Is counseling ever recommended for bulimics/anorexics?

[nevertoolate]

Having been a lifetime bulimic, partially controlled through a medication called topamax for years, I wonder if FAA ever suggests people who suffer from eating disorders seek additional counseling and if there are actually any agencies that understand this stuff or have made any recent advances in the study of eating disorders.
Marilyn

[Mrs. G]

I am in the mental health field so I feel as though I'm "qualified" to speak to this. There are a gazillion therapists who specialize in eating disorders. Feel free to research human services and don't be afraid to ask what the clinician specializes in. Get someone who is actually "qualified", LICSW, LCSW, LMHC.... I'd hold on the rest. It's up to YOU to do the work in therapy and it is painful. Theoretically, you're taking all of the negative thoughts, experiences, emotions- working on them, and then refiling them in your brain. Things will come up in therapy that you never knew, didn't think you had remembered, etc. It's a painful, slow process, but it's worth it! Good luck! BTW, you can also ask if anyone specializes in DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) or CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy). To put it simply, DBT is more about emotional regulation and CBT is more analytical.

[here42da]

Wow, though you were way over my head with all of the technical information, I am glad that you shared your knowledge on the subject. I am sure it will be very helpful to others interested in the subject. And isn't that the way this program works? Each on sharing so that others might know. I certainly am glad someone shared with me back in July of 2008. Thank God I was ready to grasp the life line and hang on for dear life.
"Loving life the FAA way!"

[oragold]

Hello nevertoolate,
Counseling is fantastic! I have had many kinds of therapy over the years and other personal development and I believe all of them helped me when I got to FAA. The internal journey is the best journey!

It is good to find a counselor that has a positive feeling about 12-step programs--there are some that are averse and I think that is counterproductive. I don't know if it is important that they specialize in eating disorders--I think it depends if that is the most active thing for you or if it is a general emotional thing. I would find the highest quality counselor possible although often they don't take insurance. The ones that helped me the most had some form of mindfulness background--that is that they practiced and taught body awareness, breathing, identifying and trusting ones feelings.

Ora food addict CO

[Mrs. G]

I think it depends if that is the most active thing for you or if it is a general emotional thing. The ones that helped me the most had some form of mindfulness background--that is that they practiced and taught body awareness, breathing, identifying and trusting ones feelings.

Ora food addict CO

You explained this far better than I did! All of what you said here is DBT and there are therapists/clinicians that specialize in this. Another powerful tool to use is distress tolerance. When people feel hungry or the need to eat, it's important to have another set of tools to assist them with the emotional discomfort and the anxiety that comes with the feelings.