By: Amit Kothiyal
Submitted: 2009-11-11 05:45:14 | Word Count: 469
Cognitive Therapy was initially developed as a treatment for depression by Psychiatrist Aaron T Beck. It has now become popular for the treatment of a wide range of psychological disorders.
Its guiding principle is that while we cannot control what life throws at us we can choose how we react to the situation or event. Beck believed that we can change how we feel by changing what we think. The CBT therapist will focus primarily on the here and now and not so much on past issues.
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People with Eating Disorders tend to have distorted thinking in relation to food and body image.
Typical Bulimic thoughts might be:
“I ate a bag of chips today and I feel like I have gained 5 inches on my hips”
I shouldn’t have eaten that Chinese take away now I have to throw it up”
I will only eat breakfast today so I can lose the extra fat I put on yesterday.
I know I look huge in these jeans and no one can tell me any different, I have to get down to a size 6 and then I will feel happy”.
If I lost 10 more pounds he will love me”
These examples illustrate that a negative thought is instantly translated into feeling fat.
The challenge for the person with Bulimia is to become more aware of your negative self beliefs.
Identify how these negative thoughts are making you feel (i.e. shame, guilt, anger, sadness) and how these feelings can lead you to a binge.
This is the Thought/ Feeling /Behavior cycle.
People with Eating Disorders tend to have other related difficulties in their life such as anxiety, depression, communication problems (social phobia), high stress levels and unexpressed anger. CBT can help to resolve these problems effectively.
CBT is not a magical cure and does involve the person with the problems becoming actively involved in the therapy. People coming for therapy for the first time tend to think that the model of therapy or the therapist is going to do all the work.
One of the major benefits of CBT is increased Self esteem:
Working with Self Esteem in CBT will involve focusing on the following:
Self awareness- becoming more aware of thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
Self acceptance- positive as well as negative aspects of the self.
Self care- recognising and meeting own needs.
Self protection- avoiding dangerous situations.
Self reliance/trust- making own decisions.
Self Assertion.
Self responsibility- taking responsibility for own actions.
Author Resource:-
Are you seeking help for yourself or a loved one?
If you are a parent or a loved one of a child suffering from the signs of eating disorders, Kildare Street Clinic is a specialized eating disorder treatment center offering effective eating distorder treatment by Cognitive" target="_blank">http://www.kildarestreetclinic.com/treatment.html">Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and other information about symptoms and relief options available for curing Bulimia and Anorexia.
