Muharram Islamic New Year and Recovery from Eating Disorders

Islamic New Year – رأس السنة الهجرية‎ Ras as-Sanah al-Hijriyah- 2017 began on the evening of Thursday, September 21. Muharram is the month with which the Muslims begin their lunar Hijrah Calendar. It is one of the most consecrated months in the Islamic calendar. It is a month of deep sadness, hope and blessings.

People who suffer from Eating Disorders often look at New Year with hope, a hope of recovery from their Eating Disorder, a hope to heal themselves of their disordered thinking, a hope to lessen some of the dangerous eating disorder behaviors, a hope that life will turn better with a New Year. We often promise ourselves that this coming year, we will take care of our mental and physical health, become more sociable and perhaps be free from the slavery of Eating Disorder. We strive for improvement, even perfection, thinking that we will be happy and content if only we can achieve the often out-of-reach goals we set for ourselves.

The road to disappointment is paved with expectations.

What I have discovered over the years is that the problem with New Year’s resolutions is they are mostly expressions of hope rather than plans of action.  

What’s the old saying? You can’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been?

I remember one December sitting in a cafe vowing to my friends that this coming year will be a year free from all kind of Eating Disordered  behaviors, a year of healing, happiness and goodness. I would wake up on the morning of 1^st January hoping that with some miracle I would be free from the slavery of Eating Disorder. Three days of intense pressure to achieve those unrealistic goals of eating and I would always give up, telling my friends that I will approach recovery in few months time, when the Islamic New Year will begin. Before I could even compile another list of new resolutions, I ended up in A&E. What I have learnt is that in ED recovery, unmet expectations often lead to low self-esteem, depression, making you more vulnerable to the unhealthy behaviors from which you try to abstain.

In Eating Disorder Recovery just remember One thing:

There are two days in every week we have no control over: yesterday and tomorrow. Today is the only day we can change. Every day is a gift, that’s why we call it the present.  So that was what I did, instead of crying over my failures of past and planning my future, I decided to focus on the present, one experience at a time, one bite at a time, one snack at a time and finally one meal at a time.

 

If you are seeking your Eating Disorder, then Your Eating Disorder is also seeking you.

Recovery is an ongoing process and has to be practiced one day at a time. Don’t live in the nightmares of your past or focus too much on your future, doing that we miss the beauty of our present.

 

I think New Year’s resolutions can be helpful for the people suffering from Eating Disorders as long as the goals that are set are realistic. So New Year, New Hope and another attempt at Recovery for all who suffer from Eating Disorders.

 

Practice brings experience and experience enhances the intellect. 

Imam Hussain

Try to set aside some time for some planning-

Achieving recovery goals is a process of conscious planning.

Planning is best done in a calm atmosphere and can be done quite effectively in 10 minutes a day.

Establish and review your short-term and long-term goals and then Plan your recovery with those goals in mind.

Do Something New

This New Year why not try making easy to achieve recovery resolutions rather than the same old unrealistic New Year’s resolutions?  Write down all of your old eating disordered resolutions and shred them. Then create a list of positive recovery oriented resolutions for this year.  This can be a great exercise in developing positive achievable goals.

Make a list of goals you want to achieve this year and focus on what you want to GAIN rather than what you want to lose. Your list may look something like this:

1. Connecting with Allah
2. Spending more time with loved ones and developing authentic relationships
3. Practicing listening to my body, what it needs for balance, health, rest, and nourishment.
4. Working on developing more insight and mindfullness in my daily life.
5. Reading good books. One book at a time at your own pace.
6. Planning a great vacation.
7. Increasing in knowledge

The Difficult Part

Now here is the difficult part, there is no way you can achieve any of these goals through eating disordered behaviors. It is only through health that we gain happiness and connection with Almighty Allah. Striving for balance in health and eating leads to happiness. It is our chaotic disordered eating that contributes towards many of our ailments and anxieties. No recovery from eating disorder is possible without food.

In Recovery Every Day Is New Year’s Day

Every day is the first day of the new first year of the rest of your life

Giving up One Disordered Habit at a Time

Recovery from Eating Disorder is all about taking some risks. What do you have to lose?

Say No to Obsessive Dieting– ask your self a question, are you still dieting?

A diet is any system of eating that attempts to exert control over what, where, when or how much you eat.

Shift your focus this year to Feeling Better in Mind, Body and Soul

When 2013 began, two of the top New Year’s resolutions in America were to become more physically fit and to lose weight. This was reported by a survey published by Franklin Covey. Please be careful, when you attempt to make such resolutions, try to shift your focus towards healthier lifestyle and optimal health. Dieting and exercise are two activities that contribute to the development of eating disorders. Quick fix is not an answer. We all know how such diet, exercise and weight loss regimens can quickly spiral out of control, especially for someone who has a family history of disordered eating thoughts and behaviours.

Say No to Diet

The Biological Researcher Ancel Keyes seminal study into semi-starvation showed that reducing people’s diet to a state of semi-starvation produced symptoms of irritability, loss of endurance and obsessive behaviour around food, including but not limited to lying, hoarding and stealing. What is astounding about this study that how once the period of semi-starvation ended and people could once again eat whatever they wanted, they ate up to eight times as much food as they had done before they started semi-starvation diet. It all sounds so familiar, how one unhealthy method of eating and straying away from balanced eating led to another unhealthy pattern of binging and over eating.

Tip: follow the eating guidelines Islam sent down 1400 years ago and strike for balance in your diet. Depriving yourself of food is the worst thing you can do in recovery.

RETHINK Vomiting, Laxatives and Diuretics– These methods of weight control are used when a person feels that dieting alone doesn’t have the desired effect, or once binges have begun. Ask yourself a question, are you happy and 100% satisfied using these methods?  Part of you is probably somewhat ashamed and worried about using these practices. In fact you are right to be concerned.

Vomiting; diuretics and laxatives lead to a loss of blood salts and water which in turn produces chronic tiredness, weakness, inability to concentrate, dizziness, headaches and palpitations. Also epileptic fits, irregular heartbeats and kidney damage can be caused by these practices.

Reduce your intake of caffeine– and drink more water

Avoid artificial sweeteners – these feed misinformation into your body. Your body is tricked by the artificial sweetener, and years of learning about the metabolic consequences of food is undone. Your body will learn: sweetness= no energy. Your body’s instincts will therefore drive you to eat large quantities of sweet things as it strives for adequate nourishment.

 

This Year try to do the Following

 

Cultivating Positive Attitude towards yourself and life

“Give Glad tidings to those who exercise patience when struck with adversity and say, ’indeed we belong to God and to him is our return’ such ones receive blessings and Mercy of their lord, and such are the guided ones,”

(Qur’an 2:155).

Start cultivating a positive attitude towards recovery. Positive attitude influences the thymus gland, which in turn strengthens the immune system.

 

Incorporate some Super foods in your Diet

“Ye people, eat of what is on earth, lawful and wholesome,”

(Qur’an 2:168).

Even if the rest of your diet is miserable, the addition of some simple “super foods” can supercharge it. Add some alfalfa sprouts to your salads often, use raw honey in your breakfast in the morning. All of the foods displayed above contain a dense concentration of nutrients and serve the body in the same way vitamins do.

  Get some more nice Zzzzzzz

“Lo! your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days, then mounted He the Throne. He covereth the night with the day, which is in haste to follow it, and hath made the sun and the moon and the stars subservient by His command. His verily is all creation and commandment blessed be Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!”

(Qur’an 7:54).

In eating disorder it is amazing how so many of us suffer from disturbed and abnormal sleep patterns. Lack of sleep can exacerbate almost any health problem from hypoglycemia and diabetes to pain and mental illness. Even missing an hour of sleep on a regular basis can harm your health. Make sure you are getting enough sleep at night. Allow yourself some breaks during the day.

  Reverse your Negative Thinking by Praying More

 

Allah’s Remembrance Is the Key

Thus, in both suffering and in recovery– during night as well as day – thinking of Allah is the key. Eating Disorder becomes a part of your subconscious mind, that’s why night and day your thoughts revolve around behaviours that can satisfy the demon of eating disorder. The key to defeating the demon of eating disorder is to change your thought process to influence your subconscious through Dhikr, remembrance of Allah. Is there anything more powerful then invoking the name of your mighty Lord? “first you do the dhikr and then the dhikr does you.” It becomes a part of our unconscious and sings in our bloodstream.

  Keep Good Company- It’s pivotal to start hanging out with people who have the good habits of eating well and giving out positive messages. Reduce time spent with people or in places that are a bad influence.

  Be more kind and compassionate to yourself. Practice at least one method of self-care daily, even if you have to schedule it into your day. Pamper yourself with a hot bath, a yoga class or a manicure, or simply spend some time journaling or practicing a hobby that brings joy or special value to your life.

  Treat yourself as you treat others. Make a point to practice the “golden rule” on yourself. Try to not be as hard on yourself this year, and remember that you deserve happiness, just like everyone else.

  Try one new activity or take one small risk each month. Gradually approach your fears and try new experiences in life to broaden opportunities for enjoyment and engagement with others.

  Ask for help more often. Why should you stay stuck in the limbo of Eating Disorder when the rope of recovery is in your hands?

  Explore Help and Seek the treatment that Appeals to you.

  Take time to appreciate the beauty around you. Practice mindfulness and commit to being present in the moment. Celebrate the wonders of the world around you by spending time in nature or with supportive family and friends, both of which can be grounding and peaceful when you feel stressed and chaotic.

 Use Natural/Holistic Healing-

“God never inflicts a disease unless he makes a cure for it…” (Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad related by Abu Hurairah) . The Prophet himself used natural healing in his community. Allah has created a cure for every disease – so go see a natural health care practitioner and get evaluated. Holistic Healing is A Beautiful Way of Honoring the Integrity of your Body, Achieving the Clarity of the Mind, and celebrating the Beauty of the Soul.

Laugh More, Yell Less

Allah’s Apostle said,

“The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the strong is the one who controls himself while in anger,” (Bukhari: Volume 8, Book 73, Number 135).

Laughing has been found to have therapeutic qualities, as illustrated by Robin Williams in the film “Patch Williams”. On the other hand, anger has been found to reduce immune system function.

  Learn and trust your body- Don’t forget that your body is smarter than you

In Eating disorder we have been trained by the demon of eating disorder to think of our bodies as bad, wrong or simply imperfect. In eating disorder we overestimate the size of our body and the more out of control your eating is, the worse this gets. Changing this thinking will be a monumental task. In recovery everything seems difficult at first, but try to exercise some patience. Therefore, working on your eating behavior, therefore, will have a positive effect on your attitudes to your body.

 

The goal is to feel good about what you can do; little victories along the way will pave the way for recovery from Eating Disorder one Day Inshallah. It is your recovery; therefore, it is important that you find something that might work for you!

 

I wish you a wonderful new journey into recovery from eating disorder full of personal accomplishment laced with self-respect and dignity, which you deserve 365 days a year!