Finding Healthier coping mechanisms

I found the following information online at this site and thought it was really insightful so wanted to share it with you all. 

Developing Healthier Coping Mechanisms

If the most effective interventions are focused on developing better coping mechanisms, this means an individual must identify his triggers – what causes him to make poor choices with his eating. While it differs for each person, 10 triggers have been identified as the most common:

1. Poor body image
2. Social eating situations, such as Thanksgiving dinner
3. Resisting the urge to binge
4. Overcoming shame after a binge
5. Poor self-esteem
6. Refusing to believe healthy eating will ever happen
7. Knowing how to reward oneself for accomplishments
8. Social isolation
9. Tension or anxiety
10. An inability to verbally defend oneself against attacks

If you are struggling with an eating disorder, an important step for you is to consider which of these triggers apply to you. From there, you can begin to develop alternative coping mechanisms instead of eating. These strategies could range from planning to have a friend fill your plate at problem meals to developing steady daily meal times.

Further Help for Eating Disorders

If you don’t carefully and actively monitor your internal approaches to different circumstances, it might seem that conquering your eating disorder will never happen. But the truth is that overcoming unhealthy choices in life takes time and practice. You may fall back into poor habits, but you do not have to stay in a place of failure. Understanding the value of employing a strong support system, and leaning on that support through your ups and downs, can be the difference between a successful recovery and not being able to overcome your eating disorder.

The bottom line is this: returning to your disorder is always a risk, and one you must remain vigilant against in every way.

The cost of returning to your eating disorder is too high. If this is where you are right now, the most important thing to remember is that you are not alone.

For me, my main 'healthier coping mechanisms' are sharing my thoughts or feeling on my blog or too one of my friends via email that I have met through my blog. I feel so lucky to have such an understanding and non judgemental audience that always support me 100% and I therefore always feel comfortable to share my thoughts, no matter what they are. I also find reading other bloggers posts really helpful.

Other things that help me and act as good coping mechanisms for when life gets hard is getting outside and taking Tess for a walk, yoga, seeing my dad or sister (hugging them and talking to them), shutting off and watching a series and lastly having a good cry. This may sound weird but I find letting myself cry when I feel the need to do it helps me so much to just let everything out. I always feel so much better after I have a cry about something.

Some other good coping skills include from this site include: 

Meditation and Relaxation Techniques: Practicing deep breathing techniques, the relaxation response, or progressive muscle relaxation are ways to help reduce stress and induce relaxation.
Time to Yourself: It is important to set aside time everyday to allow yourself to relax and escape the stress of life. Give yourself a private, mini vacation from everything going on around you.
Physical Activity: Moving around and getting the heart rate up causes the body to release endorphins (the body's feel good hormones). Exercising provides some stress relief.
Reading: Escape from reality completely by reading. Reading can help you to de-stress by taking your mind off everyday life.
Friendship: Having friends who are willing to listen and support one through good and bad times is essential.
Humor: Adding humor to a stressful situation can help to lighten the mood.
Hobbies: Having creative outlets such as listening to music, drawing or gardening are great ways to relax and relieve everyday stress.
Spirituality Actively believing in a higher power or divine being can have many health benefits. In recent studies, it has been found that people who pray have better mental health than those who do not.
Pets: Taking care of a pet helps distract the mind from stressful thoughts. Studies Show that pets are a calming influence in people's lives.
Sleeping The human body needs a chance to rest and repair itself after a long and stressful day. Sleeping gives the body this chance so that it is ready to perform another day.

Nutrition Eating foods that are good for you not only improve your physical health, but they play a major role in your mental health. When your body gets the proper nutrients, it is better able to function in every capacity.