My Gastric Sleeve

The Power of "No!"

As I've mentioned before, I'm seeing a therapist to help me resolve some of my issues around eating and weight.

During my last appointment, she asked me if I would be interested in changing my appointment times to earlier in the day.

I didn't want to hurt her feelings or inconvenience her, but the time she suggested really wasn't convenient. I stumbled around, trying to explain why it wouldn't work.

Finally, mercifully, she stopped me. "It doesn't sound like you want to change your appointment time at all," she said.

I nodded that this was true.

Her next words floored me, "Deb, you don't have to make excuses or explain what you need. It's fine to just say, 'I don't want that.'"

"I don't want that." I repeated the words softly, then a little louder. Saying them felt a hundred times better than the mealy-mouthed excuses I'd been trying to give.

The Therapist Who Treats Herself...

After another week of struggling to keep myself away from chocolate, I decided to take my bariatric surgeon's advice and see a therapist who specializes in eating disorders.

I honestly felt a little stupid that I couldn't seem to work this issue out on my own, but as a friend bluntly reminded me, "The counselor who treats herself has a fool for a client."

Anyway, I've been to two therapy appointments. The therapist I'm working with is very intuitive and able to read (correctly) into what I'm not saying, but she's also very sensible and down-to-earth when it comes to problem-solving. That's a perfect combination for me.