Eventually you will identify your own, personal triggers and you will be able to avoid them/learn how to deal with them. A trigger can be anything and can 'trigger' you in to doing anything but mostly when we talk about a trigger in relation to an eating disorder we refer to something that triggers you in to taking part in an eating disordered behaviour. This could be binging, restricting, cutting back/cutting out insulin, etc. Triggers can be physical or emotional so try and figure out what yours are and learn how to deal with them and/or learn how to avoid them. Identifying your triggers can be vital to recovery as you will learn how to avoid falling in to an eating disorder's trap.

TRIGGERS -

• Being alone/isolating oneself
• Restricting food (as it makes you vulnerable to binging)
• Denying oneself 'treat' foods (same as above)
• Arguments/conflict
• Loneliness
• Exposure to the event/thing that caused the eating disorder in the first place (i.e. abuse)
• Exams/finals at school, college or university
• When pressure is increased from friends/family to get better i.e. if a 'time frame' is given to get better
• Going through a break up with a boyfriend/girlfriend/partner
• Marriage problems
• Problems at work
• Bullying
• The loss of a friend/family member
• If a friend is also going through an eating disorder
• Recently talking to your therapist about a past trauma
• Just being discharged as an inpatient
• Having a desired weight that is too low and not realistic for your body/height
• Presence of OCD