Manage digestive disorders can be overwhelming. On Instagram @AndreaHardyRD, I talk all about how important it is to practicing self-compassion when it come to managing digestive disorders.
????????♀️Hands up if you think being hard on yourself is key to controlling digestive symptoms? ????????♀️⠀
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Pain, inadequacy, feelings of failure, or lack of control often result in us ending up in a negative self-talk spiral.⠀
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We think: ⠀
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Gosh, I’m stupid. If I just tried harder, paid more attention to what I was eating, was more careful, I could feel better. What can I do to control this situation? ⠀
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We expect as humans to always be comfortable, in control, adequate. ⠀
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When things don’t go our way, this is met by the ‘it’s a me problem I need to fix’ – especially when it comes to digestive disorders. ⠀
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AND. Nutrition is one thing we CAN control – it’s that thing people can ‘fix’ to avoid the challenges of our digestive symptoms. It keeps us BUSY without actually FEELING our feelings. ⠀
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THE PROBLEM?⠀
This prolongs suffering. It creates maladaptive behaviour. It reduces our resiliency. ⠀
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THE FIX?⠀
Self compassion. Don’t fix it. Feel it. Get curious, rather than reactive. ⠀
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HOW?⠀
Offer yourself kindness when feeling the need to control or fix with a turn-around phrase. ⠀
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For example. You go out to a friends house for dinner. You’re not sure what’s in the dish. You’re worried, because you just don’t have time to feel unwell right now. ⠀
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INSTEAD OF THINKING:⠀
“I have no idea what’s in this, it’s going to make me sick”⠀
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THINK:⠀
“I have no idea what’s in this, but I’m learning to trust my body”⠀
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I interviewed @justinedowd.phd on self compassion in digestive disorders on the Let’s Gut Real podcast- link in profile to tune in & learn more!⠀
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