Ultimately, Only you can help yourself ...
My exercises are primarily goal based, as I believe self exploration, a true sense of direction and both long term and short term goals are crucial for recovery. Therapists focus far too much on the past - why you are the way you are, what events happened when you were a child, what those girl's words made you feel like ... on and on. I do realise it is important to acknowledge any significant events may have contributed to why food and body image has taken over your life. However, the past has gone, the future is unknown and it is only NOW that you can be present in. You cant change that you were abused as a child or that you were bullied throughout school. Acknowledge it, release any negative thoughts towards that event/s and focus on what you can do right now, for YOU. It is more than likely that those bullies or people who were involved in that event are not even in your life anymore and if they are, they are probably not important. So why should you hang on to those words or actions from those insignificant people and punish yourself and all the people around you that DO care about you ?
These exercises are not only for eating disorder sufferers. They are beneficial for everyone ! If you are a smoker wanting to quit, unhappy with a certain aspect with your life - ie your job, the relationship you are in, not sure what to do with your life in terms of career, having trouble with certain people in your life, not happy with with your body or fitness level. ALL of these situations can be explored and what is right for you will be made clearer.
I am going to write my answers to some of the exercises on the right hand side. This is to give you an idea of the depth and what types of answers you could give. There is no right or wrong, but the deeper you go and the more honest you are with yourself, the more you will gain from these exercises.
Exercise 1 - Self Exploration 1. What were your dreams when you were young ? 2. What have been your happiest moments ? 3. What are your best talents and natural abilities ? 4. What do you want to accomplish in your career ? 5. What do you want to accomplish personally in life ? 6. What traits do you admire in others ? 7. What do you want your purpose in life to be ? |
Gemma's Responses. 1. I wanted to have plenty of money and have a perfect family. I always pictured having family barbecues with close friends and going on spas dates with my girlfriends. 2. My surf life saving days. It felt so good to in the salt water, paddling out so far that the people on the beach looked like ants, having the sun beat down on my back but most of all laughing for hours on end with my girls. 3. I'm very organised and fairly intelligent, I have a caring nature and a knack for dealing with people. I can't sit on a bus without talking to someone ! 4. I want to be in a job that I love, I dont want to come home from work and complain to my family about how much I hate work. I want to be in a high position and working alongside people I love and trust. 5. I want to find someone who makes me happy and cares for me. I want to have a family and I hope I can be the best mother possible. I would also like to help people somehow. 6. I admire honesty, intelligence, a fit body and a sense of humour. 7. I just want to be the best person I can be. I want to be positive and influential to those around me, I want to make people laugh and I want to be a mother. |
I encourage both eating disorder sufferers and family and friends to join the I Will Find My Way facebook group. It will let you know when something new is added to this site. But most importantly it will be a support network for people living with an eating disorder who no longer want to live that way.