Counselling for lifelong issues?

LegacyUser

You know that sort of person who does everything in extremes? That's me. I don't recall ever sitting in a pub sipping a single pint over an hour and then leaving. I'd drink fast at the start and usually drink 8 -10 pints in a night. I'd always have to eat crisps or peanuts with them. Drinking a pint without them is something that makes me feel uncomfortable. And I'd eat afterwards, too. The concept of moderation doesn't exist and I don't think it ever has. I was the sort of kid in school who would have to be the biggest fan in the world of whatever pop star was going. I gave up smoking for good years ago, but I needed some crutch to lean on and started eating crisps and the like. The weight piled on. Feeling inadequate I went out to get drunk and escape. Anyway, you get the personality type. Can this "extremist" mentality be changed?

Today, I'm in my mid-late 30s and I desperately need to find balance in everything in my life. I'm drinking more than I've ever done - c. 8 x 500ml @ 5 times per week - and I'm eating far, far too much. I'm 30kg overweight. Typical of my form, I've spent about the last 15 hours on Boards.ie. I lost my job three weeks ago and I've been letting everything go/coming in on myself since.

I'm much more conscious now that I need counselling for the first time in my life, and this largely came from relationship counselling my partner and I had earlier this year. In that relationship, too, I tend to be an "all or nothing" type and this is problematic. One of the big things to come out of relationship counselling was that I much prefer my own company and this very probably has its origins in persistent rejection in my childhood. Whatever it is, I need to sort it out as it's making me a loner, making me prefer to sit at the computer and coming in on myself, drinking more, eating more. Losing control. But it's safe here. My latest escapades into social life witnessed my drinking more, and passing out, and even throwing a few insults at people along the way. Embarrassing. I just don't want to go out again; I didn't then but I was pressurised into it. I don't want to make the effort with people, but it matters greatly to somebody close to me that I make that effort.

Anyway tl;dr people. I've given up alcohol totally (that all or nothing mentality again) and similarly with all the junk food I'm eating. But this time I want a permanent solution to the issues in my life. I can't keep going through these phases. I'm going to need support from a complete stranger, somebody I can talk to. Would anybody know what sort of counsellor I could see to finally get over my childhood/social inadequacies and the consequent overeating/overdrinking? I need balance, moderation, more self-discipline, before I lose everything.

Thanks.

merlie

Hi Op,

I am sorry to hear about what you have gone through and are going through.

http://www.mindandbodyworks.com/

They may be able to help you. Give them a ring and see how it goes.

I wish you the best of luck