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Binge eating can be a learned habit or a stress response. It can also be a neurotic way of solving problems. That is why the help of a psychologist is so important in the treatment of obesity. During therapy, it is necessary to find out about the problems that are the cause of obesity problems.
Every day, millions of people in the world declare war on unnecessary kilograms. Some people struggling with the problem ofobesity , despite the use of the newest, more and more "wonderful"diets , after some time spread their hands helplessly and agree to failure.
Why is this so? Why don't diets always work or only work for a short time?
We can count calories, eat what we don't like, resist culinary cravings and suffer for weeks to lose a few kilos, but it doesn't help.
When we finish the diet and start eating normally, we get our previous - or even greater - body weight very quickly. If we act symptomatically on obesity without eliminating its causes, the so-called yo-yo effect.
The cause of obesity problems may be fear of the world
For many people, eating is not only a physiological activity that helps keep the body alive. Often, personality problems are at the root of binge eating. Only discussing them in the psychologist's office can makeslimmingsuccessful and result in a permanent weight reduction - provided that there are no other causes of obesity, such as metabolic disorders or diabetes.
In some obese people, especially women, body fat plays the role of a protective umbrella. The malaise and psychological discomfort that obesity causes can be a good excuse in situations where you want to avoid contact with people. Perhaps behind the words "I have nothing to wear" there is an information that a woman during social gatherings feels anxious for various reasons and simply does not want to go anywhere, she would prefer to stay at home.
- During therapy, it often turns out that the cause of obesity is fear of the world - explains psychologist Tatiana Mosak. - It can be a fear of change, of doing something, of being successful at work, and even of being feminine. Obesity is supposed to defend us against all this in a twisted way: “If I don't lose weight, I don't have to make further decisions; I have an excusewhy men don't like me; I don't have to try for anything; no one will hurt me, ”his subconscious explains to himself.
Another reason for being overweight may be low self-esteem. Until our perception of ourselves changes, we will still be dissatisfied. Even a temporary weight loss does not change anything. There will be a quick return to the previous state and … even greater dissatisfaction with oneself. People with low self-esteem tend to generalize, to spread the feeling of failure to other areas of life. They make the realization of others dependent on the fulfillment of one condition, driving themselves into more and more frustration.
In similar cases, striving to reduce body weight may be unacceptable to the subconscious. Therefore, in people whose food has a non-physiological function, the chances of successfully losing weight and maintaining a low weight are slim. In such a situation, first of all, you should get to the problems that are the cause of obesity.
See the gallery of 10 photosAccording to an expertAccording to an expert
Tatiana Mosak
Psychologist from the Counseling and Therapy Center
- My experience shows that if there are no diagnosed physiological causes of obesity, 90 percent the problem is psychological. Habitual activities, memories, the way we think about ourselves and the world, as well as methods of dealing with stress and releasing emotions - all these factors affect our appearance.
I know that it is not always a simple mechanism, such as: I have stress and eat food. Sometimes the reasons are more serious. In order to reach them and solve the problem, I use various methods. I use elements of behavioral and cognitive psychology, exercises in the field of NLP (neurolinguistic programming), auto-suggestion, light hypnotic techniques. Most often in a conversation I ask questions that this person would never ask himself and we slowly work out some form of action together. Together, we try to find methods of relieving tension other than eating that will suit the person best. It can be some form of physical activity, socializing, relaxation techniques or meditation. At the same time, I recommend a diet and support the patient in following it. I am convinced of a blood group diet. If we follow it consistently, it works. I also use Dr. Bach's flower method. I believe that even if we add a little magic to psychology, it doesn't matter - it's important that it works!
Paweł Sala
Psychiatrist from the Department of Neuroses of the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology in Warsaw
- Usually obese people do not perceive their problem in psychological terms. They thinkrather, that they have trouble maintaining a proper diet and leading a he althy lifestyle due to their weakness of character. The awareness of interpersonal difficulties and inability to cope with emotions is usually low in these people.
In our clinic, we can help such people, but first, we must exclude non-psychological causes of excess weight: disease or genetic factors. If we are sure that obesity is caused, for example, by the inability to cope with stress, we can qualify the patient for free treatment under the National He alth Fund. In the 24-hour ward, we have an offer for people with eating disorders - not only those suffering from bulimia or anorexia, but also overweight people. Patients sign a contract to gradually change their eating habits.
Motivation helps you lose weight
However, no diet or therapeutic method will work without a desire to change. If we do not find it within us, whatever we do, it will be a short-term action. Motivation gives us the drive, strength to persevere - in diet and exercise, and avoiding bad habits.
Renata is 45 years old. She never considered herself an attractive woman. She considered the disinterest of men and social isolation to be natural. Hidden behind voluminous, dark sweaters, she pretended to herself that she expected nothing from life.
- A few years ago I had a mental crisis and I turned to a psychologist for help - he recalls. - First, there were mood-boosting drugs, then painstaking work on oneself, self-esteem and self-image, which lasted for months. Then I wanted to change something in my life so much that I also started to lose weight. I managed to lose a dozen or so kilograms and have been maintaining a constant weight for two years. Diet, cycling and, most of all, the regained joy of life help me in this.
Renata changed her style of dress and started postgraduate studies. He has new friends with whom he often spends time away from home. She came out of the corner where she was hiding from the world. Therapy helped her.
Psychotherapeutic methods helpful in losing weight
There are as many psychotherapeutic methods effective in working with obese people as there are schools in psychology. Most often, several methods are used at the same time. Some therapists emphasize the mechanisms of compensation, that is, changing something into something. They talk about eating emotions, that is, reacting to stress with food. Others are more focused on developing new patterns of behavior. Many people think about eating emotionally. The task of the psychologist is to cause people to deviate from this treatment of food.The therapist teaches not to react emotionally to chocolate if there is such a problem. This includes on extending the time from the moment the tablet is placed in front of you until it is eaten. This will fill the patient with self-confidence and teach him to control his desires. The method of positive reinforcement is also used. An example would be rewarding yourself by going to the cinema for not eating sweets all week. It is important not to reward changes in eating behavior with food. Each person goes to the therapist's office with different problems and each requires an individual approach. For some, the only problem is obesity due to physical construction and a lack of persistence in the fight against kilograms. Such people do not require deep therapy. They only need a proper diet, properly selected exercises and a qualified person who will strengthen them in their decision to lose weight.
Exercises to support the weight loss process
You can use the exercises suggested by the therapist to support the weight loss process. One of them is visualization. It's a kind of self-suggestion of imagining situations as if they've already happened. For example, we visualize our image after losing weight. We can also "watch" ourselves when we are exposed to the temptation to snack. First, we recreate a real situation in our imagination: “I open the fridge, browse its contents, reach for something”. Then we change the scenario of the events: “I walk away from the refrigerator without taking anything out of it; instead of eating, I go for a walk. " After some time, the visualized situation becomes fixed as a new pattern of behavior. When the problem is deeper, and obesity only masks it, the psychologist works on several levels at the same time. He tries to find the real cause of excess weight and teach the patient how to deal with the problem. For example, if the reason is fear of the outside world, various social engineering exercises are often used - the patient may be tasked with talking to a stranger or going to the cinema alone. The therapist helps to set goals that we would like to achieve, and at the same time works with us to change the diet and lifestyle.
Realization of true desires
The psychologist also checks whether the goals we set for ourselves are realistic and achievable. The world of media has created a model of a beautiful, happy and successful being - it is a person with a perfectly slim figure. An ideal that many women strive for. But the reality is different. We come into the world with this and not another physical structure, we have a certain body mass stored in our genes and we mustaccept. In the process of losing weight, it is extremely important that the goals we set for ourselves are consistent with the possibilities and predispositions of the body. Besides, the true goal of a person is not always to reduce weight. The first question that we must ask ourselves before we start to torture ourselves with more diets should be: "Do I really want to lose weight?". - I once had a patient who came to therapy under pressure from the environment - recalls Tatiana Mosak. - Working with her did not bring lasting results. The woman was getting more and more tired and irritable. In the end, she confessed that … she does not want to lose weight at all. She liked herself just as she was. She accepted herself and her carcass, so she decided not to change that. She did not manage to lose weight, but she left the therapy satisfied, because she was at peace with herself.
Where to go for helpInstitute of Psychiatry and Neurology,Warsaw, ul. Sobieskiego 9, tel. (0-22) 45 82 800
"Line" Foundation for Obese People , Warsaw, Radomska 22, tel. (0-22) 823 84 84; 409 50 92
The comprehensive weight loss program "Chudnij Zdrowo" includes psychological help, a support group and weekend psychological workshops - PLN 150 (16 hours of classes).
Centrum Doradztwa i Terapii , Tatiana Mosak, Warsaw, ul. Chocimska 29/15, tel. (0-22) 646 38 72
Obesity Treatment Center , Kraków, ul. Garncarska 8, phone (0-12) 422 29 26
A therapist can help you fight unnecessary kilograms
The help of a psychologist is just as important, and sometimes even more important than diet. The therapist's task is:
- seeking and making the patient aware of the causes of obesity,
- help in increasing control over eating,
- changing incorrect eating behavior,
- consolidation of he althy habits,
- support in the difficult process of dieting,
- strengthening self-confidence,
- leading to self-acceptance.
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