Addiction Recovery

One of the most powerful tools I know of for moving out of an eating disorder is the tool of writing or journaling. I would say without exception, that every single client I have seen over the years, has for one reason or another struggled with feeling free to express herself emotionally.

We get all sorts of messages in our families growing up about what is permissible to talk about. People that struggle with addictions typically were not allowed to express themselves in ways that allowed them to be themselves. When feelings are chronically stifled, not spoken or expressed, all of the energy of those emotions begins to rumble. Feelings don’t just go away, or dissolve.

Everyone experiences lots of uncomfortable emotion growing up. And for the most part, it is our family that teaches us how to navigate the discomfort and find a way to express ourselves, in ways that are safe for us and for others. When this does not occur, we are at a developmental disadvantage.

In the moment that we have a negative feeling, if our family has given us the message that it’s not okay to express that, we are in a bind. We have to choose to either adhere to family rules, or be true to ourselves. When we are young, survival comes first. We are dependent and must make sure our needs within our families are met- and so usually we comply with the basic rules- spoken or not.

In order to do this, we have to either disconnect from our true feelings, deny them and squash them down, or make ourselves “wrong” for having them, or do something else to bring relief. For you, that something else was using food to self-soothe in those times. It became a pattern.

If you add up all of those moments of not expressing painful thoughts and feelings, year in and year out, that adds up to a powerful and well-worn pattern of disconnecting from negative emotions through eating. If you are now an adult, that pattern is extremely hard to break, it’s been woven through your way of living and interacting forever.

This is a tough one to move through alone. You already know that right? Fears and resistance to breaking such an old habit are mighty by the time we are adults. It is easier when we are teenagers or in our 20’s- the less time we have had to rely on the pattern, the easier it is to shift.

This is something that really requires significant support. I know that my clients are truly afraid to feel things, let alone try to express things like anger, disappointment, or all of the common feelings that arise in relationships. They try to isolate themselves, as a way of keeping the feelings down.

I began this article by talking about the power of writing. This is one piece that you CAN do on your own. It is a way of safely practicing expressing and venting any and all feelings without having to risk expressing them to somebody else. Feeling have to move through somehow-

If you find yourself in adulthood struggling with self-expression and tolerating your own discomfort with negative emotion, get yourself a journal.

Start with a couple of pages daily. My clients that do the best at changing their eating are always the “compulsive” journalers! They use their journals to express and process out everything- and they find great relief from this. It is a really healing thing you can do for yourself.

I can get you started around writing- I have learned some powerful techniques over the years for beginning a journaling practice, and ways of writing to clear emotion and move energy. As always, I am here to help.

Wishing you much love and every blessing,

Lisa Claudia Briggs, MSW, LICSW (Intuitive ,Therapist, Eating Disorders Expert and Mentor (http://www.INTUITIVEBODY.COM) Healing our eating addictions and nourishing our Spirits, with ease (Lisa@IntuitiveBody.com) (978) 772-0009
‘Every blade of grass has its angel that bends over it and whispers ‘grow, grow’- The Talmud

Copyright 2008 by Lisa Claudia Briggs . All rights reserved.

Information Obtained from IntuitiveBody.com is not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your medical professional with individual concerns.

Lisa Claudia Briggs, MSW, LICSW is the Founder of Intuitive Body. She is a Holistic Intuitive Therapist, and Eating Disorders Expert and Mentor. Lisa has helped hundreds of women and teenaged girls heal their eating and body-related issues for the past 20-plus years. Lisa has developed a unique system providing an amazing collection of techniques blending psychology, EMDR, guided imagery and relaxation, energy medicine, and spiritual traditions to help women and teens shift old patterns and beliefs. Visit http://www.IntuitiveBody.com for more information, or contact Lisa at lisa@intuitivebody.com or call 978.772.0009.

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