Does anyone have words of advice?

[yenn]

Ok this is a long story but I'll cut it short. I haven't eaten a Mars bar in 13 years because I v'd right after eating one once (I had food poisoning from school but I associate it with the mars bar). I can eat the tiny tiny ones you get in Celebrations because for some reason I don't associate those with being ill. Anyway, I've made a couple of small emet related improvements recently and I really really want to eat a mars bar (its snack size) before Monday because i have counselling and I want to be able to say I've achieved this. I've been gearing myself up all week to do it - i chose today if any day because I'm off work all day and tomorrow so if the worst happens, at least I won't be at work. So what I need to know is, this isn't going to make me v is it?

[trinity_13]

Yenn it is so tough when you associate foods with being ill and trying to combat that fear. I know as i am stuck on only being able to eat 3 different things (a particular biscuit, a roast potato and plain crisps!) i have no confidence in any other foods at all! All i can suggest is why not cut the bar in half and have the first half, if you feel fine in an hours time ( taking into allowance normal anxiety feelings) then have the other half. Build up to things slowly, don't force yourself hun


If you can eat the little ones out of Celebrations then i think i can safely say that the normal and snack size Mars won't make you ill, the only thing that might upset your tummy is the anxiety from eating it but even that shouldn't make you ill. You can do it, be brave and feel proud of yourself that you are going to take this step![img]smileys/smilies_39.gif[/img]

[tcsarah]

I used to have the same fears about mushroom omlettes! The last thing I ate for dinner before I started during the night with gastric flu was egg foo yung with mushroomfrom the Chinese take-away (bascially it's an omlette in bits). I went for several years not being able to face omlettes. Then I went to one of my friend's mum's for lunch and she'd made me the dreaded omlette. I felt too bad refusing to eat it! I was absolutely fine afterwards though, and it broke the fear.


I agree with Trinity. If you don't feel comfortable enough eating the whole thing at once cut it into half or thirds and spread it throughout the day. That chocolate bar will not make you v*, I assure you of that, and if you did feel a little nauseous after eating it, the only reason for that would be anxiety, nothing else.


Let us know how you get on. Good luck!


Tracey x

[emms]

Yenn~

I completely understand this! I had (kinda still have) a bad association with M &M's. In February, I started to tackle the emet, and the first thing my DR told me to do was to eat 5 M &M's. Last month, I ate a bag...had to take it slow to lose the association. I agree with Trinity and Tracey. Cut the bar into manageable sizes and eat it as you like. Lord knows, those are rich enough to make anyone feel ill, so take it slow. One thing I know helped me was to freeze my treat. That helped change my association. Good luck and let us know how you do, but also remember to take it slow and be comfortable!

P.S. Congrats on being able to eat the little ones. That is such a great accomplishment.
P.P.S Congrats and taking such a proactive stance on your therapy. You rock!!

[chicajojobe]

I would tell you that there is no logical reason why a Mars bar would make you sick, but you already know that!



Really I can't give any advice other then just....do it if you've really decided you want to.



It may help if you cut it into little pieces and eat it slowly. Like if
you start feeling panicy/sick after the first bite then you can stop
and put the rest in a baggie to store in the fridge and try again later.



Good luck.

[emily7]

i totally feel your pain i have not eaten a reeses peanut butter cup in 16 years but as we type im eating reeses pieces





now thats baby steps





eat some mars bar poppers i dont know if you know about them

[suzy.o]

Cut it up into celebration sized pieces.

[sage]

You can do it, and it won't make you sick! The thing is, ... disassociating this in your brain in a very courageous and difficult thing to do. I'm surprised your counsellor suggested it. I mean, it won't make you sick, but it's damn hard to convince your brain of that. I wonder if your counsellor has ever been sick eating something. Can he just eat it now? Most humans can't - it's the way our brains are wired for "danger".


My psychologist had a bad go-round with apple strudel in college. Then when he did his PH.D. he FORCED HIMSELF to eat some, slowly, little by little. Until he could finally eat it. Then enjoy it. But this is a guy with NO PHOBIAS...and it took a lot of work.


I accomplished the same thing with gingerale, which I barfed up during chemotherapy. Took me several tries, but I finally can drink it and now (9 years later) I can say I enjoy it again, or desire it when my stomach is funny.


So...good luck. But don't beat yourself up if it takes a few tries.


Oh ya...and once again...it will NOT make you sick.

[yenn]

I did it!!! I ate the Mars Bar!!! For the first time in 13 years! AND this morning I had one too!!!


COngrats to you all who have started to conquer your own food associations too, because it is certainly a liberating feeling :-)

[Galadriel]

Good for you Yenn! Food associations are tough, even for non emets as Sage pointed out. Being able to eat those again helps your brain realize that associating v* with those certain foods isn't needed anymore. I was sick on rice once, and it was prolly 7-10 years before I could eat it again!

[sage]

Wa-hoo!! It IS a good feeling, eh?


And besides, Mars bars are like....so good!