Coping with Christmas - Newcastle

Coping with Christmas is for anyone supporting a person with an eating disorder. Due to the interactive and peer sharing format of the workshop this course is not appropriate for people with an eating disorder or organisations wanting to learn more about eating disorders. It is essential these courses are only attended by carers supporting a loved one with an eating disorder.

Coping with Christmas

Skills & planning for how to support someone with an eating disorder during the festive holidays.

If you have an eating disorder, Christmas can be an extremely challenging time. People can expect you to be happy and to enjoy the festive period. Often carers and sufferers alike worry about it and how everyone can feel relaxed and not focus too much on food and weight. This workshop will help carers support their loved one with an eating disorder to remain in control and not feel overwhelmed.

The course will cover the importance of planning, what to do if someone says the ‘wrong thing’ and how to manage with food restrictions or binge situations.

We will provide carers with tools to collaboratively plan the day with their loved one and identify potential triggers to eating disorder thoughts and behaviour.

Christmas is a time for everyone to enjoy themselves, even if you have a loved one affected by an eating disorder, enjoyment can still be possible.

This course is suitable for parents, partners, siblings, other family members and friends supporting a loved one with an eating disorder.

Learning Objectives:

• Why is Christmas so difficult? Reflecting on attitudes and beliefs around Christmas. Obtaining and understanding your loved ones hopes for Christmas

• Meal planning for Christmas, testing it out and evaluating it before the big day

• Carers worries about Christmas – how can you manage these?

• Communication skills – motivational interviewing

• Accommodating and enabling behaviours by carers. Recognising them and informing your loved one

• Educating visitors and thinking with your loved one how to cope with comments that they find distressing

• Dealing with the New Year, media and the cultural norms.

If tickets are sold out for this event please contact training@beateatingdisorders.org.uk as we may still may be able to offer you a ticket.