counselling

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eveamp

New member
Hi all,

I've realised recently that a lot of my eating is related to my emotions. I eat when I'm happy/sad/angry..... and feel that any emotion or event means I 'deserve' something nice to eat. Now I realise that this isnt healthy and I have managed to loose some weight but I really feel its making my eating habits difficult to break. Anyway, I was thinking of trying counselling to tackel that emotional side of things. Have been to counselling in the past (for other stuff) and found it good but not sure if it would work for this. Have anyone tried it? Any advice around this?

Thanks
 
I know how you feel with eating things because you feel you deserve it to make up for a hard day, week, or life. I personally haven't tried counseling for it, but I have a cousin who has and she has lost 30lbs. I just try to recognize when I am doing the emotional eating and try to rationalize with myself and almost have a little war in my head, but usually the good side wins and I put down the food and try to get out of the house and do something fun. My mom was a psychology major and wanted to be a counselor, so my whole life she would apply counseling techniques to me. So I think as sort of a rebellion I have no desire to see a counselor, but I know that they can help a lot of people (as long as you get a good one).
 
Counselling is really only as good as your willingness to work at it and your relationship to the counsellor...

If you know your emotions are the cause of your overeating - that's a huge step forward - you might want to (and a counsellor will probably tell you to do this) keep a food journal whre you aslo write down your moods when eating.

Finding a counsellor that specializes in eating disorders would probably be a help as well...

I tried counselling a few years ago -and I wish I had listened to myself - the two different counsellors I tried using both had different agendas than I did and it was really a waste of time and money for me... but if you can find the right person - it would help.

good luck...
 
Hi.
I would say the fact that you have already realized that you have eating habits relating to certain emotions is a huge step. We all like to reward ourselves now and again for when something is accomplished. We all have eating habits or things we do that we may not even realize. I know when I watch tv at night I used to equate it with snacking--it was like when I did one I needed to do the other. I'm trying to break that habit now and settle for drinking water or tea when watching tv or just choosing healthier snacks. Think about maybe rewarding yourself for when you do lose weight--something non-food related though :) I have never been to counseling though but good luck with what you choose to do.
 
eveamp said:
Hi all,

I've realised recently that a lot of my eating is related to my emotions. I eat when I'm happy/sad/angry..... and feel that any emotion or event means I 'deserve' something nice to eat. Now I realise that this isnt healthy and I have managed to loose some weight but I really feel its making my eating habits difficult to break. Anyway, I was thinking of trying counselling to tackel that emotional side of things. Have been to counselling in the past (for other stuff) and found it good but not sure if it would work for this. Have anyone tried it? Any advice around this?

Thanks
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Ditto! Working out that your eating habits are directly affected by emotions is the first step toward dealing with it - IMO.
I remember as a child crying when I thought dinner would take too long to cook - I was convinced I was starving - and food became a real friend for me, sweet stuff especially.
This didn't matter when I was younger cos I was skinny enough and active enough to get away with eating anything but now that friend has turned around and really bit me in the bum. It no longer takes me to that 'nice' place, it takes me somewhere dark and guilt ridden.
Realising all this though is just the start. Knowing it is one thing but actually changing it is something else entirely.
As hard as it may be for some people to understand the emotional, craving, bingeing, self hatred, emotional, craving...... etc person that we become is actually less frightening than the thought of not doing all those things to ourselves and dealing with inner issues instead.
At the moment, I seem to live to eat not eat to live. I'm working on it and I'm hoping that I can resolve inner demons to help me understand why I turn to a substance that is going to leave me feeling nothing but hatred for myself instead of listening to the inner voice thats just screaming to let out those emotions that I want to keep hidden.

I sincerely hope you manage to work through whatever inner demons / emotions you have.
Good Luck.
Incidentally, Counsellors / psychologists can be a great asset in working out what it is that you're feeling BUT only if you're prepared to act on your findings and not use them as a further crutch for a food addiction. (Yep, I've done that one).
 
I have the same problem. I eat when i'm happy sad, angry etc. Its so tough to break through it, and I have gone to counselling,I found it was helpful in my weight loss. Of course I like my counselor, she's great she's over weight and can identify with how I feel about things such as being jealous of "skinny" people, or dealing with my past, I was made fun of terribly in school, and every time I'd go out somewhere I'd think people were talking about me. Even though they probably weren't and it was really bad when people were laughing because that mean't they were laughing at me. Its crazy but I believe in couselling if you find the right person to work with. She gave me a book to read called "Love Hunger." Its about having an addiction to food. I don't know if this helps you any but I figured I'd put my two cents in on counselling. :)
 
Thanks for the replies. I've put my name on the waiting list for a local counselling centre. I've also ordered the book!
Fingers xd!
 
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