How Childhood Trauma Can Cause Adult Obesity

By Maia Szalavitz

Dr. Vincent Felitti, founder of Kaiser Permanente's Department of Preventive Medicine and director of its obesity-treatment program, was seeing some good results. His patients were losing 50, 80, even hundreds of pounds. He might have considered the program a success, if not for the fact that the participants who were doing the best — those who were both the most obese and losing the most weight — kept dropping out.

Felitti was baffled. Why, invariably, did so many patients quit just as they approached their healthy goal weight? Ella, for instance, a middle-aged woman who entered the program in the mid-1980s morbidly obese at 295 lb., had managed to whittle her frame by 150 lb. over six months. "Instead of being happy, she was having anxiety attacks and was terrified," Felitti says.

He asked Ella what she thought was going on. "Finally, the story comes out," he says. "She had been molested as a child, both within her family and outside it. She tried to escape by marrying at 15, at her mother's urging. It was a disastrous marriage — her husband was crazy jealous. They divorced in two years. She remarried. Her new husband was also jealous. He was convinced that when she was out hanging the laundry, she was sexually posturing to attract the neighbors."

When Ella was overweight, Felitti learned, her husband was less suspicious. And her fear of his rage — perhaps he saw her new slimmer weight as a provocation? — was probably spurring her anxiety.

Right here we see in Ella a common example. There were traumas in her past as well as emotionally unsafe people (her husband) in her current world. In this situation, losing weight is NOT healthy!

... Discoveries by Felitti and colleagues have also helped give rise to broader work linking stressful experiences early in life — as early as in the womb — to effects on health and behavior later on, such as an increased risk of heart disease or becoming addicted to drugs. Scientists are finding that such effects are not only long-lasting, but can even be inherited by future generations.

... When Felitti first presented his Kaiser Permanente data connecting obesity with child molestation at a national meeting on obesity in 1990, most colleagues dismissed him immediately (one even claimed that obese people made up such stories to justify their "failed lives"). ...

For the past several decades, the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study has recorded reports of negative childhood experiences in more than 17,000 patients. Adverse experiences include ongoing child neglect, living with one or no biological parent, having a mentally ill, incarcerated or drug-addicted parent, witnessing domestic violence, and sexual, physical or emotional abuse. The researchers then searched for correlations between these experiences and adult health and the risk of disease.

The connections became clear: compared with a person with no adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, a person with four or more has almost double the risk of obesity. Having four or more ACEs more than doubles the risk of heart attack and stroke, and nearly quadruples the risk of emphysema. The risk for depression is more than quadrupled. Although many of these outcomes could reflect the influences of genes and other environmental influences — beyond those occurring in childhood — the tight relationship between increasing ACE numbers and increasing health risks makes the role of child trauma clear. [via Time.com]

The ACE Study has made an important contribution to our understanding of the effects of childhood trauma on chronic health conditions like obsity, heart disease, depression, and more. If you have been suffering with such a condition and you were exposed to traumatic experiences as a child, you may want to explore this further by reviewing the presentations in our Trauma Relief Center.

To live a thriving life, I believe self-awareness is a key: are we in protection or growth, in fight/flight/freeze/stress or relaxed/calm/confident? We can develop the skill of self-awareness, and also develop specific habits like meditation and tapping (EFT) to help us shift from protection to growth consciously... especially when protection really is NOT what is the most resourceful state for us in that moment.

Katie Spotz On Endurance, Waves and Rowing 2817 Miles—Alone

On Sunday, Katie Spotz became the youngest person to row across the Atlantic alone... After a month of rowing, Spotz realized she still had not reached the halfway point. Depression set in. But Spotz had seen this coming. As an endurance athlete who has run marathons, cycled across the United States and swam the entire Allegheny River, Spotz learned that every endurance event has a moment where the whole adventure seems hopeless. Before the trip, she trained for months with a sport psychologist to learn meditation.

"I really couldn't think too far in advance because otherwise it was overwhelming," Spotz says. "I had to keep thinking about these doable, achievable baby steps."

[via Popular Mechanics]

Baby steps. Doable, achievable baby steps. No matter how grand the accomplishment we seek, no matter how miraculous the healing we aspire for ourselves, there is something in the NOW, some action that takes just the next two minutes, that can move you in the right direction.

So often we as humans get stuck when we are focusing on the BIG project. We will beat ourselves up for procrastinating, or self-sabotaging. Maybe we are. Or maybe our clarity is overwhelmed by too many options.

This is where the 2-minute doable baby step can not only unfreeze our action but also give us awareness if we ARE stuck, if we ARE in a place where it doesn't feel safe to move forward. If not feeling safe is the block, you can use tapping to free yourself.

This incredibly thorough audio series and 148 pages of transcripts are authored by EFT Master Carol Look and Emotional Freedom Coach Rick Wilkes. They address the topic of clutter from every possible angle—emotional, physical, intellectual, spiritual. Listening and tapping along will change the way you deal with any kind of clutter and help release the reasons you have this challenge.

Cluttered mind? Tap away the reasons you can’t stay present to your life.

Cluttered home? Tap for trying to “fill” the void left by a feeling of lack in your life.

Cluttered relationships? Tap with us to let go of those relationships that are no longer a vibrational match with your energy.

Cluttered office? Delve into the deep emotional reasons you feel compelled to “hold onto” your “stuff.”

Cluttered life blocking your abundance? Tap yourself free of the clutter and allow your life to unfold the way you wish.

Enjoy over 5 hours of discussion, theory, and tap along files for you to listen to over and over again while you make use of the 148 pages of transcripts for easy reference.

Rick Wilkes
Emotional Freedom Coach
Thrivingnow.com

Carol Look
EFT Master
AttractingAbundance.com

Clutter Session #1 (MP3) — 51:41

The Basics About Clutter
Physical Space and Clutter
Abundance and Clutter
Technological Space and Clutter
Emotional Clutter
Physical Body and Clutter
Spiritual Clutter
Where Does Clutter Come From?
Needing Some Place for the Stuff to Go
Scarcity and Lack
Lack of Love

Clutter Session #2 (MP3) — 54:01

Clearing Emotions, Events, and Conflicts
The Feeling of “Overwhelmed”
Tapping on the Feeling of “Overwhelmed”
Tapping on Decision-Making
More Tapping on “Overwhelmed”
The Fear of Facing Clutter
The Fear of Facing “IT” (Whatever IT Is)
Tapping on the Fear of Facing “IT”
Tapping on Refusing to Face “IT”
Tapping on the Fear of Facing “IT” When There’s “Too Much”
Tapping on Being Too Busy
Scarcity
The Itch of Scarcity
Tapping on Scarcity
Tapping on “Not Enough”

Clutter Session  #3 (MP3) — 54:39

Abandonment, Hurt, and Clutter
Tapping on Abandonment
Tapping on Rejection
Tapping on Clinging
Tapping on Anger
Tapping on Rebelliousness
Tapping on “Accept Me the Way I Am”
Tapping on Anger
Tapping on Guilt
Tapping on Family Clutter
Tapping on Guilt and Money

Clutter Session #4 (MP3) — 52:01

Guilt, Shame, and Clutter
Tapping on Shame in General
Tapping on Shame from Parents
Tapping on Shame About Clutter
The Habit of Clutter
Tapping on a Bad Habit of Cluttering
Specific Events Tied to Clutter
Tapping on Specific Events - What Someone Did
Tapping on Rebelliousness
Tapping on Specific Events - What Someone Said

Clutter Session #5 (MP3) — 54:26

What Clutters Our Vibration?
Tapping on What Others Think
Tapping on External Approval
Tapping on Intrusive Behavior from Loved Ones
Tapping on the Past
Tapping on the Future (Part 1)
Tapping on the Future (Part 2)
Tapping on the Habit of Negativity
Tapping on Appreciating Yourself

Clutter Session #6 (MP3) — 44:19

Review of Physical & Emotional Clutter
Tapping on Being Busy
Tapping on Where to Start
Tapping on Emotional Interference
Tapping on Backsliding
Tapping on Building Habits
Tapping on Needing More

Testimonials

“I always viewed clutter as the physical stacks of papers and things I just hadn't gotten myself to sort through yet. And I was always going to get to them... soon... but 'soon' never seemed to arrive. The insights that Carol and Rick share have shifted that completely. They helped me see that many of the objects in the piles are there because of a fear or block. The tapping in the recordings helped shift my resistance. I found myself having fun cleaning my garage, and I love the energetic space it gave me. They also extended my definition of clutter to include scheduling, emotional, and spiritual issues... where the same principles and exercises apply. They make it easy and fun! Highly recommended!” —Cathy Vartuli, PhD, EFT-ADV

“If you’ve spent time grappling with any sort of clutter, then you’ve probably suspected that this uphill battle has more to do with emotional resistance than technique. Carol Look and Rick Wilkes have created a comprehensive and easy to follow program that combines multiple insights into what keeps us stuck with advanced EFT skills to release this challenge from all areas of our lives... Clearing up these cluttering emotions has freed up new space in my life for abundance — I’ve attracted and seen more clients this week than ever before! Thank you Carol and Rick for your great skill, effectiveness and generosity so clearly evident in Clearing Clutter with EFT. I have already begun to recommend this program to clients and colleagues.” —Beth Sorger, LCSW, EFT Practitioner

“I have to say that I'm very impressed with the areas that you have targeted using EFT. I've tried to use other "de-cluttering" and "organizing" systems and approaches over the years (I ended up with a lot of books to add to my clutter) and have had only short term success at best. I'm finding that as I've begun the process of clearing some of the familial and generational issues you've presented, I'm finally acknowledging them and starting to dig away at the roots of what have kept me so stuck--and that's after only a few hours of listening, following along with the transcript, and doing the exercises!” —Michelle, Ohio

As technologists with decades of experience, we typically review many different products before making a choice that is right for us to use here at Thriving Now. Below are some of the tools and services we recommend. (Please note that there are often several different options, and while the products listed below are ones we use, there may be better choices for you.)

PDF for Sharing

 

Website Resources

Word Press – http://www.wordpress.org
This is an easy to use and mostly free way to quickly set up a blog and/or a website. You can sign up for a free Wordpress blog at www.wordpress.com.

GoDaddy.com – http://www.godaddy.com
If you want to register a domain for your site,  this is a good place to go. Prices are average for the industry (they often have sales as well) and their customer service has been exceptional.

Expression Engine – http://www.expressionengine.com
Our websites are powered by ExpressionEngine, a powerful and flexible content management system. While definitely not for the rank beginner, if you want to have a dynamic, easily updated website, we  recommend having your webmaster look into this product. The company also offers hosting, if you don’t want to do the installation of the software yourself.

Amazon S3 – http://aws.amazon.com/s3/
Amazon S3 is storage for the Internet. We use it to deliver large files like audios and videos to customers, and for off-site archive storage for important projects. Price is reasonable. We use S3 Organizer in Firefox to access our S3 storage “buckets.”

Google Analytics – https://www.google.com/analytics
Free service where you add some javascript to your web pages and google will track usage and popular pages (and more).

Communications

Skype – http://www.skype.com
Allows you to use your computer to make audio and video calls around the world for free. Also has some paid features. Offers the ability to remotely view another person’s screen (useful for collaborating).

Skype Recording with Call Graph – https://callgraph.biz/
Windows audio recording of Skype calls. Free.

Free Conference Call – http://www.freeconferencecall.com
This service allows you to host free conference calls up to 96 people. They also have a simple event version that hosts up 1000 people.

NConnects – http://www.nconnects.com
This is a paid conference-call service which allows control of individual caller’s volume and participation. It also allows you to record and download calls.

AudioAcrobat – http://thrivingnow.audioacrobat.com/
You can use the service to upload audio you record on your own computer, record directly to their service over the internet, and record by telephone. Using three-way-calling, you can also record teleconferences and client sessions up to two hours in length. You can also set up client testimonial lines. It is easy to integrate the audio into any website where you can paste HTML.

Marketing

ISnare Ezine Article Submission Site – http://www.isnare.com
Distribute your articles to thousands of article sites for $2 or less per article.

Custom Surveys – http://www.isalient.com
Easily create eye catching online surveys. Collect survey responses and fully analyze your results.

List And Traffic – http://listandtraffic.com/
How to grow and profit from lists and online traffic.

Membernaire – http://www.membernaire.com
Jimmy Brown is a successful internet marketer.  We really love his no-hype and easy to follow approach. Membernaire is a membership site that walks you through creating fixed term memberships, but is also worth the cost for the marketing suggestions and list building advise. This program is only available for a limited time.

Affiliatenaire – http://www.affiliatenaire.com/
Jimmy Brown guides you through setting up a blog, and gives you direction on how to affiliate market your products in this membership site. Many internet marketers make more on affiliate commissions than they do on their own products. Selling other people’s products without burning out your list (and making sure your list is getting quality content) is key.  This program is also available for a limited time.

The Net Reporter – http://www.thenetreporter.com
This membership site goes into different topics on internet marketing, including how to video webinars. More expensive,  but it is quite comprehensive and they add content all the time.

Traffic-Bug – http://www.traffic-bug.com/
Traffic-Bug submits your site to over 138 different search engines getting you indexed even faster by Google!

Customer Management & Shopping Cart

1ShoppingCart – http://www.1shoppingcart.com
On-line shopping cart and e-commerce.  Includes email autoresponders and affiliate management as well. It’s what we use.

Aweber – http://www.aweber.com
Has excellent deliverability and pricing, as well as integration with some services through “email parsing.” This system is used by many internet marketers. It requires double opt-in (confirmation of all subscriptions). Aweber has powerful autoresponders and automatic newsletter generation from RSS feeds.

Auto Response Plus – http://www.autoresponseplus.com
Email broadcast and auto responder you install on your mail server. It’s what we use now for our email lists. Requires someone skilled in server and email management as part of your team.

Amember – http://www.aweber.com/
Membership and subscription management system, integrates with systems like 1ShoppingCart and ExpressionEngine.

Paypal – http://www.paypal.com
On-line shopping cart and e-commerce. Convenient way to allow clients to send you payments. Easy to set up Buy Now buttons.

Outsourcing

Elance – http://www.elance.com
On-line freelance support for outsourcing various parts of your business.

OutSource Weekly – http://www.outsourceweekly.com
52 week course on outsourcing your internet and product needs with recommended resources and how to’s.

Easy PLR – http://www.easyplr.com
Private Label Rights Articles (PLR) can be a great way to add new content to your website or blog and fill up your newsletter or autoresponder. When you purchase private label rights, you can re-publish the content with or without changes and additions.

Social Media

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com
Become a fan of Thriving Now at http://facebook.com/thrivingnow

Twitter – http://www.twitter.com
Follow Thriving Now at http://twitter.com/thrivingnow

Other Useful Resources

Carbonite – http://www.carbonite.com
Auto Backup for Computer Files. If you do not have OFF-SITE backup of your key files, you are taking a risk of total loss. Use something like Carbonite, store files on Amazon S3, or some other off-site backup strategy.

Roboform – http://www.roboform.com
Program manages and stores your passwords and autofills on-line registration forms to save you time.

Big Stock Photos – http://www.bigstockphotos.com
Search and download photos for websites,  advertizing, products, etc.

Camtasia – http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia.asp
Video presentation creation and editing

Sony Sound Forge – http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/products/soundforgefamily.asp
Audio creation and editing. We use the Pro version which has an outstanding noise reduction filter. Many people choose the free program Audacity - http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Levelator – http://www.conversationsnetwork.org/levelator
Free program that allows you to balance the volume of audios automatically (must be saved in .wav or .aiff format first). Perfect for processing teleclass recordings.

When you are stuck, and you are having trouble shifting an issue, these three questions are wonderful for opening hidden doorways:

1) Is it safe to move forward or change?
2) Do I deserve to move forward or change?
3) Who I would be if I moved forward or changed?

As long as we are not safe, don't deserve it, or could lose our identity if we got it, our primitive brain will stop us in our tracks. Willpower may win out for awhile, but it is a constant fight. Another block that can come up is the fear of feeling too intensely if we proceed. Again, the primitive brain will do its best to protect us from what it thinks could harm us.
 
We teach you ways to soften the fear and beliefs and tap them away in this program.
 
Includes: 5 Audio Coaching and Tapping Sessions (MP3's) with Transcripts (PDF's)


Is It Safe To Feel Safe? (MP3) - Transcript (PDF)
If you're feeling stuck, or just not moving forward as quickly as you would like, a basic fear may be getting in your way. As illogical as it may sound, some people do not feel SAFE feeling SAFE! Their primitive brain thinks it is dangerous to let go of constant vigilance.

Let's test how this is for you. Say out loud:
"It is SAFE for me to feel safe."
 
Does that feel 100% true and comfortable in your body? Is there an underlying tension when you think of feeling wonderful and calmly confident?
 
Now say: 
"Part of me is scared to feel too safe."
 
Does this feel true at all?
 
For some people, the fear of feeling safe may not be an issue. But if it is for you, even at a low intensity level, your primitive brain is fighting your progress and slowing you down. If this fear applies to you... what specific reasons or memories are coming up around this? Tapping on the beliefs and memories can smooth your journey and allow you more insights and doorways to healing.
 
What Still Scares Me... (MP3) - Transcript (PDF)
We look at some of the fears people carry that may block them from moving toward what they desire and tap to bring relief. Tap along and borrow benefits to release your fears.
- Stress and Pain from old medical testing
- Fear if running out of money
- Allowing myself to be hopeful
- My son’s teenage years
 
I Don’t Deserve to Get What I Want (MP3) - Transcript (PDF)
We sometimes know very clearly what we want (our goal), see other people getting it, and we're NOT. Why??? In this audio recording we address the limiting beliefs around deserving... deserving health, wealth, happiness.
 
Even if there is abundance in many areas of our lives, most of us have some aspect in our lives that just doesn’t flow.
- Whether it is losing weight,
- finding a romantic partner,
- healing a part of our body, or
- improving our finances...

We have tried and tried, and not shifted it.
Incredibly frustrating! Sometimes we think we must not deserve it.
Why do people believe that?
- They haven’t ever gotten it -- isn’t that proof?
- They feel they haven’t earned it.
- They are convinced they will lose something else if they get it.
- They were told they were selfish or spoiled.
- They feel guilty.
Where did you learn that you didn’t deserve whatever your goal is?
- Is it around this current experience?
- Did you learn it as a child?
- Did your parents or teachers show you this limiting belief?
Who or what showed you that you were unworthy of what you want? 
 
Who Would I Be? (MP3) - Transcript (PDF)
Our identity is very important. If we have a block around changing aspects of ourselves because we aren't sure who we'll be, it can get in the way. We look at the ways some people are stuck around this concept and tap!

- If I could shine
- Fear of singing out
- If I didn't have chronic pain
- Conflict around boundaries
- If I weren't unacceptable
- Primitive brain trying to protect me
- If I weren't focused on my weight
 
I Just Don't Want To Feel This! (MP3) - Transcript (PDF)
Intense feelings can be overwhelming and scary
Many of us don't have good coping skills for "negative" emotions, especially when they are intense
Just being with it, and accepting ourselves can be powerful. Sometimes challenging
If you are having trouble, what judgement or thoughts are underlying this?
- This is too hard
- I may not survive
- I shouldn't be feeling this
- This isn't normal
- This is my fault
- Good people don't feel this
- It isn't safe to feel this way
- It isn't fair! I don't deserve this
- I must be bad if I'm feeling this

When we get the self-judgements and blame out of the way, some of the intensity may go away, or at least it won't  be as stuck in our bodies.

We can also take baby steps. We don't have to "process" it ALL right now. We can take breaks. Tap on one aspect of the issue or feeling.

And we can ask for help so we don't feel alone

What is Law of Attraction?
How do we activate the Law of Attraction? 
So how do I consciously use the Law of Attraction?
What are the steps for Law of Attraction?
    1. Asking
    2. The universe providing
    3. Allowing what we've asked for.
What will happen when I start intentionally using LoA?
Am I bad if bad things happen?
How do I change my focus?
What is the difference between dwelling on the past and ignoring reality?
Why don’t we manifest our desires immediately?

Team Call 2010-02-04 I'm So Worried About Money
- Don't think too much of yourself!
- How am I seen?
- The future and past are influencing me
- What would it be like not to have anxiety?

Team Call 2010-02-07 Body Image Study Group
- I want to appreciate the positive more
- How can I accept my body?
- Frozen and dissasociated
- I can't present until I lose weight!
- Fertility at 42.

Team Call 2010-02-09 Open Call
- Emotional boundaries
- Behind at work, need to do more
- Anxiety through the roof
- Don't I have to be immediately availible?
- Choking feeling in throat
- All over the place, triggered

Team Call 2010-02-12 Open Call
- Identity issues and a Failed Procedure
- My father humiliated me (and I have an inability to talk in public)
- Embarassment and shame
- Feeling inadequate job hunting

Team Call 2010-02-13 Love Pain
- What am I telling myself about me?
- My father's face humiliating me, broke my heart
- Boy that liked me in first grade, they took it away
- They wanted to replace me
- They took me away from the nurse who loved me

Team Call 2010-02-14 Financial Abundance Study Group
- I can't have abundance until I'm physically perfect
- Can't seem to focus on one thing
- Dead paint society, practice practicing
- Only one way to be successful
- Difficulty initiating
- Lack of trust in abundance

Team Call 2010-02-15 Gratitude Party
- Join us while we celebrate what is going wonderfully!
- Raise your vibration

Team Call 2010-02-17 Open Call
- Frozen from the family dynamic
- Mortal fear of embarrassment
- Anger and tension in my head
- Distorted body image, it's the only thing I have to believe in

Team Call 2010-02-19 Self Nuturing
- I don't deserve it
- It's not safe
- I don't want to do it their way
- I don't know how

Team Call 2010-02-20 Body Image Study Group
- Conflict around food
- To eat or not to eat, that is the question!
- I need the comfort but am scared I'll get fat
- Appreciating myself when I am not perfect

Team Call 2010-02-21 Open Call
- How dare I be so presumptous?
- A good man is a good man
- Tapping anxiety party
- Can't let go because I would be happy
- Not living up to mom's expectations

Team Call 2010-02-23 Transistions
Passage from one form, state, style, or place to another. Change, often major. A period which leads from one well-defined and steady existence to another.
- what are we losing or leaving behind? (what are we gaining?)
- is it safe?
- who will we be?
- do we have a choice?
- will we be able to handle it?
- often a more chaotic time where we face more unknowns and experience accelerated learning
- can be unsettled and uncomfortable

Team Call 2010-02-24 Open Call
- Stunned, Empty, All over the place
- Blocks to creativity (why am I at this painting workshop anyway?)
- Lightening up
- Anger in my headache over other people's agendas for me