PAST TRAUMA – KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER

Unfortunately a percentage of clients to GM have been subjected to a past trauma or ongoing circumstance which may have triggered their FAT Program. At GM, this is referred to as Emotional Obesity. With Emotional Obesity, the client has consciously or unconsciously concluded that being fat makes them feel safer.

There are many themes to Emotional Obesity, including Past Trauma, and they are covered here.

Connection to FAT Program

The objective of the FAT Program is to keep the body safe. With toxins being harmful turning on the FAT Program is an effective and appropriate response.

For Client

Trauma can trigger your FAT Program because in some circumstances being bigger will keep you safe. This may be true particularly when your physical, mental or emotional boundaries have been compromised.

Your brain recognises the danger and protects you from a real, or perceived threat, by creating a protective cover for you. That is, body fat.

At GM we call this Emotional Obesity and Jon has recognized several common themes.

Our Action Steps of GM aim to create a surrogate of protection for your mind and your body. It no longer requires body fat as the protection. We do this through specific and targeted visualizations designed to make you feel safe, heal past emotional wounds and allow you to create a new life free of fear.

For Coach

Themes of Emotional Obesity

  1. Trauma – any trauma, particularly serious trauma, can make the world (environment) feel unsafe. Divorce, job loss, even witnessing another’s trauma, can result in the FAT Program being triggered. Trauma can be likened to a wound. In the same way, a sprained ankle swells to protect the joint, an unhealed emotional wound not may trigger the FAT Program to protect the entire body.
  2. Mental and Emotional Abuse – emotionally abusive relationships, those with people who are controlling, interrogating and dominating, are form of violation of mental and emotional ‘space’. The FAT Program is triggered to use fat as an insulator, to create space, boundary, from the situation.
  3. Physical and Sexual Abuse – with physical abuse, when boundaries are violated, fat creates a boundary, a shield from the abuser (as it does with mental/emotional abuse), safety. With sexual abuse, safety occurs sometimes with being fatter as the abuser loses interest as a result.
  4. Hiding from the World – a client may use fat as a method of retreating from the world. Effectively hiding the real person from the world underneath their fat.
  5. Big is Boss – society often connect being physically big with being important (Big Chief, Big Cheese). Culturally this is significant for some. Unconsciously this learned connection may make a client feel comfortable, accepted in the role of an authority figure.
  6. Self – Punishment – a client with low self worth, angry for past behaviors, may use fat as a punishment. Feelings of being not worthy of success, a beautiful body, love or respect, act as a chronic stress keeping the FAT Program on.
  7. Rebellion – is about power and control. Control equals safety. A client may use obesity as a way of asserting themselves. Happens in families where dieting, health, is of strong, borderline obsessive, part of life. A child/adult can rebel to well meaning yet harmful nagging from family/friends. Sends a message “you’re not OK the way you are”
  8. Testing Love: Pushing our loved ones away – common with new mothers to create space between themselves and children/husbands. “I need a little space” Love for family is very strong but lack of energy, time for self results in starvation response and FAT Program on.
  9. Becoming Unlovable – happens in families who are all overweight. Being slim alienates the client and detaches them from their ‘fat’ family. Be aware, relationships may change as a result of losing weight, this can create uncertainty, this creates stress and turns on the FAT Program.
  10. Grief – when a loved one leaves, as a result of separation or death, a client may in an effort to ‘hold on’ to that person, gain weight.
  11. Using FAT as an excuse – sometimes a client may hold onto weight as a way of avoiding other uncomfortable aspects of their lives. Being obese becomes a scapegoat for distracting others and themselves from what’s really going on.

Diagnosis of

Application Form

Note history of previous attempts to diet
Note length of time from initial weight gain, and reason (if given)
Note understanding of GM through reading of GM book, belief in approach
Note any mental health conditions
Note age of client

Signs and Symptoms

Take note of indication from client of connection between trauma, past experience and weight gain
Take note of employment, position of authority
Note family history of obesity
Take note of language relating to them ‘sabotage’ their weight loss effort

FAT Trigger Quiz

Note if Past Trauma is indicated

Questions to ask

I saw on your Application Form you indicated ‘name of trauma’ was the answer to the question ‘When did you weight problem begin’
Have you, or any you, receiving therapy/support/treatment for this trauma
Do you come from an overweight family
Do feel any of the ‘go through Themes of Emotional Obesity’ are relevant to your weight history?

Coaching Actions

Core Action Steps

Do Evening Visualisation
Do Morning Visualisation
Add GM Daily Break(s) – options:Fitness, Visualisation, other Mind/Body practice
Get Sleep (get checked for Sleep Apnea if required)

FAT Trigger specific Action Steps

Swap Morning, Evening or add a GM Daily Break for a visualization specifically addressing Emotional Obesity – Past Trauma, Mental/Emotional Abuse
(eg. Safe Strong and Protected, Living Goddess, Living Warrior, Release Emotional Trauma)

Swap Morning, Evening or add a GM Daily Break for a visualisation specific for addressing other Themes of Emotional Obesity
(eg. Self Punishment- Loving your body, Hiding from the world – I deserve)

Make use of tools in GM Programs: Cellular Wisdom and Tapping for Weight Loss

Special Considerations

As a Coach we have a responsibility to respect the client’s best interests and their duty of care. This is In respect to trauma, sexual, physical and emotional abuse
If a client communicates present abuse, we should encourage them to seek professional support and intervention to ensure the abuse is stopped immediately.
If a client communicates past unreported abuse, again we should encourage them to seek professional support and aid, with the circumstance.

Resources


Do You Have Questions for Brian?

Ask Questions & Share Your Comments!

For help with your purchase please contact help@thegabrielmethod.com

Do You Have Questions for Jon?

Ask Questions & Share Your Comments Below!

For help with your purchase please contact help@thegabrielmethod.com

What Do You Think?

Ask Questions & Share Your Comments!

Leave a Reply