Trapped in your own body- can be a positive thing!

One of the common thoughts that I hear weekly in working with clients who struggle with eating disorders, "I feel trapped in my body". This writer believes that the person really does feel this way, however, why not turn the trapped feeling into a positive feeling? Persons with eating disorders can have a difficult time accepting their body. In order to find that acceptance, it is important for the person who once purged to understand and identify what they feel is wrong with their body at this second. Not what was wrong with their body in the past, but right now. Learning to be honest with one's feelings is a huge step in understanding why a person who has a eating disorder chooses to purge, and continue the cycle of the eating disorder. Once the honesty can be put forth, the feeling of trapped in your body begins to unravel. You can start to change the negative feelings and thoughts that you may have with your own body to positive thoughts when you become honest on where your behavior is right now. Find the positives about your body. Yes, I have heard all the negatives in my many years of helping people who struggle with this disorder, but, each negative thought self has the power to transform into a positive. Accept you may have challenges with your body, but they are not a reason to purge, and continue the cycle of not eating, counting your food in a negative way, binge eating, and not eating at all. Treat your body as something that only you can change, and appreciate the unique shapes, color, and beauty it has. Try this exercise if you need some more support in accepting your body right now as you read this addiction education blog. Go to the mirror every morning as you wake up and start your day. Look into the mirror and pick out three things you like in what you see. Reflect, be honest, but it has to be three positive things. Then pick three challenges in what you see at this moment with your body. Now write down the positives and challenges down in your journal. Pick one positive and one challenge for that day. Your goal is to to keep the positive a positive for that whole day, and for the challenge you need to switch that into a positive before the end of day. Use your mind, control the thought. You can change that feeling of being trapped into being trapped in a positive way. Stop comparing your body to others, and your peers. You have one body, and one brain, balance them for self. Each day you make your list, you become stronger in your thoughts, and learn how to accept where you are at that day in a healthy way. You know you can purge, but you choose not to. Stay in your health, stay in the moment.