Weight Watchers and Reactive Attachment Disorder

What do they have in common? Quite a bit actually. I have learned numerous tools in Weight Watchers that have helped me with parenting my children with RAD. I assume because losing weight and parenting emotionally disturbed children are both matters of the mind. So here are the 7 tools of Weight Watchers and how I use them.

1. Reframing: Learning to picture situation in a different way.

WW: Instead of "I can't have that food." "I choose not to eat that food."

RAD: Instead of "My child is full of rage." "My child is ill."

2. Positive self talk: Instead of having allowing the negative thoughts to dominate, talk to yourself positively

WW: "You are strong enough to do this. It will be worth it"

RAD: "ditto" : )

3. Motivating strategy: Find what motivates you and use it

WW: For me, getting physically fit was a big motivation.

RAD: See my child learn to love, trust and feel safe is huge.

4. Anchoring: Find your inner strength

WW: I find spiritual strength in God, physical strength from exercise, emotional strength in friends.

RAD: "ditto"

5. Storyboarding: Walk through the steps or "story" of how this should look.

WW: Before an event create a plan. Each day have a plan of how I want my eating to be scheduled. For me it helps to plan the food for the entire day and stick with it.

RAD: Learning how I should respond and also some proactive parenting behaviors for myself in attachment therapy and in books has helped.

6. Mental Rehearsing: Practice it. Believe it.

WW: For example, if you are going to be around a food pusher, practice what you will say to them.

RAD: Practice positive responses and behaviors to his negative behavior.

7. Empowering beliefs: Believe that you can do this.

WW: Believe that weight loss will happen.

RAD: Believe your child will heal.

I hope these will help you. They are also called Winning Outcomes. Know that you will reach your goal if you follow these steps. If we don't believe, who will?