"It became very clear to me sitting out there today that every decision I've made in my entire life has been wrong. My life is the complete opposite of everything I want it to be. Every instinct I have, in every aspect of life, be it something to wear, something to eat - it's all been wrong." ~George Costanza
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Maybe that's a slight exaggeration - after all I did decide to have children and that was perfect :)
But if ED is my voice of doubt, confusion and self-destruction, then like George Costanza I should do the exact opposite of everything it says.
I need to practise listening to ED - and then actively do the opposite!
So since my mothercraft nurse offered me a follow-up visit in 6 months instead of waiting the official 18 months (just so she could check-in with me) and since I said 'no' because that was what ED told me to do - today I rang up and made the appt. Opposite, get it??
Nothing terrible happened either :) In fact the worst thing that could happen is I go along in 6 months for a nice little chat that I didn't really need. On the flip side, if in 6 months I have slipped back into my old habits I will most likely be incapable of making the appt when I really need it.
And the best thing that can happen is that I now have another person I can add to my growing list of recovery support people. Only good can come from that!
7 comments:
That's so funny that you made that comparison because I have thought THE EXACT SAME THING in ED recovery. ED was controlling all of my instincts, so I would often just do the opposite of whatever my instincts told me. It's always so invigorating to let go and do something that separates you from ED. More power to ya!
-Emily
I totally hear you - I am finding myself thinking or saying something and then wondering which 'me' said it, the facade that is me, the one in denial or the one who isn't quite brave enough to actively seek help. Hooray for you and having a growing support team.
Thank you so much for the chat the other day, you are getting me closer and closer to where I know I need to be. I will get there and I will follow you all the way to recovery.
xo Poppy
Part of DBT treatment (dialectical behavioral treatment) often used in eating disorder recovery involves this exactly. It's appropriately label "opposite action", and you figured it out without any dbt training!
We'd like to believe that doing what's intuitive is naturally right and helpful. But when out thoughts are distorted and our body's signals fail us, acting intuitively just doesn't cut it.
Hi! My nutritionist brought up opposite action, and I do find it helpful! At first it is hard with the bigger things; but it has helped with some of my smaller changes - like not putting off eating a snack or a meal. (Ed, "Just wait one more hour") and then I try and "O.A" it. (I am hungry now! Why wait?) I hope I can O.A other stuff too...like going out for dinner and actually leaving the cheese on my pizza! Go us!
LOve any post witha Seinfeld analogy. I hope the opposite effect helps.
You know, this makes sense especially in light of your desire to add a support mechanism/ person each week. This can be a great tool in the tool kit and your approach about the 6 month appointment makes a boat load of sense. Bravo!
Okay, so you had me at the Seinfeld analogy... and followed it with substance that I actually rather agree with.
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