Do you know before starting this article what the  meaning  of the word  mindfulness is ?

NO?

There are  books,  there are  courses , there are  exercises on Youtube  but what I would like to do now is a step back to give you the opportunity to fully understand this form of  meditation  that can help us a lot in so many practices and so many anxieties in our life.

What is mindfulness?

Everyone struggles to try to stay in the present with some self-awareness and this is what the word mindfulness means in Italian.

Although mindfulness is just a way of thinking about one’s life, despite this time it is so stressful.

With the constant distractions of social media, planning for the future, and memories awash with a sometimes difficult past, it can be difficult for most people to appreciate their present and how they experience this present.
At what price.

For people with an eating disorder , becoming aware of themselves in the present can help save them from a variety of anxieties and problems with food.

For people diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder, the thoughts surrounding calorie intake and weight begin to feel like an insurmountable burden to bear .

Negative thoughts take control of the mind and severely lower self-esteem.

When individuals are inundated with images of skinny models, information on the next trendy diet, harassed by family pressures, food becomes a way to cope with the stress caused by these environmental factors .

How can awareness, hence mindfulness, help individuals with eating disorders?

When people constantly worry about how the food they just ate could lead to weight gain or are obsessed with the gym they don’t get their days right.

Stress affects daily life a lot.

Practicing mindfulness techniques has proven to be extremely helpful in helping people understand the driving forces behind their eating disorder .

What I’m trying to tell you is that learning the most basic awareness techniques can help us be more confident and confident in our life, so it’s good to look together at what these awareness techniques we want to become a constant in our life. .

Awareness techniques

Before individuals are overwhelmed by their own thoughts and engage in destructive behavior, they must practice mindfulness techniques.

These techniques can prevent destructive behaviors such as not eating, vomiting, or eating until they burst.

If people with eating disorders take a step back and focus on the present and their feelings, they will be able to transform impulsive eating habits into healthy thoughts and behaviors.

The following are techniques that you or someone you love can use to combat difficult times and become more attentive to the present.

1. Understanding the moment . What is going on in your habitat that makes you feel this way or leads you to have a destructive habit?
   By immersing yourself in the present moment, you will become aware of yourself in relation to your own environment. Once you are aware, you will be able to distinguish between the environmental and personal factors that give you strength and those that don’t make you feel good. When you find yourself skipping a meal, throwing up a meal, or eating a lot, ask yourself “ What am I feeling and why am I feeling this way? “And” Why am I hurting myself ?
2.  Cultivate awareness. This will produce a critical consciousness leap in your head and allow you to recognize and remove the stressors that lower your self-esteem. Becoming aware will allow you to recover from the stresses of your life. By eliminating the stress you can now move on and do things that fuel your spirit in a meaningful way. Write down your thoughts, practice meditation, or try yoga – these are all helpful mindfulness techniques that will spark positive actions in you.
3. Focus on the positive. How can your thoughts and behaviors turn into positive outcomes? Practicing mindfulness will help you understand that your thoughts don’t have to dictate who you are . If your mind starts to darken with negative thoughts such as being too fat even if you are not or if you eat for stress then it is good to completely change your approach so as not to always fall into the same mistakes we already know.

What I mean is that becoming aware of oneself does not necessarily mean being at peace with oneself but it means reacting to what are adversities and anxieties, making those frailties a strength for future actions.

Act then?

Yes, take action. What can you do to feed your mind, body and soul?

Now that you are becoming aware of your environment and the thoughts associated with your eating disorder, you can now take action to build what I call resilience against your eating disorder.

• Work with your dietician to create a meal plan that will help you eat healthy food, cooked with love and with great care.
• Start turning off all your distractions when you eat.
• Mindful eating can help you enjoy the taste of food and the company of others.
• During social gatherings, put your phone away and appreciate the people around you.
• Enjoy and cook meals with friends by creating dishes that are healthy and very beautiful to look at.
• With the help of eating disorder recovery specialists, make a daily schedule.

When you stick to a routine, stress is less likely to hallucinate you.

By preparing meals in advance, establishing a program of exercises that strengthen our physique, and doing things you enjoy doing throughout the day, your ability to cultivate your awareness will help you gain a positive self-image and promote love. for your mind, body and soul.