Helpful ways to manage Eating Disorders during Ramadan

 

Dear Readers,

 

Please find below a very helpful post by Natasha to help people navigate Ramadan with their Eating Disorder. Since 2020, Ramadan has been different to what we are used to. For anyone struggling with Eating Disorder, Ramadan is often a time when the spiritual cheer is replaced with a heightened sense of fear. And although the opportunities to socialise may look a little different this Ramadan, it doesn’t mean that feelings of  anxiety and worry will ease. Ramadan is still likely to be an exceptionally challenging time for many of the Muslims in recovery from an Eating disorder, especially if you are just beginning or early on in your recovery journey.

Navigating these situations—where everyone around you seems to be on spiritual high while you feel like you’re struggling just to hold it together—can be overwhelming, isolating, and emotionally taxing. If you’re in that position right now, know that it’s okay to be having a hard time and that this year in particular professionals from the eating Disorder field and other Mental Health fields have come up with some guidance and encouragement that might help make getting through it just a little bit easier.

Natasha Ramzan has come up with Helpful Ways to Manage your Eating disorders this Ramadan.

 

 

In today’s post, We will be focusing on managing disordered eating behaviours during Ramadan. The ‘Ramadan diet culture’ is relatively normalized and can cause further damage. People struggling with an eating disorder may find it challenging to manage their illness during the month of Ramadan.

It can be difficult to differentiate whether you are fasting for spiritual purposes or fasting for your eating disorder.

One study shows that Ramadan fasting was not correlated with disordered eating behaviours and participants’ motivation to fast was due to spiritual decisions rather than weight control (Duzeker et al., 2019). However, medical professionals, be they Muslim or not, will recommend against fasting at any point in your recovery and even after you have recovered, as it is simply too much of a risk. Recovery is dependent on maintaining a meal plan and regular nourishment, which is why missing even one meal can have a substantial negative impact. Your recovery and wellbeing will always come first, and if you delve deeper into the Quran, you will find further proof of this.

Here are six different ways to observe Ramadan while managing your disordered eating behaviours, and they are equally as valid as fasting.

1) It is essential to remind yourself that you are not any less Muslim if you cannot fast due to your mental illness. Be more mindful of how you talk to yourself and others. This month is also about reflecting on our behaviours and making an effort to change them if necessary.

2) The word Alhamdulillah signifies gratitude in our everyday lives. Gratitude in Islam is a form of worship.

3) You may also feel anxious about eating in front of many people, being around food, and hearing about food; if possible, share your concerns with someone you trust. Speaking to family members beforehand may reduce accidental unhelpful comments.

4) You may find it helpful to create a plan with your therapist to manage your eating disorder during Ramadan and follow it. As Ramadan progresses, you can keep adapting your plan until you feel more confident.

5) Being around food and constantly hearing about food can be quite triggering. If you are someone who binges or purges (now or in the past), you will know that these behaviours are often triggered by hunger and long periods of low food intake. If you decide to fast, please do not miss Suhur or Iftar, which will increase the risk of losing control the next time you eat.

Disclaimer:
This post is for psychoeducation only. Please consult with your doctor or mental health professional if you are struggling with your disordered eating during Ramadan.

Credit: Maudsley Health, Abu Dhabi; Duzeker et al., 2019