Treat TB with kindness

Hi,
I've been binge eating for many years, and pop into this group occasionally. I recently read about and tried a new approach that has been working for me (so far !), and I wanted to share it.

What about thinking of TB as a manifestation of the pain that you're carrying from other parts of your life. A part of you that's hurting and wants love and attention. It could be pain from your childhood or something more current. It could be from events or from relationships. You don't need to know what it is, beyond recognizing that its a part of who you are; and its a part of you that is really hurting and wants to feel heard, acknowledged and loved.

When it demands food, it gets acknowledged and feels heard. Like a small child that misbehaves, because it craves attention - even if the attention isn't good attention, its still attention.

Next time TB demands food, just take a moment to speak to this tiny part of you. Acknowledge it, tell it that you love it and that you want to support it, but that you are not going to give it food, because this doesn't help it. Ask it what else you can do to sooth its pain. Or just let it know that you're there for it, but that eating doesn't help. Speak to it gently and soothingly as you would a child that's been hurt. Treat it with kindness and let it feel your love and compassion.

This is different approach to thinking of TB as the enemy, to be battled with.
Let me know if it works for you !

Replies

  • ladyzherra
    ladyzherra Posts: 438 Member
    I love this insight. This is what I feel is going on when I use food to cope. Thanks for posting.
  • fat2thingirl
    fat2thingirl Posts: 41 Member
    I feel like crying after reading this. this is very insightful and I think 100% true for me when it comes to binge eating/emotional eating :) This post is so kind and gentle. I *never* treat my binge urges with gentleness. Maybe it will be better if I try doing that, and like you said, dont give it food because that's not actually what it needs, it needs love. That makes complete sense. Thank you so so so much! You're awesome!!! :)