Sun, sea, sand, road trip, Disney, camping…they all sound exciting, right? From what I have often seen, for individuals coping with an eating disorder, this excitement is often masked by fear, anxiety, and over thinking.
Certain parents feel the need to be spontaneous during vacations. But, having a child enduring an eating disorder or any unhealthy relationship with body and food requires a solid plan and consideration a head of time. Your role as a parent is to reduce and even eliminate the anxiety around the trip
- Ensure that your child packs their own suitcase beforehand. Consider comforting items such as a stuffed animal, a heavy blanket, coloring pages, books, and their preferred music as essential.
- Share with your child what the food choices will be, and agree in advance the type of restaurants you will visit. You know your child the most – would they prefer a restaurant, or would they prefer a picnic in nature? It is not required to get into the fine details with an exact restaurant name, but you both need to agree – will it be Chinese? French? Italian? Maybe a soup and salad bar? Make it very clear that 3 meals and 3 snacks are mandatory, and there will be no negotiation around it. Be prepared with high energy snacks, available at all times.
- Anxiety can be significantly reduced by offering your child’s best friend to join your trip. Be certain that this friend is aware of the struggles your child is facing, and is on board with supporting him. This friend can assist in getting your child to eat, avoid skipping meals, and eliminate over exercising or walking.
- Consider carefully your destination. Vacations involving sea and pools might be stressful, as there are expectations around swimming and wearing less clothing than usual. This usually frightens individuals with an eating disorder. If you are confident this is the destination you would like, offer to your child the option of bringing loose clothes that are slightly less than what they would usually wear.
- As the trip progresses, ask your child how they feel. Assure them you acknowledge the efforts they are making, and are proud of how they are coping. Reward them for their efforts with a souvenir from where you visit.