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An extract from a Well-being session recounted by Anne-Laure Benattar, psycho-body therapist. With Zoe, a 7-year-old girl who nibbles all the time …
Zoe is a charming and flirtatious little girl, quite talkative, blushing when asked a question. Her mother talks about the fact that Zoe, since entering CE1, has been sneaking a lot of snacks when she comes home from school.
The decryption of Anne-Laure Benattar
The urge to eat all the time often reveals some form of emotional imbalance, such as compensating for a situation or a mixture of emotions.
The session with Louise, led by Anne-Laure Benattar, psycho-body therapist
Anne-Laure Benattar: I would like to understand Zoe, how is your day at school and when you come home.
Zoe : At school, I really apply myself, I listen and I try to participate and sometimes I find that it goes a little fast, especially if I am chatting … then afterwards I feel stressed and I am afraid not to get there. When I get home, I taste it, and after that I always want to eat. Then after a while I feel calmer, so it goes.
A.-LB: If I understand correctly, things go a bit fast in class, and sometimes you chatter and then you get lost? Did you talk to the teacher about it?
Zoe : Yes, that’s it… The teacher told me not to chat, but she always goes so fast… so when I’m lost, I speak and that reassures me…
A.-LB: Ok, so I think your mom could meet the teacher and explain to her what’s going on to make you feel more relaxed in class. And then for the house, maybe there would be something else to relax you when you arrive after your snack? Do you have an idea ?
Zoe : I love to draw, it relaxes me, and go to the gym, stretch, after that I feel better.
A.-LB: So, when you get home, you could have a little snack and then do your gym for a while, your homework, then a drawing… What do you think?
Zoe : It’s a good idea, I never think about it, but I’m still afraid of being hungry… You don’t have something else to offer me?
A.-LB: If, of course, I wanted to offer you a magical self-anchoring… You want?
Zoe : Oh yes ! I love magic!
A.-LB: Top ! So close your eyes, imagine yourself doing your favorite activity, the gym, or whatever else you love to do, and feel that relaxation, that joy, that peace within you. You’re there ?
Zoe : Yes, in fact, I dance in my dance class and I have everyone around me, it feels good… I feel really light…
A.-LB: When you feel really good, you breathe deeply to increase this well-being and you make a gesture with your hands for example, to close a fist or to cross your fingers to keep this feeling.
Zoe : That’s it, I’m done, I put my hand on my heart. It feels good ! I love your magic game!
A.-LB: Great ! What a beautiful gesture! Well whenever you need it, if you feel stressed or tired, or if you want to eat outside of meals, you can do your gesture and feel this relaxation!
Zoe : I am so happy ! Thank you !
A.-LB: So of course, you will be able to combine all these tips and see with the teacher so that you can follow more easily in class so as not to stress yourself too much!
How to help a child to stop snacking? Advice from Anne-Laure Benattar
Verbalize: It is interesting to check when the symptom started and the situation it reflects. At Zoe, chatter compensates for and reinforces the incomprehension in class, creating a stress that is released through the food. Chattering is often associated with a bad attitude, but is also sometimes indicative of boredom or misunderstanding.
Self-anchoring : This NLP tool is very effective in recreating a state of well-being in a moment of stress.
New Habits : Changing habits to take the child’s needs into account makes it possible to release compensation mechanisms. Gym and drawing are great stress relief tools, even for a short time. Do not hesitate to consult a psychologist or a therapist if the symptom persists.
Trick : A habit takes a minimum of 21 days to be well established. Encourage your child to put in place his well-being tools (activities / self-anchoring) for a month, so that it becomes natural.
* Anne-Laure Benattar receives children, adolescents and adults in her practice “L’Espace Thérapie Zen”. www.therapie-zen.fr