Overeating - tried CBT?

[Loobles]

I've had a problem with binge eating and overeating for many years and, now after being on the brink of being diabetic, I've been offered some CBT for it (paid for by my employer). This is being carried out by a counsellor who sounds like she specialises in eating disorders, so I feel pretty confident that if anybody can help me, she can. I'm interested to know if anyone else has used CBT to overcome eating issues and how long it took you to see some improvements and whether the improvements were long lasting. I know we're all different, but I'm curious whether others found it helpful.

Thanks

 

[lessci]

Go for it - I started a course and it was really working but had to stop part way through due to circumstances - it retrains your brain into using different pathways and helps you reconise the "full" signs that your brain has learnt to ignore from your body. - Plus if your company is funding it nothing ventured nothing gained

 

[Loobles]

Go for it - I started a course and it was really working but had to stop part way through due to circumstances - it retrains your brain into using different pathways and helps you reconise the "full" signs that your brain has learnt to ignore from your body. - Plus if your company is funding it nothing ventured nothing gained

That's what I thought - company is only paying for 6 sessions though. If it was really helping, I wouldn't be against funding a few sessions out of my own pocket, but hoping it won't come to that (not at £110 a session anyway). I do like the woman though and think she can really help. I must admit I do struggle to feel full signals normally, though since switching to LCHF diet, I'm finding the food much more satisfying and think I do feel full...but the full feeling is in my head, not my stomach where I thought it would be. Maybe I'm just odd huh? LOL

 

[Loobles]

Updating this in case anyone is interested in CBT for disordered eating...

Just had my second session and I feel we're starting to get somewhere now. We went through a timeline of my life (only got as far as teenage years right now) but I've already been able to make some connections between relationships with loved ones and behaviours that influenced my relationship with food now. I won't go into specifics here in case my family stumble across this, but needless to say, it feels empowering to actually see what behaviours now stem from particular incidents in childhood.

Looking at it written on paper it all seemed a bit sad really...couldn't really think of many happy memories. I thought for ages and couldn't really think of anything....growing up certainly wasn't fun being an invisible child, but I hadn't realised there was so little that made me happy. That's kind of sad...

 

[Bluetit1802]

That is sad Loobles. I have so many happy memories from childhood I hate to think what it would be like not to have any. I had to Google CBT as have no idea what it is, but do now. I've never been a compulsive eater so find it hard to understand, but I really wish you the best of luck with it. x

 

[Loobles]

That is sad Loobles. I have so many happy memories from childhood I hate to think what it would be like not to have any. I had to Google CBT as have no idea what it is, but do now. I've never been a compulsive eater so find it hard to understand, but I really wish you the best of luck with it. x

I had heard of it before, but I didn't initially understand how it fits in with disordered eating patterns. I guess I'm still figuring that out, but this lady specialises in eating disorders so I do believe that, if anyone can help, she can. Going through things today, it seems to be unsurprising that I have an odd relationship with food...some of the causes I already half-knew and she confirmed my thoughts, but some of them were clear as day and I just hadn't seen them. It's all very interesting.

But will it stop me doing the whole bing-starve thing because, you know if I do anything I do it well, whether it's not eating or eating too much. It's all to do with perfectionism...something else it seems I must address. With all the mistakes I've made in life you'd think I'd be used to being imperfect, but clearly I'm not done with reaching those invisible and moving goalposts yet

 

[Loobles]

Just a quick update for anyone still interested in this. I've learnt quite a lot about myself during the last 4 sessions and believe she's now got a good idea of what makes me tick. Frustrating thing is that it's taken so long to get through my life timeline and thoughts & feelings about food etc that we haven't really got to any therapy yet. I have 1 session left so the options now are see if work will pay for more, or I pay. I can't really afford it but I feel I need to find the money from somewhere because it seems like this is my best chance of finding some balance.

The interesting thing is that finally I hear that my eating and thoughts about food is not normal and is typical of disordered eating behaviours...she's chucked me in the EDNOS (not categorised category) - not heard of that one. Apparently she has some kind of self drected thing that works really well for people with eating disorders, so I'll hopefully find out what that is next week. She keeps saying to trust in the process...

I'll update in another few weeks if/when we actually get somewhere!

 

[jack412]

are you able to access CBT through NHS?
I'm glad you are getting benefit from it, thoughts and feelings are funny things

 

[Loobles]

are you able to access CBT through NHS?
I'm glad you are getting benefit from it, thoughts and feelings are funny things

It's a 2 year waiting list in our area I'm told. Thing is now we've sarted the ball rolling it doesn't make sense to take a 2 year gap, especially not when I could have become fully diabetic in 2 years and caused other issues too. I think if the company won't fund it for another 6 sessions, I'll have to pay it myself. I can't really afford it, but then, can I afford not to? As much as findng balance scares me (it's that fear of losing control with food thing) I know, rationally, that it's my only chance of finding balance and ever achieving and maintaining a heathy size.

 

[mo53]

This is clearly something you need to do. I hope you are able to follow it through

 

[Lesleywo]

I'm glad you started this thread Louise as I was actually going to ask you how it was going. I've been a compulsive overeater/had disordered eating for donkey's years. I've had various forms of counselling without a lot of success. I had one very nice therapist but unfortunately I didn't get very far as she was overweight and, I now this sounds awful, but I felt I couldn't respect her in terms of, if she obviously couldn't help herself, how could she help me?

Funnily enough, the thing that really stopped me in my tracks was finding out about the insulin resistance. When I was told what to eat by the dietician, I felt, great, this means I don't have to stress over what I eat anymore, I now have a medical condition that means I have to eat a certain way. So all was well for 3 months until I went on hols, got sick and fell off the wagon .... being a perfectionist like you, I wasn't content with doing well on a reduced carb/low gi diet, I had to take it one step further and try LCHF. This brought back old behaviours from the diet/binge all or nothing thinking and again I find myself breaking out because now I feel as though I'm on a 'diet' again.

The weird thing is, having to follow a food plan for diabetics, whilst being restrictive, to me is more liberating as it means I have less choices and decisions to make.

I hope that makes some kind of sense!

 

[AndBreathe]

It's a 2 year waiting list in our area I'm told. Thing is now we've sarted the ball rolling it doesn't make sense to take a 2 year gap, especially not when I could have become fully diabetic in 2 years and caused other issues too. I think if the company won't fund it for another 6 sessions, I'll have to pay it myself. I can't really afford it, but then, can I afford not to? As much as findng balance scares me (it's that fear of losing control with food thing) I know, rationally, that it's my only chance of finding balance and ever achieving and maintaining a heathy size.

You seem to feel very positively about the process, so even if your sessions have to be spread sub-optimally, it would seem like a good idea to see it through. Perhaps you can do more homework in between times?

 

[jack412]

2 years sounds wrong, I would talk to your DR about it
I would talk to your therapist and Dr and get them to work together, there is nhs online stuff

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/Pages/free-therapy-or-counselling.aspx
If your GP is unwilling to refer you for talking therapy, you may have to find out for yourself what’s available in your area and push hard to get it. Alternatively, you can change to another GP who's willing to refer you.
Find out more about your rights to choices in the NHS, and about the NHS complaints system

speak to your therapist, she can give a code for this free course https://www.mindquire.com/index.php
if she has joined, check here https://www.mindquire.com/find-a-therapist.php

this is free online, needs a prescription from your Dr
http://www.beatingtheblues.co.uk/

a uk charity b-eat for eating disorders
http://www.b-eat.co.uk/get-help/get-support/online-services/

there is UK based free online
http://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/links2.htm

 

[jack412]

does Everone know about Carbs and how they can get you binging without an eating disorder?
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarbliving/a/Food-Cravings.htm
read all the links off the page, I found it very good for me, I don't get those starving feelings and attack the fridge anymore

 

[Loobles]

2 years sounds wrong, I would talk to your DR about it
I would talk to your therapist and Dr and get them to work together, there is nhs online stuff

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/Pages/free-therapy-or-counselling.aspx
If your GP is unwilling to refer you for talking therapy, you may have to find out for yourself what’s available in your area and push hard to get it. Alternatively, you can change to another GP who's willing to refer you.
Find out more about your rights to choices in the NHS, and about the NHS complaints system

speak to your therapist, she can give a code for this free course https://www.mindquire.com/index.php
if she has joined, check here https://www.mindquire.com/find-a-therapist.php

this is free online, needs a prescription from your Dr
http://www.beatingtheblues.co.uk/

a uk charity b-eat for eating disorders
http://www.b-eat.co.uk/get-help/get-support/online-services/

there is UK based free online
http://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/links2.htm

My GP was pretty horrible last time I asked for help and really out me off. I have a new GP now but the thought of asking and being humiliated again petrifies me. In all honestly, I'd much prefer she just spoke to my GP on my behalf because I don't feel they'd listen to me.

 

[jack412]

yes, try with your therapist to contact your Dr ...not feeling well is bad enough, without having to fight for treatment,
I would tell your new Dr you are doing CBT and ask him to contact your therapist. See how he responds and take it from there, you want a supportive Dr..you changed once, you can change again till you find a good one.

or perhaps an appointment with the diabetic team at the hospital and get them to arrange something?

 

[Loobles]

yes, try with your therapist to contact your Dr ...not feeling well is bad enough, without having to fight for treatment,
I would tell your new Dr you are doing CBT and ask him to contact your therapist. See how he responds and take it from there, you want a supportive Dr..you changed once, you can change again till you find a good one.

or perhaps an appointment with the diabetic team at the hospital and get them to arrange something?

I have an appointment with the diabetic team this week and I'm planning to ask if I can get any help through them. I'm just so fed up of fghting with myself now, especially since right now I have zero energy to fight.

 

[jack412]

the diabetic team might be you best option
if you are facing old feelings, you will be worn out, it's hard work

 

[Kat100]

I have an appointment with the diabetic team this week and I'm planning to ask if I can get any help through them. I'm just so fed up of fghting with myself now, especially since right now I have zero energy to fight.

No need to fight , just make a list of your needs and want ....and hand it over , ask for your requests to be recorded ....and maybe your feelings,....
Any support which works ...and all that. . Wishing you luck x

 

[Loobles]

No need to fight , just make a list of your needs and want ....and hand it over , ask for your requests to be recorded ....and maybe your feelings,....
Any support which works ...and all that. . Wishing you luck x

Thanks. I've not been to a diabetic clinic before so I don't really know what to expect or who will be there...or how much I can request etc. I don't know, how agreeable are they usually?