental and behavioral health.
