How to Celebrate Ramadan If You Suffer from an Eating Disorder

If you struggle with eating disorders, the fasting that is part of the Ramadan celebration may provide particular difficulties. Having a set strategy, forgoing some activities, and getting support could all be beneficial.

The Islamic calendar’s ninth month, Ramadan, is observed by Muslims worldwide. Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset during the holy month. Rather, they emphasize introspection, acts of service, worship, and spiritual development.

For Muslims struggling with eating disorders, Ramadan can be difficult and contradictory. You can feel compelled to restrict your food intake, consume a lot at once, or purge after eating due to the daily cycle of fasting and eating.

Even though Ramadan is supposed to be difficult in many respects, it shouldn’t be bad for your physical or emotional well-being.

During the holy month, it’s crucial to show compassion to Muslims who suffer from eating disorders and consider if fasting is the most secure option for them.

5 recommendations for those with eating disorders during Ramadan

It can be challenging to get through Ramadan if you suffer from an eating condition. To make the holy month simpler for you to observe, there are a number of things you can do. This could consist of:

1.Delineating limits

Ramadan can be mostly centered around the idea of sharing food with people, as iftar, the evening meal, is viewed as a social gathering in many Muslim societies.

A lot of Muslims might throw dinner parties for their loved ones or go to iftars in the neighborhood.

Choosing not to go to dinner parties or removing yourself from discussions about eating if they make you feel uneasy or nervous are two examples of setting boundaries.

However, doing so does not require you to skip the holy month’s social events. Think about asking your loved ones if they would like to volunteer together at a nearby charity event or attend the night prayer (Tarawih) at the mosque.

2.Arranging for Suhoor

Muslims all throughout the world rise before dawn during Ramadan to eat suhoor, the morning meal, which marks the start of a day of fasting.

If you decide to fast, scheduling suhoor meals will help you maintain your energy levels throughout the day.

Think on consuming meals that are rich in complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and protein. These foods might lessen your chances of experiencing daytime weariness or sluggishness.

To lessen the likelihood that you may feel overwhelmed while choosing what to eat each day, it could also be beneficial to plan your meals in advance.

3.Maintaining a Journal of Ramadan Reflection

It could take a lot of courage and resolve to get through Ramadan, and if you suffer from an eating disorder, this might be especially true.

Keeping a journal can help you recognize and monitor your emotions throughout the course of the month.

Some ideas for journal prompts are:

• What feelings did eating bring up for you today?
• Were there any circumstances that triggered your nervous thoughts or emotions?
• How could you handle those circumstances the next time, or how did you handle them this time?
• Were there any really happy moments?
• How can things get better tomorrow?

4.Considering Salah as a chance to practice mindfulness

In Islam, the salat, or required prayer, is offered five times a day. It can offer a fantastic chance to pause your regular activities and carve out time for mindfulness.

Salah time can include finding a peaceful area to pray, pausing to think, and paying attention to your motions.

a 2017 investigation Trusted Source discovered that those with higher mental health than those without included mindfulness were those who routinely delivered prayer while adding mindfulness.

5.preparing a preventative strategy

Before the holy month starts, or at any point throughout the month, it can be helpful to create a recurrence prevention strategy if you believe that Ramadan will exacerbate your eating disorder symptoms or cause you to engage in undesired behaviors again.

The following may be on the plan:

• your recognized triggers, allowing you to devise strategies for avoiding them
• Coping mechanisms that you can reapply that have proven effective for you
• New strategies you can use to lessen the likelihood of suffering a setback
• Someone you can rely on in trying circumstances, like a therapist or trusted loved one

Keeping Ramadan in mind even if you’re not fasting

There are various methods to honor Ramadan if you choose not to fast during the holy month.

Consider how you could observe Ramadan without fasting:

• Giving of your time: Muslims enhance their sadaqah, or charitable deeds, throughout Ramadan. While monetary contributions are usually included, you can also donate your time to a cause you believe in, like a community project.
• Increasing your worship: One excellent method to get more involved in Ramadan is to spend more time in prayer. After iftar, if you feel safe doing so, you should go to your neighborhood mosque. There, the majority of Muslims congregate to worship until late in the evening, creating a vibrant and happy atmosphere.
• Gaining greater knowledge about Islam: Reading Islamic books and going to religious talks can be excellent ways to expand your knowledge of Islam throughout Ramadan.

Locating healthcare providers who are culturally competent

Care that is culturally sensitive can support you in achieving and sustaining recovery from an eating disorder. Most importantly, it might enable a support plan that takes into account your views around food as well as your cultural and religious beliefs.

A review of 2020 research projects According to Trusted Source, in order to assist in educating others, healthcare professionals—including dietitians—must possess a thorough awareness of cultural beliefs.

After Ramadan, getting back on track

The observance of Eid al-Fitr and the appearance of a new moon signal the end of Ramadan. It might offer a wonderful chance to think back on the month that has gone by, the difficulties you’ve faced, and the ways you might have become more spiritually connected.

If you did encounter eating disorder-related challenges, think about asking your loved ones or a mental health professional for assistance.

According to Goldberg, it’s critical to cultivate self-compassion, acknowledge the hardship of the circumstance, and treat oneself with kindness and understanding as opposed to self-criticism.

Processing and overcoming your issues may begin with acknowledging any setbacks. A therapist can assist you in determining coping mechanisms and process-supporting resources.

The final word

The Islamic calendar’s most significant month, Ramadan, is marked by fasting from sunrise to sunset. It could be difficult for Muslims with eating disorders to observe the holy month.

It’s critical to be compassionate with yourself throughout this period and to take whatever necessary steps to ease the month’s transition. Having a preventative plan in place, setting limits, and locating mindfulness opportunities could all be beneficial.

Fasting is not the only aspect of Ramadan. It could be helpful to consider your personal wants and desires when thinking about the spiritual objectives you hope to accomplish this month.