Online Compulsive Overeating Counseling

Online compulsive overeating counseling is one way that a person can seek help for a food addiction problem that actually grips many people who may be obese or may have a nearly normal weight. Compulsive overeating has a number of different components to it, including binging, a sometimes secretive food life, guilt, depression and for many, a feeling of being trapped in a never ending cycle of self loathing and helplessness. The root causes of an overeating addiction are deep and numerous and for many, even the gentle urging of loved ones or friends to stop only drives them deeper into the behavior. For many people, a food addiction such as this one creates a person who slowly becomes physically obese, or at least has a weight problem, which then creates medical issues of its own. So the addiction becomes a many tentacled monster which affects every part of life.

In most cases, a person who really wants to conquer their food addiction will choose to allow a treatment center to handle their counseling. There are food addiction treatment centers all over the country, with many that are very exclusively private and others attached to hospitals as part of outpatient treatment. Many addiction centers that specialize in food addictions will treat anorexia, bulimia as well as overeating disorders. These are all seen as mental illnesses, and all are very serious and potentially life threatening. And while the world waits with bated breath for the miracle weight loss pill that is still to be discovered, there are no "pills" for weight loss, only medicine that might address some of the root causes for the food addiction to exist. Because food addictions are so related to the psyche, there may be limits to the effectiveness of online compulsive overeating counseling programs.

Most food addictions experts are fairly well agreed that a form of psychotherapy called cognitive behavioral therapy is the most successful in dealing with the deep seated causes for food addictions. Cognitive therapy is designed to help a person realize that it is a person's reactions to their own feelings that are the cause of the emotional pain, rather than blaming another person, thing or circumstance. This therapy teaches the patient how to reinterpret the feelings they have so that a more healthy response to them can be made. The relationship between therapist and client becomes very important during the sessions that occur, and this does point up a bit of a weakness when it comes to online compulsive overeating counseling. There are some websites that offer online therapists that are quite good and an expert in his or her field, but the synergy that is developed between therapist and client has a lot to do with physical presence, something that is overtly missing in either a phone or instant messaging relationship that an online compulsive overeating counseling website would have to offer.

The strength of the physical nature of the therapy office allows the therapist to judge the sincerity and the sometime the truthfulness of the client by observing certain body language signals. Despite the fact that the therapist is there to help and it is not a police interrogation, part of the shtick for the compulsive overeater is often secrecy and lying. Hiding food in strange places so no one will know it is there, or lying about what one has had to eat during the day is often the mo of the compulsive overeater. An online compulsive overeating counseling therapist may be able to tell some prevarication over the phone, or may catch a client in an instant messaging lie, but it is to the office therapist's advantage to look for clues that the client is not being honest with him. A person can lie to their therapist, but why do that? He is just there to help, but a person cannot lie to God. "O Lord thou hast searched me and known me; thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off." (Psalm 139: 1, 2)

The advantage of an online compulsive overeating counseling therapist will be for the person who recognizes one's addiction but lives in a location where treatment is not available in an office. Perhaps the person lives in an isolated part of the country, or may even be overseas and wishes that the therapist be someone who speaks his or her own language or may want a fellow countryman. There are a few websites that offer online compulsive overeating counseling, but they may not be advertised that way. WWW.live-counselor.com offers dozens of counselors in many fields of discipline and the clients can choose a therapist from many profiles. WWW.shrinkyourself.com offers a program that is predesigned for compulsive overeaters that is somewhat self-guided. There are a number of other counseling sites, and one should search thoroughly before spending money for online compulsive overeating counseling.

If you think you might be a compulsive overeater but aren't sure, here are some signs. Be honest with yourself, and if they ring true, seek help soon. Someone with this food addiction often has a fear of not being able to control eating, and while eating cannot stop. This person has been on a hundred different diet plans and believes life will be so much better if he just loses weight. Food is hidden in strange places for consumption later and hidden from a spouse if they don't have this addiction. This person often blames their weight for failure in their job or for the lack of friends. Depression, fatigue and mood swings along with decreased mobility are another sign of a compulsive overeater.

Compulsive Overeating Treatment

A compulsive overeating treatment is generally characterized by therapy that targets the psychological and emotional causes of the eating disorder. Experts agree that eating disorders of any type are not really about food. In fact, food is just the 'tool' used to soothe, console or provide emotional comfort to many who suffer with an over eating condition. It is a way to deal with life when stress, anxiety or problems arise. Compulsive overeaters are unable to control their excessive eating and unlike bulimics, they do not purge their calories. Weight gain is the obvious result for those who eat foods when they are not really hungry so that they can handle the pressures of life. Online compulsive overeating counseling can provide help and healing for many who suffer with this uncontrollable eating disorder.

Counseling and therapy designed to deal with the heart of the matter is very important in overcoming the problem. Compulsive overeating treatment plans can be effectively administered online or through many other types of medical or self-help programs. Depending on the severity of the condition, there is generally a program to suit just about anyone. There are online, out-patient, hospital, and retreat oriented programs that have proved to be highly effective for many people. When searching for one, always check on the credentials of the therapists, counselors or medical professionals to ensure proper treatments and professional, personal care.

Those who are overeaters tend to more willingly enter a program than those who have other types of eating disorders. They are well aware of their problem just as bulimics are, unlike those who suffer with anorexia nervosa. Admitting there is a problem is the first step in getting help. For those who choose to enter an online compulsive overeating counseling or any other program, there are some commonalities among all the programs no matter what their style of therapy. "Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord." (Psalm 31:24)

All programs deal with the underlying causes of the condition, since compulsive overeaters usually began their weight gain as a child. This disorder affects a large amount of men and women. Its trigger may be rooted in some childhood trauma such as child abuse or other lesser causes of anxiety. The problem lies in the fact that these sufferers never learned how to deal with stress the proper way and turned to food for solace as a way to block out pain. In fact, when adults with the disorder go through increasingly stressful times in life, they are very likely to continue to gain weight in proportion to the stimuli. It is a cycle that is hard to break without submitting to a compulsive overeating treatment plan. Most treatment programs delve into the deep emotional, psychological and physical causes of overeating. The most successful programs are those that provide a combined approach that includes a type of therapy, nutritional information and medical intervention.

Sometimes, however, rather than seek the help of a professional, overeaters are misdirected to enter health spas, gyms and weight loss clubs. Society in general does not take the problems with over eating as seriously as is necessary for many people. Instead, gaining weight is looked at merely as a self-control problem. The thought is that if a person tries hard enough, he or she can loose the weight, then, voila! Problem solved. However, just loosing the weight does not solve the root cause of compulsivity. When the right stimulus comes along again, a person will very likely indulge the compulsions. The cycle returns, followed by guilt, more anxiety and sometimes self-hatred. Just like other eating disorders, overeating can be very dangerous and even lead to death if untreated. An online compulsive overeating counseling service can provide much more than just a weight loss regimen.

The symptoms of the eating disorder include over concern about weight gain/loss, depression, and not eating much in public. Feelings of embarrassment, and putting a complete focus on weight as the cause of any failures in life are also common symptoms. Other problems associated with the condition are weight gain, diabetes, immobility, fatigue, arthritis, varicose veins, and many other physical ailments. Some people can become so overweight that they cannot perform everyday functions without experiencing shortness of breath.

Excessive weight gain can even hinder job performance, social relationships, and other activities. When the simple things in life become a chore to perform, it is definitely the time to commit to a compulsive overeating treatment plan. If an eating disorder is dealt with at the root of the problem, it is likely that a patient can live a long, healthy life, free from the disabling and tormenting problems of overeating. An easy place to start is through an online compulsive overeating counseling program that offers privacy and competent help. Trained, certified counselors can provide a step by step approach to personal therapy and a nutritional management plan.

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