| Since eating disorders are rooted in emotional | | | | positive changes in their emotional state. Feeling |
| conflicts, the solution for the problem can be found in | | | | grateful for small subtle changes will attract bigger |
| emotional healing. Emotional healing doesn't happen | | | | changes and so on. This means receiving and |
| instantly; it is a process. Many existing treatments | | | | accepting the healing at all levels. |
| nowadays promote only a physical fix while the | | | | 5. Strengthen the weak areas: This means to |
| emotional component is severely underestimated. | | | | continue on with a new way of living and maintaining |
| This could be the reason why some ED treatments | | | | a new level of awareness for the rest of their life. |
| failed to make the person better. It is simply because | | | | This is the only way to stop an eating disorder from |
| the deep intimate emotions remain unchanged after | | | | coming back. It is easy for many sufferers to cling to |
| these kinds of treatments. | | | | their old programming as the weak areas seem safe |
| To make any eating disorder treatment successful | | | | and comfortable. It is scary for some to take the |
| people should concentrate on the emotional healing of | | | | next step and face their weaknesses head on, but it |
| the sufferer, foremost. | | | | has to be done regardless of how hard it may seem. |
| There are 5 steps to emotional healing: | | | | To accomplish these 5 steps the person should |
| 1. Acknowledgment: One must say" I need emotional | | | | remain non-judgemental and mindful. Mindfulness is a |
| healing because my emotions are not in balance at | | | | mental state when one becomes an observer of |
| the moment". They have to believe this is true, not | | | | themselves and they have the ability to see things |
| just say the words. | | | | without criticism. People's emotions often make that |
| 2. Locate the cause of the pain: Emotional pain is | | | | person sway to one or the other side: too far either |
| located in the subconscious mind so it is basically | | | | way can lead to disorders. |
| impossible to find out the true cause of pain by | | | | But mindfulness does not take sides, mindfulness |
| simple thinking or rationalising. One should have access | | | | does not get obsessed with the good stuff, it does |
| to their subconscious mind to sort out the problems. | | | | not try to sidestep the bad stuff, it takes a balanced |
| The best way to do this is through mindfulness | | | | path. |
| training techniques. Mindfulness is a mental and | | | | Mindfulness doesn't cling to the "pleasant" and there is |
| emotional state when the person is fully aware of | | | | no fleeing from the "unpleasant" either. A person has |
| her/his owns body and brain. It is when | | | | to learn to face the ED and control their ED demons |
| communication with the subconscious mind becomes | | | | and mindfulness training will achieve this. |
| easier. | | | | Mindfulness sees all experiences as equal, all thoughts |
| 3. Cleansing the emotional wound: This can only be | | | | as equal, and all feelings as equal. Nothing is |
| done on the subconscious level of awareness, so | | | | suppressed. Nothing is repressed. Mindfulness does |
| mindfulness techniques are a great help for doing this. | | | | not play favourites. |
| Cleansing occurs when the person reassess the old | | | | The beauty of being mindful is it will cause emotional |
| emotional hurts, attaches a new meaning to them | | | | healing in the eating disorder sufferer and it does not |
| and maybe even replaces them with other more | | | | matter how long one has had the disorder. |
| constrictive emotions. | | | | Emotional conflicts will be solved by just being mindful |
| 4. Receive healing: This means accepting a new | | | | and wounds will be healed. Mindfulness training is also |
| positive emotional state which comes with the healing | | | | harmless; it has no side effects and is beneficial for |
| and hanging on to it. When a person becomes more | | | | the health of the majority of people, even non-ED |
| mindful she/he should be grateful even for little | | | | sufferers. |