I hate seeing this. But it’s happening more and more at this point of the summer. Clients are coming in reporting increased struggles with self-care. The kids are back home and underfoot. Work is ramping up plans for a big end of summer push. The swimming pool … ’nuff said. The desire to diet, to control, to fix, and to numb out is now front and center.
The history I’ve seen for years is that clients wait until school is back in session, vacations are over, and everyone else is settled into their routines before they do something to help themselves. September is not some magical do-over month. There is not right time to get into treatment. Life is happening now, and there’s a good chance you’re missing out. And while you’re waiting for your turn to be happy, your eating disorder or depression or anxiety is getting more entrenched.
Don’t wait. If you’re experiencing that early summer setback, don’t minimize it. Look at is as an early warning system that it’s time to get help. And then do it.
By Andrew Walen, LCSW-C - Founder, Executive Director, Psychotherapist at The Body Image Therapy Center. If you would like to get in touch with Andrew please call 443-602-6515 or email [email protected].