How to cope with Extreme thoughts?

sandislim

Hi - I hope this is in the right section I wanted to put this in 'support' rather than general weight loss topics.

After losing nearly 3 stone some issues have come up. I know I have issues otherwise I wouldn't be 6 stone overweight in the first place. But I came face to face with them today.

You know when people talk about the all or nothing mentality when to do with dieting - I have that, I know I've had that for a long time - I have found it difficult to make mistakes or miss workouts without labeling myself a failure. But I've realized today that it runs much deeper than this and its difficult for me to admit. This all or nothing mentality seems to happen with any situation I'm in.

Today I had an argument with someone and they were angry with me - my instant thought was that they hated me. I really believed they hated me. But for the first time I noticed what I was doing - the truth was they were angry with me and thats all - I was unnecessarily stressing myself out by exaggerating the sitution and I do this a lot.

Its great that I've started to catch myself in the process and was able to stop it and identify the truth of the situation, not the exaggerated version. But I was wondering if anyone else was coping with this or has found after losing weight that they have noticced behaviours that they didn't like or want any more and was struggling with changing them rather than turning to food.

PennyNickel14

I too have suffered with the all or nothing thinking.

Spent a lot of time meditating on lifestyle change instead of diet mentality.

Also yoga really helped me with the snowball avalanche thinking. The problem is just a snowball - all of our what if questions turn it into an avalanche.

I really believe the hardest part of losing weight is the changing of the mindsets.

dittiepe

YES! Part of this lifestyle change - and make no mistake, it is a lifestyle change - is looking at reasons as to WHY we were overweight. Emotional issues are more times than not a big part of that. We have to work through those to be healthy mentally, which also helps being healthy physically.

kirstyjosephine

Cognitive behavioural therapy is super awesome for this sort of stuff. There's a good website (which is free): moodgym.anu.edu.au/

Hope it's helpful.

sandislim

working through those behaviour problems seems to be the hardest part for sure - I love the avalanche/snow ball analogy. I was starting to think that I must be crazy but thats just another example of my extreme thoughts!

I will sign up for the moodgym and see how it goes. Thanks for all your comments