Eating disorder - 14yr old

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Josceleyne Dalton on June 22, 2010 at 3:40pm

Usually self harming physically is done to releive the emotional pain which in turn can bring on the need to go further, by using excuses to not eat. Obviously I am not aware of the details of this young girl but have dealt with this similar situation many many times. So yes I do beleive the two are connected together. This young lady probably has many difficult issues which she is finding it hard to deal with. Maybe she has no mother, her mother is not living in the home,therefore this could be a time when she has or is having her periods and can not discuss it. Could be she feels ashamed of her body, therefore in turn does not like herself (self harm and the food issues). Could also be due to being overweight, again (self harm and the food issue).
It is my opinion that to get an idea of what is going on, you need much much more information, so as to be able to help in the best way that you can.

Permalink Reply by Calvin Munro on June 22, 2010 at 3:51pm

Thanks Josceleyne. Appreciate the input. You are spot on as I believe that the parents are separated and she is living with the father. Also I do not have enough background to make any plans as to how best to move forward.
It is good to get a female perspective as we "boys" miss out on some of the obvious things!

Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on June 22, 2010 at 5:30pm

Her eating issues and cutting could be related or not, but no worries because with few exceptions, unless we are licensed health care providers in addition to being hypnotists - we can not treat eating disorders or self-mutilation... The great news is that you can help your young client develop a taste for healthy foods and offer her healthy ways to change her state of mind...


One of the keys to helping her develop tastes for healthy foods is to subtly suggest her desire to change her eating habits reflects her becoming ready to become a young woman... It's easy to hypnotically help her de-condition her childish reactions and replace them with them with the special pleasure and satisfaction knowing that she putting "those" unwanted reactions behind her... Blah, blah, blah...

If she wants assistance with stopping the cutting - You could market the belief that hypnosis can make the cutting unnecessary by suggesting that the hidden benefit of cutting is that when she cuts herself - her body releases endorphins and changes the way she feels You are going to give her a post- hypnotic "mood changer" that automatically releases the feel good peptides and changes the way she feels on demand... Blah, blah, blah--

Collapsing anchors and/or parts-like techniques are recommended.

Michael E.

Permalink Reply by Calvin Munro on June 22, 2010 at 5:39pm

Michael thanks for that and appreciate the comments.
It's great to be able to have this resource to open up options and possibilities.