[learning1]

How can therapists help with overeating? Talking about it seems likely to make me feel pressured and would backfire and lead me to eat worse. Has anyone found therapy helpful for this?

[skysblue]

That's something I'm curious about also. I haven't brought it up to T since we have had so many other issues but I know I do emotional eating and I would love to have some concrete advice that would work.

[swimmergirl]

Learning.........I am just guessing, but I would imagine a therapist can help you figure out why since most overeating is emotional in nature, there is a trigger to it. I do think it is wise to only deal with one major issue at a time........so put this one at the back and you may find as you continue to heal, that this problem is solved as a result of solving other reasons that brought you to therapy in the first place. I don't know for sure if it is that easy, but I do know that all my reasons for being in therapy are interrelated.

[Perna]

I saw my therapist for a really long time (9 years 1978-87, then not for 9 years 87-96, then 9 years again 1996-2005) and in that period gained 145 pounds (another person? :-) I think, as my therapy was successful, that I gained weight in order to "come out" in the world and do therapy well. The better I got, the more I gained weight. Since 2006 I've been actively working at losing and improving my health but it hasn't been easy or just dropped off. Of course there are other reasons I gained weight and my age (60) has some to do with not losing it quickly, etc. but I think therapy definitely had to do with the whole thing, was interrelated as swimmergirl says.

One thing about therapy though; even when it is "successful" one doesn't ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after, problem free. Life goes on and just because one is better able to deal with things when they come up, there are problems and challenges and habitual ways of dealing with them! I still get bored and discouraged and am dishonest (not "noticing" when I decide to eat something that isn't in my best interests, "forgetting" about pieces of candy or other small items that still count but which I wish didn't; immature, self-defeating, wishful thinking :-)

[Chronic]

My weight is something that I also need to address. When I first went into therapy (in the simpler days!) I thought that if I sorted out my presenting problems then my weight would reduce. However, over time I realise that my underlying issues are far too complex for my weight to be addressed so easily. I know for a fact that my being overweight is down to emotional eating but there are too many other issues for me to be dealing with. T says that we need to work through these issues before addressing the weight as it is a secondary problem. I hope in time, when I am less overwhlemed with life, I will be able to lose weight with the help of T.

[nannypat]

I ,too, am an emotional.My weight is also an issue. Unfortunately my motivation to do anything about it is as low as my mood. Antidepressants don't help, but I can't blame the extra fifty I carry around all on them. Sometimes the only thing that feels good is to eat, especially something sweet. I don't know what it will take to get me moving I just wish it would happen soon.

[Perna]

Good articles/ideas: http://blogs.psychcentral.com/unplug...ng-mean-to-me/

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/wei...SECTIONGROUP=2

[learning1]

Originally Posted by Perna

I saw my therapist for a really long time (9 years 1978-87, then not for 9 years 87-96, then 9 years again 1996-2005) and in that period gained 145 pounds (another person? :-) I think, as my therapy was successful, that I gained weight in order to "come out" in the world and do therapy well. The better I got, the more I gained weight. Since 2006 I've been actively working at losing and improving my health but it hasn't been easy or just dropped off. Of course there are other reasons I gained weight and my age (60) has some to do with not losing it quickly, etc. but I think therapy definitely had to do with the whole thing, was interrelated as swimmergirl says.

One thing about therapy though; even when it is "successful" one doesn't ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after, problem free. Life goes on and just because one is better able to deal with things when they come up, there are problems and challenges and habitual ways of dealing with them! I still get bored and discouraged and am dishonest (not "noticing" when I decide to eat something that isn't in my best interests, "forgetting" about pieces of candy or other small items that still count but which I wish didn't; immature, self-defeating, wishful thinking :-)

I was afraid of that . I mean the part about the bad habits not going away easily.

Actually, there was one time that therapy helped me get over some feeling of not-being-good-enough from childhood, where I felt really up for a month or two and I did stop overeating for a while. I don't think my t even knew any of that happened. That's happened other times when things in life were going really well too. When I have that feeling, I wonder why in the world I ever want to overeat, make my stomach hurt, etc. I sure wish that feeling would last. I don't know as there's any easy way to make it stay though. That link you posted, Perna, helped me stop wanting to go to the kitchen at least for the moment . (Yeah, I really wanted to when I got on this thread, even though I'm actually full from having eaten too much for days.)

I'm still not quite sure whether talking to t about this and having someone to be accountable to is likely to make things better or worse. So far it has made things worse when I even thought he might be going near that topic. . Now that I'm thinking about having to talk to him about it, maybe I could handle it a little better... idk... he sure has a way of getting under my skin. Does therapy almost always have to be upsetting and difficult?

[itsmeshorti]

My T told me overeating and bulemia are "disorders" But she does not like to label them like that. There is more to it a reason under the surface all emotions and behaviors learned long ago, that causes it. Therapy can help bring that out so it can be properly dealt with. I do believe this. You may feel worse at first, but just know it is all on the road to healing. I look at therapy as a learning experience I am learning about myself and my self defeating behaviors, bringing it to the table is ugly, but I am now able to understand and deal with it.

Have you considered joining a support group? (on top or therapy) In my area they have an Overeaters Anonymous. The people there will not judge you they are just like you, they understand what it is like, they can support you in your path to a better life. Do a google search for support groups in your area.

Good Luck!