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Anorexia/Eating Disorders/I need to get help, but don't know how
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Question
Hi,
My boyfriend just recently found out that i'm bulemic w/ anorexia tendencies. He's concerned, and honestly, he probably should be. My body is weakening and my depression is getting out of control. I contacted a therapist about this but felt like... there has to be other options. How do i start on the road to recovery w/o gaining any weight? What are my options and how do i explain to my family that i need help when i've been lying about it for so long?
I have two kids and mostly want to get better so that i don't, accidently, pass on these negative behaviors and instill in them a complete lack of self-confidence, self-loathing and a lack of ability to hold onto any positive feedback. I don't know how or when my ED took over my life like this; and loosing sight of how this became worries me that my kids could, easier than i realize, pick up on my behaviors. I want them to be the happy and healthy person i never thought i was worth. Please help lead me to the right direction.
Hi Amy,
While I do not advocate the not gaining weight when necessary in recovery, I do understand where you are coming from.
If I'm correct, you want to make the first step towards recovery... not plunge head first into it. Which is completely okay and understandable.
You can go into therapy or seek other help even if you're not sure if you want to get better or want to gain weight right now.
I would strongly recommend not only a therapist, but seeking out an over-eaters anonymous group. I attended a group that was geared more towards eating disordered individuals rather then strictly over-eaters, but whatever kind of group you can find in your area could be very beneficial to you if you let it be. While you are not an over-eater, you wlll relate to a lot of the other people's food issues. Plus 12 step groups are the most successful program out there when it comes to recovery; whether it be from food, drugs, or alcohol. From there your therapist may direct you to seek more intense treatment if OA doesn't work out. You can find an OA meeting near you at this website:
http://www.oa.org/
If you can't do this for yourself, do it for your kids. They need you to be healthy and happy. You need to do this for your own kid's sake.
Good luck and I hope this helps.
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Answers by Expert:
Melissa
Expertise
I battled anorexia and bulimia for 6 years. I am not a doctor, but I learned a lot about the mental, emotional, and physical aspects of having an eating disorder and how scary it is to feel like you are alone in your illness. You are not alone. I can answer questions based on my experience with anything relating to anorexia and/or bulimia. I can provide information on treatment options, some specific treatment centers, resources that may help you find a treatment center, and my opinion on all of the above. I was a patient at a few outpatient and inpatient programs so I am happy to answer questions about those experiences. I am not affiliated with any of the resources I may provide. It’s strictly my opinion based on my experiences. I can NOT answer medical questions. I will NOT answer questions on how to become anorexic or bulimic or how to lose weight in an unhealthy matter.
Experience
I have recovered from a six year struggle with both anorexia and bulimia. I hope my experiences and the time I spent in and out of treatment will encourage others to never give up. I never thought I would or could recover because I couldn’t picture myself ever having a normal relationship with food. Since then, I have grown and learned that I can overcome what I once thought was impossible. Hold on to the idea that recovery is attainable!
Education/Credentials
I am attending college for an unrelated degree.
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