October is Mental Health Month, and the month draws to a close we’re reflecting on this year’s theme which is ‘Tune In’. Mental Health Month is a reminder to check in with your own mental health, and is also an opportunity to better understand others’ experiences and challenge mental health stigma. Let’s explore how we can ‘Tune In’ to Eating Disorders this Mental Health Month.
Tune In to Stigma
Eating Disorders have historically been highly stigmatised and seen as a ‘lifestyle choice’ or the result of vanity. These myths are incredibly harmful as they minimise or even potentially promote what are serious mental health conditions. We know that within Eating Disorders, people from marginalised groups experience higher levels of stigma, including those with diverse body shapes, sizes, genders, racial backgrounds, and abilities. Eating Disorders are complex psychiatric disorders which can be life-threatening and require psychological, nutritional, and medical intervention. We need to treat Eating Disorders as the serious mental health conditions they are. You can tune in to stigma by:
Questioning your beliefs, stereotypes, or assumptions about Eating Disorders and mental health conditions
Being mindful of stigmatising language, and changing the way you speak about mental health, food, and bodies to be more inclusive
Speaking up to challenge mental health stigma
Learning from people with lived experience of mental health conditions and Eating Disorders
Tune In to Your Communities
Eating Disorders can be incredibly isolating and can disconnect people from their communities and their cultures. Connecting with others and your community is an important part of recovery and creating meaning in life. This can involve zooming out to see the ‘bigger picture’ by connecting with your values:
Trying to see the bigger picture, as mental health is not just an individual responsibility but something that is impacted by social systems and structures
Focusing on shared humanity - we have much more in common with others than we have differences
Connecting with others through online or in-person recovery based communities or groups to receive and give support
Joining community or social groups that connect to your values outside of the Eating Disorder, eg. social justice movements, art classes, or a book club
Tune In to Yourself
Eating Disorders often disconnect people from their bodies, emotions, and sensations. While it can sometimes be uncomfortable, building awareness by tuning in with yourself is an integral part of recovery and maintaining positive mental health. You can tune in to yourself by:
Practising grounding or mindfulness exercises by noticing what you can see, hear, touch, taste, smell and feel around you and coming back into the present moment
Checking in with your thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and overall sense of wellbeing to ask yourself what you might need in this moment
Trying to give yourself the same care, kindness and support you would give to someone else
Seeking support or treatment