Is your relationship with food or exercise occupying too much time?
Are you in an ongoing struggle with food? Using food to regulate or numb your feelings? Or has food become a way you punish yourself? Do you find yourself prioritizing exercise above all else, even if it means your relationships or work life suffers? Maybe you restrict food intake believing you are in “control” your life; meanwhile you continue to feel completely out of control inside. Does your relationship with food or exercise have control over you?
Learn to have a healthy relationship with Food, Body Image and Yourself.
You may not view your relationship with food as unhealthy. You may have been living with your eating disorder for a long time but believed that your behaviours and actions weren’t serious enough to change. Or, you may have tried to get better before but it was too hard. Whether it’s yourself or a loved one that has a disordered eating problem, counselling can offer support and guidance as recovery begins.
If you recognize any of the following characteristics, therapy can help you heal and give you hope for the future.
It may not be obvious to you that food is an issue, but you create silent rules about what you can and cannot do with food. You may believe that if you follow these rules, they will help with your body image, self-esteem or self-worth. You might even think following a diet, looking a certain way, or being a desired weight will make you happy.
Do you subscribe to any of these rulebooks?
The Rules to Being Thin:
- You believe that being thin is more important than being healthy. Losing weight is good, gaining weight is bad.
- You shall “earn” all food and you shall not eat without feeling guilty.
- Being thin and controlling food intake is a sign of willpower and success.
- What the scale says is the most important thing.
Commandments of Emotional or Binge Eating:
- You eat when you are lonely, stressed, feeling down or to deal with any feelings. You eat in secret.
- Food is how you comfort yourself; it has become your friend. Food is your primary relationship.
- You don’t know how else to express your feelings, so you binge and purge.
- Eating is your way to escape, numb out or procrastinate.
Exercise and its Demands:
- You judge a “good” day or “bad” day based on how much exercise you did. Exercise is a must, even if you are injured.
- Your self-worth is based on how much you exercise.
- You become anxious or agitated if something prevents you from exercising.
- Life is arranged around exercise, even if your relationships or social obligations have to take the back seat.
We know sometimes it’s overwhelming to overcome food and/or body issues on your own. Maybe you have tried in the past and been unsuccessful; maybe you feel hopeless that your life can be different. Regardless of how long you have suffered, there is hope for change.
Counselling can help you change problematic patterns with food and exercise and lead you towards a healthier life.
You can benefit from the support, guidance and knowledge of a counsellor who understands disordered eating. Our therapists know how difficult this battle can be and we know how to help you.
What healing may look like:
- Developing your healthy voice.
- Love your body, love who you are.
- Develop positive self-soothing methods.
- Find balance in exercise.
- Feel in control within yourself.
So, let’s begin…
We’ll help you create a new relationship to food and exercise. We’ll help you develop your healthy voice to stand up against your negative, destructive voice. We’ll help you learn more effective ways to cope with your emotions, develop a healthy self-esteem and re-connect with your life.
It takes courage and commitment to release your disordered eating/exercise patterns, but the possible gains are indescribable.
Call us today for a free no-obligation consultation to see how we can help you develop a healthy balance with food and exercise.
Call to schedule a free 30 minute consultation. No referral necessary.
778-838-0046 or 604-250-9056 or email info@coastalreflections.ca.