everyone is different with food, let each find their own way

[Guest guest]

Dear Brave Souls:

This is just ceep's two cent's worth: I think I can grasp everyone's point of

view and concerns and ideas and enthusiasms...and just thought I would offer

a quick run-down of 'food-relation types. "

Everyone finds their own way. Some are moderation people, some are fasters,

some are jump starters, some are regulators, some are orderly, some are

spontaneous--this is human nature. (list-dad) is always one of the

first to say that your mileage will vary and that what works for one will not

work for all, and I have to agree.

1. Eating disorder: Just as a reminder to all of us who have struggled so

greatly over so so many years: The phrase 'eating disorder' is thrown about

sometimes a mite too trivially in our modern culture. It is a serious,

serious disorder that often is undergirded by an undiagnosed anxiety disorder

and/or panic disorder. (or organic depression) The person with such almost

loses consciousness during the time they are eating or bingeing or vomiting

destructively. When the underlying disorder is treated, the person can lead a

life with food that is not filled with anxiety to the point where it causes

them to panic or act destructively. They also find they are not worried about

everything that comes down the pike so much any more either. They may also be

in a better position to deal with other SEPARATE mental health issues as

well.

here are just a few of the other 'personality type' issues we see a lot

around food:

2. Food as Soporific: There are other people who 'relax ' with food. One

could say that their symptom or cue to eat is catalyzed by a mood shift or

change. For them, most often learning other ways to calm down helps them

greatly moderate what they eat. They tend to go to carbs because certain

carbs calm the body, make it even a little sleepy--which registers to the

body as nice and calm. When they learn their self-calming techniques -- and

use them consistently--there's the key-- they do just fine. (these are often

the same folk who say they eat when happy, when sad, when scared, when mad,

etc.)

3. Unconscious Eaters: Some people are just unconscious about what they eat;

they have other things on their minds, they are in a hurry, or are 'constant

can-do' kinds of people always in a 'state' of motion. For them, Behavior

modification often helps; chewing a certain number of times, putting fork

down in between bites. Taking supps and vits at regular times, etc. Learning

to regulate, instead of being spontaneous about food.

4. Uninformed Eaters: For yet others, learning to eat nutritiously and as

though one's body is precious, and needs their care, is a whole new way of

approaching food. They learn about the importance of eating to nourish, to

help, to heal the body. This is a whole other category. This category

inclludes learning what foods settle, comfort, energize, create moods, etc.

5. Trauma-eating: This is wherein a person symbolically expresses a need or

protection or desire by eating food. Both the food chosen, the time it is

eaten, the amount eaten in, the desired outcomes of eating the food, all are

highly symbolic, that is, they have extra MEANING in a symbolic way to the

person her or himself. The meaning is not planted by the therapist, but comes

directly and meaningfully to the patient through their exploring their

fantasies, feelings, thoughts, imaginings and dreams. This is a lot of what

goes on in a therapy.

6. Multiple Causations Eating Disturbance: Sometimes, in rare cases, some of

all of the above ways with food can overlap each other a bit and a person can

come to terms with a multiple rather than a singular remedy.

7. Organic Disorders, Lastly, there are what we call appetite and satiation

issues that are a whole separate category in and of themselves. These

include over-eatng and under-eating. They also include eating to mediate

actual physical pain, such as over-production of acid, wehre in person eats

lots of brea, cereal, potatoes and othre soft foods that at least for a while

tone down the burning. People often eat to mediate physical pain of all

kinds; foot pain, back pain, intestibal dicomfort, etc. This must be explored

carefully and precisely.

In all though, impulse control, prayer, mindfulness, medication, information,

education, intentions, fasting, jump starts, cleansing programs--all these

have been a part of spiritual practices for thousands of years--although

years ago people were of course 'treated' with herbal remedies rather than

modern meddies. The point is, what works for one cannot necessarily be

applied to all others. For some, a little of each might work best, depending,

For some only one way works for them -- or only works for a while and then

must be adapted. Adaptation is the great genius of human beings, and it is

called upon to be used wit food as one's circumstances and stresses and

happinesses ebb and flow.

You can't treat a cold with hive medicine, and you cant treat a burn by

getting a haircut. You have to first pin down what the problem is, and then

once THAT is diagnosed, then you seek the remedies. Thankfully, for the many

issues around food and nurture, there are many remedies. Part of the problem

in mental health for years has been not taking a careful inventory of each

individual to see what the underlying issue(s) really is (are). As a shrink

for thirty-three years, I can mention unequivocally that there is no way that

behavior mod will reverse a true and full-blown anxiety disorder, just as

there is no way taking an SSRI will work for people who are not depressed or

anxious.

It is good for people always to have hope, to do well for themselves, to try

new things that are useful to them, to strive toward what they believe in and

what they think will bring them more happiness. We all find our own way,

sometimes as much by detours as by bee-lines. I am not discouraged by people

who try all kinds of things, I only be concerned when people try nothing. The

soul deserves everything you have to give.

just my two cent's worth

[Guest guest]

Dear Brave Souls:

This is just ceep's two cent's worth: I think I can grasp everyone's point of

view and concerns and ideas and enthusiasms...and just thought I would offer

a quick run-down of 'food-relation types. "

Everyone finds their own way. Some are moderation people, some are fasters,

some are jump starters, some are regulators, some are orderly, some are

spontaneous--this is human nature. (list-dad) is always one of the

first to say that your mileage will vary and that what works for one will not

work for all, and I have to agree.

1. Eating disorder: Just as a reminder to all of us who have struggled so

greatly over so so many years: The phrase 'eating disorder' is thrown about

sometimes a mite too trivially in our modern culture. It is a serious,

serious disorder that often is undergirded by an undiagnosed anxiety disorder

and/or panic disorder. (or organic depression) The person with such almost

loses consciousness during the time they are eating or bingeing or vomiting

destructively. When the underlying disorder is treated, the person can lead a

life with food that is not filled with anxiety to the point where it causes

them to panic or act destructively. They also find they are not worried about

everything that comes down the pike so much any more either. They may also be

in a better position to deal with other SEPARATE mental health issues as

well.

here are just a few of the other 'personality type' issues we see a lot

around food:

2. Food as Soporific: There are other people who 'relax ' with food. One

could say that their symptom or cue to eat is catalyzed by a mood shift or

change. For them, most often learning other ways to calm down helps them

greatly moderate what they eat. They tend to go to carbs because certain

carbs calm the body, make it even a little sleepy--which registers to the

body as nice and calm. When they learn their self-calming techniques -- and

use them consistently--there's the key-- they do just fine. (these are often

the same folk who say they eat when happy, when sad, when scared, when mad,

etc.)

3. Unconscious Eaters: Some people are just unconscious about what they eat;

they have other things on their minds, they are in a hurry, or are 'constant

can-do' kinds of people always in a 'state' of motion. For them, Behavior

modification often helps; chewing a certain number of times, putting fork

down in between bites. Taking supps and vits at regular times, etc. Learning

to regulate, instead of being spontaneous about food.

4. Uninformed Eaters: For yet others, learning to eat nutritiously and as

though one's body is precious, and needs their care, is a whole new way of

approaching food. They learn about the importance of eating to nourish, to

help, to heal the body. This is a whole other category. This category

inclludes learning what foods settle, comfort, energize, create moods, etc.

5. Trauma-eating: This is wherein a person symbolically expresses a need or

protection or desire by eating food. Both the food chosen, the time it is

eaten, the amount eaten in, the desired outcomes of eating the food, all are

highly symbolic, that is, they have extra MEANING in a symbolic way to the

person her or himself. The meaning is not planted by the therapist, but comes

directly and meaningfully to the patient through their exploring their

fantasies, feelings, thoughts, imaginings and dreams. This is a lot of what

goes on in a therapy.

6. Multiple Causations Eating Disturbance: Sometimes, in rare cases, some of

all of the above ways with food can overlap each other a bit and a person can

come to terms with a multiple rather than a singular remedy.

7. Organic Disorders, Lastly, there are what we call appetite and satiation

issues that are a whole separate category in and of themselves. These

include over-eatng and under-eating. They also include eating to mediate

actual physical pain, such as over-production of acid, wehre in person eats

lots of brea, cereal, potatoes and othre soft foods that at least for a while

tone down the burning. People often eat to mediate physical pain of all

kinds; foot pain, back pain, intestibal dicomfort, etc. This must be explored

carefully and precisely.

In all though, impulse control, prayer, mindfulness, medication, information,

education, intentions, fasting, jump starts, cleansing programs--all these

have been a part of spiritual practices for thousands of years--although

years ago people were of course 'treated' with herbal remedies rather than

modern meddies. The point is, what works for one cannot necessarily be

applied to all others. For some, a little of each might work best, depending,

For some only one way works for them -- or only works for a while and then

must be adapted. Adaptation is the great genius of human beings, and it is

called upon to be used wit food as one's circumstances and stresses and

happinesses ebb and flow.

You can't treat a cold with hive medicine, and you cant treat a burn by

getting a haircut. You have to first pin down what the problem is, and then

once THAT is diagnosed, then you seek the remedies. Thankfully, for the many

issues around food and nurture, there are many remedies. Part of the problem

in mental health for years has been not taking a careful inventory of each

individual to see what the underlying issue(s) really is (are). As a shrink

for thirty-three years, I can mention unequivocally that there is no way that

behavior mod will reverse a true and full-blown anxiety disorder, just as

there is no way taking an SSRI will work for people who are not depressed or

anxious.

It is good for people always to have hope, to do well for themselves, to try

new things that are useful to them, to strive toward what they believe in and

what they think will bring them more happiness. We all find our own way,

sometimes as much by detours as by bee-lines. I am not discouraged by people

who try all kinds of things, I only be concerned when people try nothing. The

soul deserves everything you have to give.

just my two cent's worth