by Rush Mckenzie

Created on: May 22, 2008

I have been dealing with anorexia since I was ten. I did not start working on this issue in therapy until I was eight-teen. People with an eating disorder, generally have cognitive distortions about their bodies; and life in general. Their thinking can be black and white(the, it is all good or all bad syndrome,) catastrophizing, blaming, and most often, control fallacies.

Cognitive therapy is a wonderful therapy that works because you can learn it from a therapist. Then you can do it for yourself, by yourself. Changing the distorted thought into one that is based more on reality. There are worksheets that help weigh the evidence of the thought. What evidence do you have that your thought is true/untrue. This tool has helped me tremendously.

I had a specific weight that I was obsessed with retaining at. If I was a bound heavier, or lighter, I was very unhappy. Using psycho-dynamic therapy, with free association more specifically, was beneficial. It took me a little while to let go and just let all of my thoughts flow out. But when I did, I had a much better understanding of why I "needed" to be ninety pounds.

Having had not a wonderful childhood, I had, (and still have)many issues with my family. Utilizing Gestalt therapy was a useful technique. Working with the empty chair was useful in that I could imagine different family members sitting there, and express my feelings in a safe environment. I did not have an opportunity to do this in a face-to-face, so this assisted me in letting go; some. That is an issue of having blamed my self for issues that were not my fault.

Even though I wanted to change my behavior of not eating enough to sustain my body, I had all of these behaviors, rituals, that I had been practicing for many years. I used Behavior Therapy. More specifically, modeling. This is basically an observational learning technique. I was asked to go to restaurants, parties and other functions, and watch how people eat. Then to pick and choose who I thought was healthy. Giving these examples to my therapist, he sifted through them and picked out the truly healthy people. I was then asked to model them. This has worked tremendously well for me due to my learning style. I need to be able to observe what it is that I am supposed to be learning.

I utilized an eclectic orientation therapist which I view has working best. I have been able to try on different techniques. Some work better than others for me. The ones that work the best, my therapist geared me more towards those. I still use these approaches today. I am now at a healthy weight. I am also eating healthier and exercising at a healthy level.

Not every therapy technique will work for everyone. If one does not work, I suggest trying another until you do find one that does.

Learn more about this author, Rush Mckenzie.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.