Expert: Joanne - 1/15/2008

Question
I have suffered with an eating disorder for a number of years after some traumatic childhood events which became anorexia bout 3 years ago. Now at age 22 i am trying to recover. My BMI was up from 14 to about 15.6 (im 5 feet tall) but has now feel down back below 15 even though i have been eating the same amount.
The NHS wont offer me any more help. They say i cant be treated..but i WILL get better. My private therapy is really helping but this is trauma specific not anorexia related so she cant help me with that.
I dont know what to do - i want so much to be moving forward and i'm just not, this is harder than i expected.
Can you offer me any advice?


Answer
Hi Kelly

I'm happy to here that you are trying so hard to recover!  I think that it may be worth looking for someone that does have some speciality in eating disorders.  However, if you are working well with your therapist just now, it may not be worth risking that relationship.  Sometimes the eating disorder may resolve once the underlying issues are resolved, however this is more likely with the input of a professional, even just the help of a dietician/nutritionsit to help you work on a meal plan may be useful.  

I think that it may be worth visiting your Dr and asking if there is absolutely anything that they can offer you.  It may be hard to get you into an official programme, I know it is in my area of UK, but they should be able to offer you something that could help!  It is a matter of pestering people I suppose until you get the help you feel you need.

I hope this helps!  Please try to get that appointment with a nutritionist!  It may be worth finding out if any in your area have much experience in eating disorders.  If not, try http://www.b-eat.co.uk/Home and have a look at the help finder there to see what is available in your area.

Holly