How You Can Help It When You 'Can't Help It!'

Its such a common thing, when youre feeling powerless over food to say I cant help it! it really does seem like that, doesnt it?

Thats what compulsions are like strong, irresistible impulses to do something usually something you dont actually want to do (in your rational mind) like eating when youre not hungry; or having another biscuit; like opening (and eating) the box of chocolates you bought for your dinner host; or stealing other peoples food Or for some, its not eating that too is a compulsion.

It really does feel like you cant help it. It doesnt feel like your legs are carrying you to the cupboard. It doesnt feel like your hand is opening it, or breaking open the seal of the carefully selected gift. Its like youre detached from your body. You know whats going to happen next. You can see it all, as though youre watching a movie. You know how this story will end.

And it seems like you have no choice in the matter you cant help it.

How you CAN help it

Id like to share with you how you can help it. I dont mean it in the tone that a harsh authority figure may say it: Yes! You CAN help it, with a wagging, pointing finger, pushing and shoving you in the direction they want you to move. I mean it in a gentle way how you can help your compulsion to loosen up a little, and give you some space, so that you can have at least a sense of choice about your actions.

When you have that I know this movie feeling, try this:

Get right back into your body

Even if youre having that out of body experience, where you feel completely detached, and it doesnt feel like your legs are walking you towards the Haagen Daz stand, stop, take a breath. And another.

Feel your feet. Really feel them. What do your feet feel like? Are they cold or warm? Notice how it feels in your feet, to walk, putting one foot in front of the other. What do your ankles feel like as youre walking? Become absorbed in and fascinated by how you feel, in your body.

Notice how it feels to breathe. All the way in, air cooler as it flows in, chest and belly rising, and all the way out; air warmer now, and chest and belly falling.

You see, what happens when we overeat (or binge, or indeed undereat) is we leave our bodies, so to speak. So getting back into your body is a crucial step.

Say: Oh! I know this movie!

This means, become the Witness of your experience. Describe to yourself whats happening. It could sound something like this, Im walking towards the ice cream stand. Im noticing that it doesnt feel like my body. Its like I know how this will all end in a binge.

Witnessing your experience is an extremely powerful skill to learn. It helps you to separate yourself from your thoughts and feelings so you can recognise them as just thoughts and feelings. So you might notice: Im thinking that I cant help whats about to happen. Im feeling a contraction in my stomach. My chest feels tight. Now Im thinking that the salted caramel will taste totally divine. I can feel my legs walking me closer and closer to the counter. Im feeling excited. Im thinking that it doesnt matter, Ill be good tomorrow etc etc.

Get the idea?

What this does is help you to slow down. Its like watching the movie frame by frame.

Slowing down, creates space. Space in which you can take back some power if you want to.

CLICK TO TWEET

Theres no have to, no should do. But if you have some sense of real choice, you may choose differently.

Actually, Im noticing that Im not at all hungry. And when I think about the feeling I get after a pint of salted caramel ice cream, I feel nauseous and light-headed for hours.

You may still choose to have what you thought youd have.

You may choose to have a smaller portion.

You may choose not to have it at all, this time.

The point is, you have a sense of choice. And when you have a sense of choice, you take back your power, and you take responsibility for your actions.

And that helps it!

So, will you practice being in your body and witnessing yourself? Start when its easy like youre driving your car, or sitting on a bus just practice describing your experience to yourself your thoughts, your feelings, your sensations in your body become fascinated by what goes on inside you!

Are you ready to change your relationship with your body, food and eating? Book a FREE Discovery Session .