Through the Layers of Remission

Hi

I do lots of work with people who are dealing with different addictions. Bulimia is one of the hardest because we need to keep using the object we also need to control.

There is another reason. The layers of remission can be really taxing if you're bulimic. Some of us are able to make the adjustment quickly, some take much longer. It can be exhausting and difficult to endure.

Knowing what to do comes in two arenas.

One is the intellectual knowing. For lots of us this is not a really difficult task. We read. We get information and sometimes get counseling or use a mentor. We end up with an endless supply of information that seems very helpful.

There is a problem though.

The mind deals in concepts. Concepts, if you will, are the minds way of building maps of the territory we are going to "explore." Maps are like plans. They very often don't survive contact with reality. So the "plan" is to use structured eating. But the mind starts to prey on itself during vulnerable moments ( for most of us this is late afternoon or night) and before we know it we are in a binge and purge cycle.

Having concepts is just the start.

The real issue is how are we going to cope with reality? Because we are going to need come face to face with it.

What are we going to DO during the vulnerable times? And I don't mean something vague. I mean what is THE PLAN that you KNOW is going to work.

Sitting at night with a binge in front of television or a book? Right away you know you can't do that. You can't. So don't. Query: What are you going to do instead? What do you KNOW you are going to do instead?

These are questions you need to ask yourself to be successful. There are options and things you can do and better yet know that you can do to avoid relapsing back into bulimic behavior.

All of us need a realistic and concrete plan that is doable to avoid the traps.

Do you know when you are vulnerable? Do you need to be somewhere else at night? Need to drive another route home? Eat somewhere else. Avoid someone or something that is a trigger? We need to realize that this is going to be a long term commitment to remaining in sobriety.

It's not a simple task but it is doable. Absolutely doable.

Any comments or suggestions are welcome. Feel free to contact me if you feel I can help.

We can do this. Don't ever doubt that we can do this.

Bryan