Nice intro snowwonder
Someone said (I think it was Paul McKenna) that if you self-medicate with any substance, be it alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, FOOD, you risk it turning into an addiction. And thats so true. Anyone who eats compulsively has major hurdles to overcome. Everyone here said its not easy, and thats so true.
Only those of us who struggle with it know how all-consuming it can be.
I too attended therapy for 2 months at a specialist eating disorder clinic. Because I turn to food in order to lift my moods, I was told to think more positively. I always knew I had a fairly negative outlook on life, but was amazed at how many negative thoughts filled my mind.
My Therapist gave me an exercise to do. I had to buy a little notebook and write down 5 x positive things that happended to me during the day for a week. I went back to her a week later with my notebook pratically empty. After the second day, I had given up. I couldn't find any positives about my life.
That was a big turning point for me. She encouraged me to look for the positives, i.e. simple things, a baby smiled at me today, or the sun is shining. Now I do this everyday, and I am much more positive.
Has it stopped me turning to food ? Not all the time, unfortunately. But it has made me much more aware of why I turn to food when I do. I think thats where you have to start really.
Talk tomorrow.