I just orderd a SAD light/light therapy box. Anyone have experience using one?

Hello Nette!

Well thanks, I am one of those people who tries to face my fears, and if it helps at least one person, writing about my experiences & thoughts makes it worth it.

All people suffer from grief at one point in their lives, and those of us who are ready (or getting ready) to take surgical or non-surgical steps to face their issues with obesity sometimes benefit from conversation -- the Internet Blogging seems to help me.

Being able to live in your own skin is paramount - whether you choose to lose the excess weight, or live with it.  For me, I am finally to the point that the weight is making me physically uncomfortable, and having looked inward, I am finally ready.  Being emotionally ready is just as improtant as being physically ready.  seeing some of my friends not ready, I have been able to learn from their experiences.

Sure, I have issues I still need therapy for, but I can say that I am more ready for surgical intervention than I ever was.  Dealing with emotional eating, dulling the senses with food, is something thin & obese alike need to learn to work through - but those of us are obese really need to get to the root of this problem.  Like any other choice of "drug," food can be abused.  The difficult thing: WE ALL NEED FOOD TO SURVIVE, so it isn't just a matter of quitting "cold turkey" (Ooooo, what a metaphor!)

Can you be obese & healthy?  Many can.  Can you be thin & unhealthy?  Many can.  It is a balancing act - exercise, nutrition, emotional awareness --- this is my goal.  I can live with being in a BMI that calls me Overweight, but having a BMI of a Super Morbid Obese person is just what I cannot physically carry around.

May you find a path that works for you!!!  I just hope I can get on the path, and journey healthfully to the end of my days!

Brenda  : )~

Hello Everyone!

I am looking for a therapist in Northern NJ (Bergen County).  I would prefer someone who specializes in eating disorders such as binge eating.  I am a 39 year old female, approved for gastric bypass surgery (no date scheduled yet) but I know that in order to be successful I will need help in coping with my stressors in a different way not related to food and using food as a source of relaxation and comfort.    Any suggestions on therapists and/or support groups would be appreciated.

Thank you!!!!

yes doing it alone is very dangerous, think i heard it is one of the ones when u withdraw it can be deadly. i know when i was addicted to ambien , i didnt want to tell my doctor so i could keep taking them.  Dr supervised is the way to go. It is doable, You can do it. you are worth it.

Cecelia,
I am sorry you are feeling so poorly.  Sounds like it's awful hard right now for you to find any positive in your life.  Life can really s**k sometimes.  For all the reasons you state that you can't go to a support meeting are the exact reasons why you need the support!!   I DO hear you, honestly, I do.   As rotten as you feel you need to find something, anything, to be grateful for and focus on that.   I know you probably know that and don't even want to hear it but you need to fight back and only you can do that for you.  Sometimes others just feel so helpless to help a person so down.  I hear you when you say that your misery goes in the door before you do.   All you can do is be honest.  Someone will listen to you and maybe be able to help.

Just know that you are not alone.  I wish you the best and I hope life gets better for you real soon.