The Lies Kyle Tells

Recently, in art therapy, I drew my eating disorder, and named it Kyle. Today in experiential therapy, we talked about abusive behavior and how our eating disorders are abusive toward us. Then, we wrote down lies and mean things that our eating disorders tell us, and then a neutral or positive thought to counter them. Below are some of the common thoughts Kyle tells me, and the neutral/positive thoughts I wrote down to counter them.

• You are disgusting.
  • I am a beautiful human person.
• You don’t need food.
  • I am a human person with physical needs.
• You aren’t human.
  • I am a human person.
• I keep your emotions in check.
  • Emotions are healthy and a necessary part of the human experience.
• You don’t deserve to eat.
  • I am a human person with basic physical needs who deserves food.
• You are worthless.
  • I have great worth and value to give to this world.
• If you do what I say, you’ll be happy.
  • I am not happy living with my eating disorder.
• Dying of anorexia would be an accomplishment.
  • Dying of anorexia would be a tragedy, and pointless.
• No one loves you but me.
  • I am loved by many people.
• There’s nothing really wrong with you.
  • I have a serious mental illness that needs to be addressed and treated.
• You are ugly.
  • I am a beautiful human person.
• You are too fat for food.
  • All people need food, I am a human person with physical needs. I deserve food.