Transitions with ED & The Gang

Transitions have always been difficult for me with ED, especially when returning home after a trip.  I’m not sure what about it is so tough, but I’ve heard I’m not alone in this struggle.

Recently, I returned home from the Dominican Republic where my husband and I spent a week at an all inclusive resort to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary.

View from our balcony in the Dominican Republic

The typical struggle started on our flight home.  

We landed about 25 minutes early to catch our second flight home to Columbus.

 I was excited to arrive early because we only had 1 hour to get through customs, grab our luggage, go through security again, and catch the next fight.  

The gate assigned to us was occupied so we sat on the plane for about 40 minutes.  Now we had even less time to catch the next flight.  

We made it, but it was one VERY stressful 45 minutes.

I could feel the desire to Crash & Burn slowly creep into me as I sat on the second flight home.  

Ed told me I would feel so much better if I would drown my stress in food.  He told me I needed to eat and isolate from the world.  

Then I would feel better.  

But I remembered the thousands of times where I have listened to ED and realized that to follow his instructions would only lead me into a deeper pit of despair.

I decided there on the plane that I was going to use the skills I had developed to fight ED & The Gang.

 

 

I got out my journal and started writing.  I asked myself these questions….

 

 

As I began to write, I realized I was experiencing a lot of emotions from our layover.  It felt so good to acknowledge the stress and that I was upset for not handling it better.  

I offered myself grace, reminded myself I’m human, and told myself I don’t have to have it all together.  

By the time the flight landed I was at peace and the urge to binge and isolate was gone!

I had several times where the urge to Crash & Burn came along the days following our trip.  I didn’t always respond to these urges correctly, but I didn’t give in to a complete Crash & Burn.  

Progress not perfection.  

This transition gave me the opportunity to strengthen my healthy coping muscles so they are stronger for next time! 

Do you find transitions hard?  If so, what about them is difficult for you?