| I hear this from my clients all the time, "I | | | | there is anything wrong with sitting in the |
| am afraid of who I will be if I am not a | | | | front seat of a school bus? The reason |
| binge eater", or "I am afraid to stop | | | | behind my belief is that my teacher told me |
| binging". Whatever you are afraid of could | | | | it would make my legs grow shorter than the |
| be making you binge more and more. Facing | | | | rest of the kids' if I sat in the front seat. |
| your fear and dealing with doubt is a major | | | | So I believe I must never sit there. How |
| step in treating binge eating disorder. | | | | am I going to know if that belief is true or |
| | | | not? Someone told it to me so I believe it. |
| Fear drives us to do many things and one of | | | | You are probably shaking your head saying it |
| them is to find alternate sources of | | | | is not true right? But I believe it is. You |
| protection to hide from it. We use food to | | | | are now trying to convince me that it is not |
| hide from fear. We are afraid we will get | | | | true because you saw little Johnny sit there |
| hurt again by someone. We are afraid of our | | | | and nothing happened to his legs. In order |
| boss. We are afraid of seeing the real | | | | for me to believe something different I would |
| person within us. We are afraid to stand up | | | | need to question my belief and find facts to |
| to our parents, significant other, children | | | | back it up. Maybe my teacher told me that |
| etc. Fear is behind it. | | | | because his teacher told him that and that's |
| | | | what he believed. |
| Try to make a list of what, or who, you are | | | | |
| afraid of. Be honest. No one is judging you | | | | Now if I were to say to you that you are |
| and no one will read your list so go ahead | | | | worthless for having an eating disorder. Do |
| and do it. What are you really afraid of? | | | | you think that is true or false? If you |
| | | | answer "true" why do you believe that? Who |
| Now that you have your list you can begin to | | | | is telling you that it is true? I happen to |
| take some simple steps to reduce your fear. | | | | believe it is false. I know that because an |
| Here are 5 quick tips you can start right | | | | eating disorder does not define who a person |
| away. | | | | is. Challenge your negative beliefs. |
| | | | |
| 1. Use a journal to write down your thoughts | | | | 4. Use the Law of Attraction - The Law of |
| - By writing down what it is that you are | | | | Attraction states that "like attracts like" |
| afraid of and why, starts the process of | | | | so if you focus on fear, what will you get? |
| becoming "aware". In order to change | | | | More fear! That's right. But if you focus |
| something you must be aware of it. | | | | on being happy and confident, you'll get more |
| | | | of what you want. Try to state in a positive |
| 2. Become the Observer - Imagine that you are | | | | way what you want and focus on that, not on |
| able to view yourself from a distance as if | | | | what you don't want. For example, if you |
| you are watching yourself on a movie screen. | | | | said "I don't want to live in fear", you are |
| You are actually sitting in the audience and | | | | still focusing on fear. Re-state it to, "I |
| you can see yourself up there on the movie | | | | want to live in joy". |
| screen. You can see yourself afraid of | | | | |
| (whatever it is that you are afraid of) and | | | | 5. Meditation/Visualization - Imagine if you |
| you can see yourself on the screen reacting | | | | didn't have fear regarding a certain person, |
| in a very frightened way. From the audience | | | | place or thing. What would that look like? |
| you can see the person on the screen and you | | | | What would it feel like or smell like? What |
| can just view it without being involved in | | | | would you hear or taste in your world without |
| it. Does the person on the screen really | | | | fear? Using your senses you can write in |
| need to be afraid of whatever it is that he | | | | your journal exactly what it would be like to |
| she is afraid of? By sitting in the audience | | | | NOT have fear. Then close your eyes and |
| and just viewing yourself up there you are | | | | truly see in your minds eye what you have |
| able to remain calm and see the situation. | | | | written. Visualize every wonderful aspect of |
| Use your journal to write down what the movie | | | | it. |
| was and how the person could be less afraid. | | | | |
| | | | One of the easiest ways to help you overcome |
| 3. Understanding Doubt - Doubt and a lack of | | | | fear is to surround yourself with positive |
| self-confidence can contribute to fear. They | | | | people who are focused on the same goals you |
| are also major factors in binge eating | | | | are. It's the Law of Attraction regarding |
| disorder. You can start right now to | | | | people too. When you surround yourself with |
| challenge your belief systems by asking | | | | negative people you attract more negativity |
| yourself "why?" | | | | so make a conscious decision to meet new |
| | | | people and new support groups with a positive |
| Let's say I believe it is wrong to sit in the | | | | focus. |
| front seat of a school bus. Do you think | | | | |