Chances are at one point or another, someone has recommended you practice staying present during your eating disorder recovery. So what is staying present?
Staying present is being aware of what is going on internally right now, at this very moment.
What feelings are you feeling? How does your body feel? Is there any tension in the body, and where is it located? What thoughts are going through your mind right now?
All of these questions help to bring us into the present moment physically and emotionally. One of the first steps towards changing our eating disorder behaviours for good is recognising how we feel right now. It is also learning to recognise the quality of our thoughts. Are they helpful or harmful? Without this awareness, it is difficult to change any harmful behaviour pattern.
How does one stay present?
- Develop a breathing practice. Learning how to focus on breathing and slow it down is one of the most effective ways to stay present and avoid knee-jerk reactions.
- Know that everything is happening perfectly. No matter what may be happening, believe and embody the idea it is all happening perfectly and in perfect time.
- Ride the waves of emotions. Avoid trying to run away from or numb out from difficult emotions, which is what normally happens when harmful behaviours are practised. Instead, learn and practice how to sit in the emotion no matter how uncomfortable it may feel and know it will eventually pass.
Watch the video below to learn more!
[link: https://youtu.be/JTZEHYPKsT4]
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