I still cannot believe that the holiday season is upon us. It always comes up quickly and our lives get busier. Whether you are getting ready for the Black Friday specials, planning your Thanksgiving menu or about to pick Secret Santa with your family, we often jump from one thing to another.
When I lead mindfulness exercises during my DBT skills groups, I understand that it may be the first time that day where my clients took a moment to pause. The first time where they may notice some tension in their head or that they have a gnawing sense of anxiety in their chest.
Moment to Pause is a DBT skill that will be invaluable to your recovery from anorexia and other eating disorders. It helps you to stop for a moment and check in with how you are feeling. I used my eating disorder to numb me out- to disconnect from my mind and my body. Recovery consists of moments of re-connection-moments to identify and feel your emotions.
- Pause in the middle of your busy day to acknowledge how you are feeling- physically, emotionally, mentally and physically.
- Take slow deliberate deep breaths. Allow your breath to anchor you to the moment. Next notice what is going on within you. Then notice what is going on around you. What interactions are you engaging in now? What are people around you doing or saying?
- Check in regularly with yourself to connect to what you need in the moment.
Moment to Pause empowers you to be responsive to life, instead of reactive and impulsive. Mindfully checking in helps us to be more effective in our decisions that align to our short-term and long-term goals.
We can recover one day at a time.
Serenity Always,
Meredith
