[shelbykay]

Is anybody in therapy for overeating and/or binge eating? I'm curious what types of things happen in therapy when overeating is an issue being worked on. Does the therapist give you ideas/tools to help manage the overeating? Is the main focus on figuring out why you overeat and dealing with those issues? For me, there is so much shame surrounding my overeating that I haven't been able to bring it up in therapy. I'm in therapy for depression and anxiety, and I'm sure my depression/anxiety is due, in large part, to the overeating (and the issues of which I'm unaware that lead me to overeat) and how much I hate myself because of it. For whatever reason, I'm so scared of being judged by my therapist for this. I have no reason to think my therapist will judge me, and I mostly feel comfortable talking to her about things not related to eating/food (she does not specialize in eating disorders).

[unaluna]

I talk about it with my t a lot. You're right, getting over the shame of it was horrible and took me a long time. I think it's tied into being needy, denying you have needs, then what happens when you can no longer deny them. It seems to me, if I could anticipate and plan for meeting my needs - I think that's called breakfast lunch and dinner! - instead of making it constantly a last minute decision, which might not be the best- I mean, don't I deserve better? - things might work out better for me. So I have started with a set group of foods that I always have in the fridge. Now I need to work on timing and actually making hot meals, not just yogurt and healthy wraps and salads.

[shelbykay]

Originally Posted by hankster

I talk about it with my t a lot. You're right, getting over the shame of it was horrible and took me a long time. I think it's tied into being needy, denying you have needs, then what happens when you can no longer deny them. It seems to me, if I could anticipate and plan for meeting my needs - I think that's called breakfast lunch and dinner! - instead of making it constantly a last minute decision, which might not be the best- I mean, don't I deserve better? - things might work out better for me. So I have started with a set group of foods that I always have in the fridge. Now I need to work on timing and actually making hot meals, not just yogurt and healthy wraps and salads.

Thanks for your reply, hankster. The part I bolded hit me like a ton of bricks (a thought-provoking ton of bricks) - there's a lot to think about there. Does your therapist specialize in treating eating disorders or is the overeating/binging just a topic you discuss among others? I don't know if this is too nosy of a question - please ignore if it is.

[unaluna]

I don't think he specializes in eating disorders, but he himself lost 40 lbs about 5 years ago and kept it off. And he's not that tall so that was a fair amount for him. Not too personal - your question made me think of my answer this way, if that makes sense! The hardest part is just making it okay to eat anything at all and admit to it. I don't know why that is. I remember telling him, "I'm allowed to eat!" I didn't mean handfuls of candy or anything - I meant regular meals. But I don't think he understood me at first.

[shelbykay]

"The hardest part is just making it okay to eat anything at all and admit to it."

Yes. Yes, yes, yes. Thank you!

[purple orchid]

I'm having therapy for overeating and trying to loss weight.
I was ashamed to admit my eating habits at first but I have known my T for a few years now and they know everything about me, I trust my T.
My T mainly uses CBT and hypnosis.
We focus on how I can stop overeating and find tools/ways to start eating more healthly to lose weight.
I also suffer with depression and that's the main reason I comfort eat, to make myself feel better. I seem to go through phases of being really motivated and lose some weight, then the depression kicks in again and I go back to my old eating habits.
I've been overweight since my teens. I'm really fed up about it and am thinking about stopping therapy as even though I have learnt a lot about what I can do, I just don't seem to be able to implement it.

[unaluna]

Maybe my t knows more than he lets on. I found an article by him in a book on google, Pychodynamic Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia. It was published in 1990. Anyway, I have been working a lot on what and how much to eat, and like Weight Watchers says at least 3 hours between meals. But my problem I think is, I tend to wait and wait and wait - I'm not really sure why. I know my mother told me to, but she doesnt treat herself like that now! Which btw still surprises the heck out of me. I never saw her make herself breakfast until I was like 50 years old. Anyway my new plan is to eat breakfast by noon, lunch by 4 pm, and dinner by 9 pm. I know this doesnt sound like a big deal, but it's more of a caring mindset, and a way of cutting out useless or flawed decision making under stress. Like I dont have to decide if I'm hungry "enough" yet, because I think some of my meds make it hard for me to tell how hungry I am until it's too late. My dad always ate by the clock. I think I'm gonna try it.

[weelass47]

I have been to the same t for over 7yrs (love her to pieces!) for depression, anxiety, low self esteem/self-worth, for which I have suffered most of my adult life. I am now 47 and I have seen her twice now for binge eating....which I have had most of my adult life as well. She told me until I get control of my disorder, I will never maintain any weight loss. She gave me a 2-page worksheet to do. Lots of questions. I have filled it out once...took me 25 minutes and did prevent a binge. I think my issues with food are pretty much emotional. But, I also know I will eat for no reason at all...it's a mindless behavior.

I know how to lose weight, exercise, etc.....it's my *mind* that I need to figure out.

[shelbykay]

Originally Posted by weelass47

... I think my issues with food are pretty much emotional. But, I also know I will eat for no reason at all...it's a mindless behavior.

I know how to lose weight, exercise, etc.....it's my *mind* that I need to figure out.

I need to get my mind figured out too. Eating right and exercising are so much easier (but still not easy) when my mind is in the right place, which has been about twice in my life.

I think I eat for no reason at all, but I'm starting to wonder if there are reasons that are just so buried I don't know what they are.

This stuff is HARD.

[Youngest]

Originally Posted by shelbykay

Is anybody in therapy for overeating and/or binge eating? I'm curious what types of things happen in therapy when overeating is an issue being worked on. Does the therapist give you ideas/tools to help manage the overeating? Is the main focus on figuring out why you overeat and dealing with those issues? For me, there is so much shame surrounding my overeating that I haven't been able to bring it up in therapy. I'm in therapy for depression and anxiety, and I'm sure my depression/anxiety is due, in large part, to the overeating (and the issues of which I'm unaware that lead me to overeat) and how much I hate myself because of it. For whatever reason, I'm so scared of being judged by my therapist for this. I have no reason to think my therapist will judge me, and I mostly feel comfortable talking to her about things not related to eating/food (she does not specialize in eating disorders).

Hi.
I go to Overeaters Anonymous. There I have found a solution to this baffling, frustrating dilemma. The ONLY requirement for membership is a DESIRE to stop overeating. Meetings are free and there are many available days and times for meetings.

I'm glad I found them many years ago. I don't know where I'd be if not for the incredible support and love I have found there. You can find them on
on the web. They are worldwide.