Eid, which means “festival” or “feast” in Arabic, is celebrated twice a year by Muslims. The first, Eid al-Fitr, marks the end of Ramadan while the second, Eid al-Ahda takes place about two months afterwards at the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
Both celebrations can bring an increased focus on food, which means Eid can be a stressful time if you have an eating disorder or are supporting someone else. It’s understandable if that makes you feel worried, but we’ve put together some information and tips to help you navigate any difficulties you might face.
Planning ahead
Eid can mean there’s an increased focus on food, especially at the end of Ramadan. For many people, coming together around a meal or food can be a key part of the day. This may create additional pressure to eat a different amount of food, new foods, or cause increased worry about engaging in eating disorder behaviours.
If you can, plan ahead. If you’re involved in shopping for some of the food, it might be helpful to make a list to help you feel less overwhelmed in the supermarket. Or you might want to take someone with you.
Find out what kinds of food will be served if you can, so you can know what to expect, and so you won’t feel like you need to make decisions on the spot.
It might help to give the people around you some information on eating disorders to help them understand what’s going on for you.
And remember, it’s okay if you have your own meal different to what everyone else is having.
Talking to friends and family
You might be seeing people you wouldn’t usually on Eid, or people who don’t know about your eating disorder. It might be helpful to ask someone you trust to remind friends and family members they shouldn’t comment on how you look or what you’re eating.
You might also want to have a trusted person on the day who can support you to take a break if you need to, or help with potentially difficult conversations. You could agree on a sign to discreetly show if you need support and encouragement, either during a meal or socially.
Taking the time you need
Think about what distractions might work well for you, and how you might be able to enjoy other aspects of Eid. For example, you could organise some board games that you could do with friends or family, or get involved in decorations for the day.
If you need to take some time away from the festivities, that’s okay too. For example, if sitting at a table for a long time is triggering for you, you could move away once the meal has finished. You can always keep on socialising away from the table.
Remember that taking time for yourself is healthy, and don’t be afraid to do it. You can simply say you’re going to pop out to another room for 10 minutes.
Reaching out for support
Eid can be a difficult time, but please remember you’re deserving of support and to celebrate it in a way that feels right for you. Eid is also about spending time with your friends and family, and it can really highlight all the love and support you have around you.
Be kind to yourself, and always know that we’re here for you at Beat. Our Helplines are open 3pm to 8pm every weekday, and you can contact us via phone, e-mail, webchat or letter.
Dr. Omara Naseem has put together this guide to navigating some of the difficulties you might experience during Eid.