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