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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to consider hypnotherapy for binge eating?

64 replies

NannyOldElf · 18/07/2018 12:47

I have a binge eating disorder. I have struggled with my weight and health eating since my teens but things have got worse.

I am 33, i'm a size 24, i am morbidly obese and this morning i have eaten: a sharing size bag of crisps, a tub of ben&jerrys, a packet of biscuits, 4 dairylea dunkers, and i'm itching right now to find something else to eat despite the fact i feel sick from eating so much.

I have reached rock bottom with this and I don't know what to do.

I have tried SW, WW and 5:2 but i manage a week or so and then fall of the waggon in epic style. in the last couple of weeks i have progressed to eating to the point of making myself sick.

I NEED to fix this. I need to stop. I'm desperate.

Has anyone had any success with hypnotherapy as a way of combating addictive eating?

I just don't know what to do any more.

OP posts:
Pitapotamus · 18/07/2018 12:51

Go for it, anything is worth a try.

To stop yourself carrying on now, go out for a walk, sit on a bench and google the number for some hypnotherapy and then try and eat healthily for the rest of the day.

Best of luck. It sounds very hard.

Pitapotamus · 18/07/2018 12:55

Also, I’m the meantime, every time you fall off the wagon and then get that awful feeling of “why on earth did I just do that” start again with good habits from “now” not from tomorrow.

I really hope you find something that works for you.

Original poster
NannyOldElf · 18/07/2018 12:58

thanks for replying pita i have the details of a local councillor and hypnotherapist which popped up on my FB feed which is what got me thinking.

I'm a SAHM with youngest still at home (and going through a rather trying stage!) which doensn't help as i have easy access to food all day.

i just want to be able to say no and stick to it.

OP posts:
Original poster
NannyOldElf · 18/07/2018 13:35

no-one tried it?

OP posts:
ohreallyohreallyoh · 18/07/2018 13:40

Not tried it but often wondered if it would work...just to say if you're going ahead, there are often offers on Wowcher and Groupon.

Original poster
NannyOldElf · 18/07/2018 13:42

are there? never used either before so will have a look.

OP posts:
Loonoon · 18/07/2018 13:50

I don’t have any sort of eating disorder but I have tried hypnotherapy to get me into healthy eating habits and it worked for a while. I have also seen it cure my DD’s dentist phobia in a truly miraculous fashion. It’s certainly worth a try.

A word of warning though - I looked into it when other DD was anorexic and was advised by a psychiatrist that I would need to find someone very expert in the area as if the hypno worked in getting her to eat without addressing the underlying reasons for her condition there was a chance the problem would re-emerge in some of their form of compulsive behaviour.

And I wouldn’t go to anyone who is touting cheap offers on discount sites either. I would be looking for professionals who don’t need to sell their services cheap.

VeryHangryCaterpillar · 18/07/2018 13:50

Read Brain Over Binge, ideally the workbook one. I’ve found it really helpful.

Original poster
NannyOldElf · 18/07/2018 14:02

loonoon thank you for sharing your experience. There is a highly recommended councillor who is a training hypno as well who has just opened up locally which is the one i was considering.

veryhangry (love that name btw) thanks for the recommendation. i will have a look for the book.

OP posts:
lilraven · 18/07/2018 14:05

I've heard of people having some success with the Paul McKenna books I can make you thin/gastric band. They both come with a CD that is a hypnotic trance that you listen to daily. I think there is an app as well now though. Good luck Smile

NotTheFordType · 18/07/2018 14:12

Have you had hypnotherapy for anything else OP? It's one of those things that works for some people but not others.

I had hypnotherapy to stop smoking and was very successful. However it did not address the underlying addictive personality issues. I went from size 12 when I quit smoking to size 28 (over the course of a few years, obviously.) I then had a gastric bypass as I was in the super-morbid obese category. Within 12 months I was back down to size 14. Then I developed an alcohol addiction...

My point is that addressing the individual addiction is obviously a good thing, but you need to also examine why you are using "stuff" to try to fulfill a need that you don't know you have.

Original poster
NannyOldElf · 18/07/2018 14:20

nottheford no, i've never tried it before, i'm getting to the point where i'd try anything. I have only recently admitted/accepted to myself that what i have is an addictive issue. the person i have info for does councilling as well so could maybe work on both together.

OP posts:
Original poster
NannyOldElf · 18/07/2018 14:21

i've been too scared to look at gastric band type surgery, maybe i should.

OP posts:
WeirdScenesInsideTheGoldmine · 18/07/2018 14:22

Op! There’s some great apps for binge eating which really did the trick for me

Original poster
NannyOldElf · 18/07/2018 14:24

i dont use apps weirdscience i'm not really a tech person!

OP posts:
sunshinewithabitofdrizzle · 18/07/2018 14:25

I tried hypnotherapy for weight loss a few years ago. Didn't help a single bit. My mum also tried it, was supposed to never want ice cream or biscuits again. Never helped her either I'm afraid.

MikeUniformMike · 18/07/2018 14:25

I would make an appointment with the GP. Counselling or CBT might be more suitable.

Original poster
NannyOldElf · 18/07/2018 14:30

can you get councilling for this on the NHS?

OP posts:
MonaLisaSimpson · 18/07/2018 14:32

I had hypnotherapy for weight loss about 3 years ago. I'm currently at my heaviest ever weight...

Original poster
NannyOldElf · 18/07/2018 14:34

sunshine and mona sorry to hear that.

OP posts:
ShovingLeopard · 18/07/2018 14:40

Hypnotherapy can be very effective for this, but as pps say, it will only be a temporary fix unless the underlying reasons for overeating are addressed. Steer clear of anybody offering a 'hypno-gastric band', or similar, and go for somebody properly trained.

Greydaygreyday · 18/07/2018 14:43

@WeirdScenesInsideTheGoldmine Which apps worked for you? OP I also binge. My tummy is sore this morning from last night's epic consumption.

QuizzlyBear · 18/07/2018 14:57

I did hypnotherapy (a virtual gastric band) four years ago and almost immediately started losing weight without even trying. I'd tried every diet under the sun in the past (gave myself gallstones!) and nothing stuck.

I was a size 18 and within a few months of steady loss, dropped to a size 8. Now I've stabilised at a size 10 and stayed there. I'm so impressed with it, I'm starting training in September to become a hypnotherapist myself!

Do it, you won't look back.

MikeUniformMike · 18/07/2018 15:07

I have no idea if you can get counselling on the NHS but the GP can advise on weight loss.
I'm not convinced that hypnotherapy works for everyone, and it could be expensive.
You need to be distracted for being around food all day.

BeyondReason · 18/07/2018 15:13

I am a hypnotherapist and would suggest you go for a consultation with your therapist (or a few therapists), usually at no/low cost. I’d be looking to address the cause, identify secondary gains, replace unhelpful habits and thoughts and mediate between the conflicting parts of your subconscious. Hypnobands etc are popular, and have some success, but I’d be looking for more than that. Meet some therapists- it’s important you like and trust the one you go with, be honest and see what they offer.