Please Help Me

I don't really know what to say but wanted to show support.
I've found being accountable on here helps me.
My diary is on show and everytime I log something I imagine othesr being able to see it.

The forums on here are great - as you know and I use this when I need to emotionally eat.
I've lost more than I could ever have imagined on here and it's all because I'm accountable and people are so wonderfully supportive.

If you want to add me as a friend I will try and support that way.

Good Luck.
Amanda

Hi I just wanted to say keep in touch with this very supportive forum... I'm sure there are so many people who can relate to what you're saying. I agree with the comment that stressing makes it much harder and maybe that stress is the first thing to deal with. I do think that exercise is the key, but thats just my own personal observation. All the best - you aren't alone.

Personal question: Do you take medication for your PTSD? An antidepressant or anti-anxiety med?

Hi from another Ladyhawk.

It sounds like you're not addressing the source of your overeating - the emotions. To deal with emotional eating you need to work on lowering your stress levels in general, and find alternative ways of dealing with your emotions. I'm very much a stress eater myself, so I understand. I still struggle.

The biggest thing that has helped me is to stop avoiding the emotions and let myself confront them. The comfort we get from food really only masks the problems, just like a drug user trying to "numb" themselves with a high. We need to openly and honestly deal with the emotions. Only then can we move past them. If you aren't able to do this on your own, you might consider seeing a therapist who can help you express the issues you're facing and give some objective insight.

Stress management is huge, and is one of the things I have the hardest time with. I let myself worry too much, and then I tend to avoid the problems - which of course only makes it worse. Do some research on stress management techniques and you may find some that work for you. Distracting yourself when you feel the urge to binge can help. Instead of immersing yourself in the problem at that moment, when you're vulnerable, get up and go do something, ANYthing. Work out, take a walk, do the dishes....log onto MFP. Even if it only delays the urge to binge, those delays will get longer and longer and you may avoid the binge altogether.

Finally, it seems as if you're focusing a lot on negative thinking. "I can't have this", "Don't do that", etc. Try hard to work on a positive inner dialogue - when you catch yourself using a negative (don't, can't, shouldn't), try to find an alternate way to express what you're thinking with a positive. Instead of "I can't eat that".... "If I want to reach my goals, I need to eat right".

You can overcome these issues, if you work at it and stay focused. Best wishes! :flowerforyou:

I really feel for you, it sounds like you're in such a bad place right now.

The very fact that you want to help yourself stop is a step in the right direction. Can't you replace some of those negative signs with positive ones? 'You're doing so well!' 'Make the right choice - you know you can!' 'You are SO incredible - well done for resisting temptation'?

Love yourself. It really sounds as if you need to get that part right before you can work on the symptoms it's causing.

PTSD is pretty serious. Are you being treated?

I guess this would be the better question than "Are you on meds." See, here's the thing. PTSD is a mental health situation, and no amount of positive thinking, nutritionists, notes, etc. is going to help you when you have serious psychological reasons for doing what you're doing. You said it yourself. You can't do it on your own, and unless you understand the severity of PTSD and take it seriously and get help, you will feel down and down a lot. I'm guessing that not many of the other posters have experience with this kind of issue, so you can follow their advice all you want, but you'll keep coming back to the root of it.

You asked "please," and I am helping you, by advising you to seek treatment if you haven't already, and be open-minded when it comes to therapy, and possibly, medications. There are a lot of co-morbid disorders that can present with PTSD, and you may need to tackle it from more than one angle. I'm saying this out of experience, and love. Good luck. Please keep us posted.

Definitely hope you're seeing a therapist. PSTD is tough to deal with alone. Also, have you thought of getting your blood sugar checked? I have a huge problem with just being hungry all the time and I found out I was diabetic. The high blood sugars make you more hungry. Add to that a little anxiety and its non-stop picking all day. You might be eating because you're feeling hungry.

My advise is in addition to a therapist and a check up, vow to look up the calories of stuff BEFORE you eat it every single time. I know that if I do that, the thing just doesn't look so inviting anymore. And stock up on tomatoes, cucumbers and celery. It's practically zero calorie munching food.